2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Republican Party Of Iowa Announces National Convention Delegation

RPI Announces National Convention Delegation

(Des Moines) – Following an energetic 2008 State Convention, the Republican Party of Iowa is announcing its delegation to the Republican National Convention. The national convention will be held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota from September 1 – 4.

Iowa Republicans will be represented by 40 delegates and 37 alternates. Twenty-two of the national delegates and their alternates were approved as a slate by the 1,347 voting delegates at Saturday’s convention. Fifteen delegates and alternates were chosen the night before at the District Presidential Caucuses with three delegates and alternates elected from each of Iowa’s five Congressional Districts.

The final three members of Iowa’s delegation will be RPI Chairman Stewart Iverson, National Committeeman Steve Roberts, and National Committeewoman Phyllis Kelly.

At-Large Delegates

Ike Ackerman, Bremer
Carmine Boal, Polk
Andy Christiansen, Polk
Bill Clark, Polk
Robert Cramer, Polk
Ed Failor, Jr., Muscatine
Sandy Greiner, Washington
Reid Houser, Pottawattamie
Roger Hughes, Hamilton
Morris Hurd, Des Moines
Drew Ivers, Hamilton
Katie Koberg, Polk
John Ortega, Scott
Kim Lehman, Polk
Bill Northey, Dickinson
Steve Scheffler, Polk
David Roederer, Polk
Loras Schulte, Benton
Lisa Smith, Wapello
Bob Vander Plaats, Plymouth
David Vaudt, Polk
Craig Williams, Carroll

At-Large Alternates

Jacob Bossman, Woodbury
Katherine Betts, Linn
Ray Dearin, Story
Ricky Dean, Mahaska
Tim DeMouth, Johnson
Katherine Farrand, Linn
David Fisher, Polk
Chuck Hurley, Polk
Drew Klein, Jasper
Mark Lundberg, Sioux
Ellen Markham, Dubuque
Chris McGowan, Plymouth
Shelly Pitts, Dallas
Lynn Proudfoot, Polk
Carmen Reitsma, Mahaska
Stephanie Laudner, Floyd
Liz Schofield, Clinton
Monte Shaw, Guthrie
Larry Smith, Madison
Scott Spray, Polk
Luana Stoltenberg, Scott
Jerry Tweeten, Winnebago

District Delegates

Sen. David Hartsuch, Scott
Matt Reitsetter, Black Hawk
Mike Knopf, Dubuque
Edward Thornton, Johnson
David Chung, Linn
David Miller, Jefferson
Diana Hansen, Poweshiek
Peggy Herman, Polk
Ted Sporer, Polk
Polly Granzow, Hardin
T.J. Augustine, Webster
Tamara Scott, Warren
Vergene Donovan, Dickinson
Ann Trimble-Ray, Sac
Mary Ann Hanusa, Pottawattamie

District Alternates

Steve Hoodjer, Butler
Nicole Baker, Clinton
Jeremiah Johnson, Dubuque
Bob Anderson, Johnson
Sarah Henderson, Linn
Rose Eaton, Linn
Roger Barr, Jasper
Charla Farnum
Wes Enos, Polk
Glen Massie, Warren
A.J. Spiker, Story
Crystal McIntyre, Warren
Linda Holub, Woodbury
Kurt Brown, O’Brien
Nancy Bowrey, Page

National Convention Committee Members

Credentials:
Steve Scheffler
Katie Koberg

Permanent Organization:
Loras Schulte
Vergene Donovan

Rules:
Steve Roberts
Sandy Greiner

Resolutions:
David Chung
Lisa Smith

Iowa Passes First Major Test To Remain First In Presidential Nominating Contest

Iowa passes first major test to remain first in presidential nominating contest

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Stewart Iverson today praised the Republican National Committee’s rules committee for passing what’s called the “Ohio Plan,” which would keep Iowa first in the presidential nominating process.

The plan, passed this morning in Albuquerque at a meeting of the Republican Rules Committee, would retain the lead-off roles for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, and rotate remaining states on a quadrennial basis.

Iverson says this is the first significant step for Iowa’s effort to keep its first-in-the-nation role in the presidential nominating process.

“This is a great day for the state of Iowa,” said Iverson. “I am pleased that the rules committee was able to work together and find a practical compromise. Iowans take their role in the nominating process very seriously. We invest the time to get to know the candidates and their positions on the issues, and understand the extremely significant role we have in selecting the next president.”

The RNC will have another rules committee meeting this summer, where this plan may be discussed, and it may ultimately be voted on at  the Republican National Convention this September in Minneapolis.

Iowa Secretary of State Announces Caucus Voter Registration Statistics

Mauro Announces Caucus Voter Registration Statistics

(Des Moines) Iowa Secretary of State Michael A. Mauro released the statistics from voter registration changes his offices attributes to the January 3rd Iowa Caucuses.

The current registration totals as of March 1st are: Democrats - 701,285; Republicans - 615,576; and 761,201 No Party.

The Iowa Democratic Party gained nearly 60,000 registrants and the Iowa Republican Party gained nearly 7,600 registered voters.

"It was apparent from the media reports and the crowded caucus locations that this was going to be a historic event for all Iowans. These registration numbers prove that the reports we were all hearing weren't just hype, but a reflection of a momentous event," Mauro affirmed.

The voters registered as "no party" had the largest decrease in number, dropping by over 49,000. "It is clear from these statistics that more independents chose to align with the Democrats during the caucus," Mauro stated.

Mauro is clear on this point, the overall winner is the state of Iowa. Party politics aside, Iowa gained over 22,000 new registrations overall. "I'm proud that Iowa voters chose to go out and participate in the caucus. I hope and fully anticipate this trend will carry through the Primary season and on to the General Election."

Republican Party of Iowa Announces New Chairman

Republican Party of Iowa Announces New Chairman

The Republican State Central Committee is pleased to announce Stewart Iverson as the new Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.  Iverson was unanimously voted in as Chairman after Ray Hoffmann stepped down this morning so that he could focus more time on his growing restaurant business in Sioux City.  Iverson will fill the remaining portion of Hoffmann’s term which expires in 2009.

“I look forward to the challenge of leading our party and working with our grassroots activists to achieve victory this fall,” said Iverson.  “We are the party of fiscal responsibility, commonsense government, and traditional family values, and I will work tirelessly to promote our party’s principles to the people of Iowa.”

Iowa And New Hampshire Again Earn Their First-in-the-Nation Status

Iowa and New Hampshire Again Earn Their First-in-the-Nation Status
Record turn out in both states further legitimizes traditional role

Des Moines, Iowa – Record numbers of Iowans of both political parties turned out for the state’s first-in-the-nation Caucus on January 3rd. On Tuesday this week, voters in New Hampshire mirrored Iowa for their first-in-the-nation Primary.

“You can see, measure, and quantify the legitimacy of the presidential selection process with this unprecedented participation in Iowa and New Hampshire,” stated Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa. “The electorate in these two lead-off states overwhelmingly earned their first-in-the-nation status.”

Critics of the present process often cite low participation in their arguments for change. “Nearly 400,000 Iowans and 500,000 residents of New Hampshire spoke loud and clear,” Laudner explained. “In Iowa specifically, one in four eligible voters made their voice heard on Caucus night.”

As many states attempted to leap-frog ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire, the lead-off Caucus and Primary were moved forward as well. “Iowans evaluate the line-up of candidates, then set their own personal batting order,” Laudner observed. “We expect to meet the candidates, shake their hands, and ask them about their positions on the issues. To move away from this retail style of politics would harm the nation.”

If campaigns were to focus first on higher population centers on the nation’s coasts, candidates’ interaction with voters would be limited to placing advertisements and holding rallies in huge arenas, Laudner observed. “The nation deserves better of the person seeking to be their Commander-in-Chief,” he said.

Moving ahead, the strong turn out of voters in both Iowa and New Hampshire is expected to solidify their status. “Our mission as the Republican Party of Iowa will be to emphasize our qualifications, performance, and willingness to do the hard work of being first-in-the nation,” Laudner concluded. “Iowans never walk away from hard work – the Caucus included.”

Republican Party Of Iowa Caucus Results

Record Turnout for Republican Caucus in Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa Republicans turned out in record numbers for the Caucus Thursday. “More than ever, Iowans took seriously their role at the first-in-the-nation presidential test and attended their caucus to vote for the candidate of their choice,” remarked Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa. Turnout is expected to reach 120,000 eligible voters, a record.

As the Caucus process reached its peak, presidential preference polls were held in each of more than 1700 voting precincts in the state. Mike Huckabee was declared winner of the Iowa Caucus with Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson in second and third place.

Republican Caucus Order of Finish

1. Mike Huckabee
2. Mitt Romney
3. Fred Thompson
4. John McCain
5. Ron Paul
6. Rudy Giuliani
7. Duncan Hunter

“These candidates came to Iowa and engaged in retail politics. They sought out the leaders in the Republican party at the grassroots level, visited every corner of the state, and shared their vision for America,” Laudner stated. “This is the kind of presidential campaign our nation deserves – not a television ad battle focused on the coasts. Voters learn more about the candidates by engaging them personally in cafes and community centers than could ever be judged by slick ads and speeches in arenas.”

The Caucus process gives rise to the grassroots volunteer who selects a candidate and then campaigns for them during the event. “In no other contest does the candidate rely so completely on volunteers to carry their message,” Laudner explained. “When an individual is so passionate, so dedicated to their candidate they are willing to stand in front of their peers at the Caucus to deliver a stump speech, you realize how inclusive and relevant this process is.”

In addition to the presidential preference poll, the Caucus serves to reinvigorate the Republican Party. Precinct representatives to the County Central Committee are selected as well as delegates to the County Convention. “The Caucus is the springboard by which our Party gains leadership to move into the election cycle,” Laudner observed. “County Conventions will be held on March 8th across the state. There delegates are selected to the District and State Conventions ending ultimately in the Republican National Convention this September in Minneapolis.” New leadership is expected to become involved and active.

Moving forward, Laudner sees a bright future for the current presidential selection process. “Once again, Iowans proved themselves worthy of their responsibilities,” he concluded. “They engaged the candidates, measured them against their personal convictions, and made the Iowa Caucus the nation’s premier political event.”

Iowa Democratic Party Caucus Results

Iowa Democratic Party Caucus Results

Senator Barack Obama : 37.58%
Senator John Edwards : 29.75%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 29.47%
Governor Bill Richardson : 2.11%
Senator Joe Biden : 0.93%
Uncommitted : 0.14%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.02%
Precincts Reporting: 1781 of 1781

(Percentages are State Delegate Equivalents.)

What a night for Iowa Democrats
Results Show Good Things to Come in 2008

Des Moines – With 100 percent of Iowa’s Democratic precinct caucuses reporting by 11:15pm last night, Iowa Democrats demonstrated that they were excited by their candidates and showed up to caucus. A record 239,000 caucus goers packed schools, libraries and community centers around the state, shattering the previous record of 124,000 caucus attendees posted in 2004.

Iowa Democrats pledged to hold a well-run and accurate caucus, and last nights flawless reporting and results showed that the Iowa Democratic Party was ready.

“It was an amazing night for Iowa and especially for Iowa Democrats,” said Scott Brennan, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. “Iowa Democrats showed up in record numbers to caucus and demonstrated that the role Iowans plays as first in the nation caucus goers is something they take very seriously.”

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting Iowa Democrats saw record turnout with 239,000 caucus attendees.

Iowa Democratic Party Releases Caucus Results Public Web Site

Iowa Democratic Party Releases Caucus Results Public Web Site

Des Moines – Today the Iowa Democratic Party released details for the upcoming Iowa Caucuses, and information for the public on how they can access Democratic results on caucus night.

The Iowa Democratic Party is proud to announce a public website that will allow anyone to follow the caucus results online on January 3, 2008. The website address is http://www.iowacaucusresults.com.  Results on this website will show on the statewide, county and precinct levels.

The caucuses will be called to order at 6:30pm. Any person signed in or in line to register by 7:00pm will be welcome to participate in the caucus.

Caucus locations can be found at http://www.iowafirstcaucus.org.

To participate in the Democratic caucus, the attendee may be a registered Democrat in that precinct. If they are not registered as a Democrat or if they are a registered Republican or Independent, they can register as a Democrat of they can change their party affiliation that night.

“The Iowa Democratic Party has been planning for months to make the 2008 caucuses a remarkably successful event,” said Carrie Giddins, Iowa Democratic Party Communications Director. “The public website is just one more way we are making the events in Iowa accessible to everyone around the country and the world..”

Executive Directors Of The IDP And RPI Unveil New Caucus Logo

Executive Directors Of The IDP And RPI Unveil New Caucus Logo

Des Moines - This morning, Mike Milligan and Chuck Laudner, executive directors of the Iowa Democratic Party and Republican Party of Iowa held a press conference to unveil a new caucus logo that incorporates elements from both parties.

Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner Photos