2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Statement From Iowa Democratic Party Regarding Republican State Central Committee Announcement

Statement from Iowa Democratic Party Regarding Republican State Central Committee Announcement

Des Moines - The following is a statement by the Iowa Democratic Party in response to the announcement by the Republican Party of Iowa's State Central Committee:

The Iowa Democratic Party is planning for a January caucus that is run professionally and with integrity. We will decide our caucus date based ultimately on what is best for the people of Iowa and the Democratic Party.

State Chair Brennan, the State Central Committee, Governor Culver and Senator Harkin will continue to work with the pre-window states and the Democratic National Committee to determine a date that maintains Iowa's important role as the First-in-the-Nation Caucus.

Republican Party of Iowa Announces Caucus Date Of January 3, 2008

Republican Party of Iowa Announces Caucus Date

Earlier tonight, the Republican Party of Iowa's State Central Committee voted to hold its first-in-the-nation caucus on the evening of January 3, 2008.   

"With under 80 days to go, this is a huge help to our counties and county chairs to get the ball rolling and start organizing.  They have 1,784 precinct caucus meetings to run, thousands of volunteers to recruit and our presidential candidates deserve a set date," said Executive Director Chuck Laudner.  "This is a definitive year for Iowa, and it is crucial that RPI, the State Central Committee and our county organizations run a smooth, successful caucus."

The Republican Party of Iowa will continue to communicate and work with the Iowa Democratic Party over the coming months to plan the Iowa Caucuses and ensure we maintain our first-in-the-nation status.

The Republican Party Of Iowa To Host Presidential Debate

The Republican Party Of Iowa To Host Presidential Debate
FOX News Channel To Televise December 4 Event

The Republican Party of Iowa announced today that it will host a debate featuring major Republican candidates for President of the United States.  The event, to be held on December 4, will be the first debate in Iowa to be televised by FOX News Channel this election season, as well as the first debate sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa, announced Ray Hoffmann, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa.

In making the announcement, Hoffmann said, "This debate will be crucial for Iowa and the rest of the nation to see and hear our Republican presidential candidates prior to their first test in January - the Iowa caucus. We hope this debate can educate and motivate Iowans to come out on caucus night, get involved in our grassroots process and voice their opinions."

Marty Ryan, FOX News Executive Producer of Political Programs, added, "With its first-in-the-nation status, Iowa plays a vital role in the political process, and as one of the final debates before the caucuses, it will be even more important to tune in and learn where these candidates stand on issues that matter to Iowans and Americans alike."

2007 Iowa Straw Poll Video

Mitt Romney Wins Iowa Straw Poll

Mitt Romney Wins Iowa Straw Poll

With attendance of 33,000 and votes cast by more than 14,000, Republican party officials called the 2007 Iowa Straw Poll a resounding success. No one was more pleased than Governor Mitt Romney who received 4,516 votes to win the Straw Poll.

In second place Governor Mike Huckabee earned 2,587 votes and was followed by Senator Sam Brownback who received 2,192 ballots cast in his favor. In a close fourth, U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo received 1,961 votes. In fifth place was U.S. Representative Ron Paul with 1,305. Governor Tommy Thompson finished in sixth place with 1,029 votes and was followed by seventh place finisher, and undeclared candidate, Fred Thompson who had 203 votes cast for him. Mayor Rudy Giuliani received 183 votes for eighth place followed by U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter in ninth place with 174 votes. Senator John McCain, in 10th position, got 101 votes. And finishing last with 41 votes was John Cox.

"Reports of the demise of the Iowa Straw Poll were premature and proven false today," stated Ray Hoffmann, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. "Activists turned out in great numbers to support their candidates despite a heat index exceeding 100 degrees. The atmosphere here rivaled that of the State Fair."

New voting procedures were in place at the Iowa Straw Poll which required presentation and validation of a photo ID along with a ticket. "Iowans proudly stepped up to meet our voting requirements," Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa, remarked. "To see more than 14,000 purple thumbs on this campus was thrilling."

With theses new voting procedures in place, party officials were confident all votes were cast by Iowans only. "Tickets were punched then scanned along with photo IDs," Laudner explained. "Our process guaranteed the one person, one vote ideal was upheld. We believe photo identification should be required before any vote is cast in Iowa elections and today we proved the process was not only possible, it was effective and efficient."

The Iowa Straw Poll continues a decades' long tradition of testing candidates' organizational strength, bringing likely caucus-goers together, and winnowing the field. In the 1999 caucus, 89,000 participated. Today's Straw Poll vote tally represents more than 15 percent of that total, the most representative sample of likely voters' opinions, Laudner concluded.

Statement from the IDP Regarding the South Carolina Republican Party’s Primary Date Change Announcement

Statement from the IDP Regarding the South Carolina Republican Party’s Primary Date Change Announcement

Des Moines – Below is a statement from the Iowa Democratic Party’s Carrie Giddins, Communications Director, regarding today’s announcement by the South Carolina Republican Party’s primary date change:

“The South Carolina Republicans won’t dictate what Iowa does. The Iowa Democratic Party, our Chairman and our State Central Committee, will make a decision regarding the date of our caucuses with Governor Chet Culver, Senator Tom Harkin and other political leaders that protects Iowa’s interests.

The Iowa Caucuses are scheduled for January 14th, 2008 and we are moving forward with plans for that date. Iowa will hold the first in the nation caucuses.”

What Ther're Saying About The Iowa Straw Poll

The Iowa Straw Poll Spectacle!

Iowa's greatest political event is set to begin this Saturday morning. The eyes of the world are on the Iowa GOP and the Iowa Straw Poll this Saturday. Check out the following links to see what's being said about the Straw Poll around the nation!

What is the Iowa Straw Poll?

WQAD TV - Quad Cities

The Iowa straw poll will be at the Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum. And Republicans told me it's like a tail gate party but instead of a football game there are people running for president. http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=6907379&nav=1sW7

In Iowa, It's Make-or-Break Time for Some Candidates

US News & World Report

The traditional campaign season--if such a thing still exists--isn't supposed to rev up until after Labor Day.

But what happens over the next dozen days in heat-scorched central Iowa could end up burying the hopes of more than one presidential wannabe and jostling the remaining lineup as the early front-runners and survivors head into the fall.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070808/8iowa.htm

When a Poll Is Not Really a Poll

Washington Post

For candidates trailing in reliable, representative polls and in fundraising, Ames may prove critical. After all, failure to do well in a poll for sale is often seen as an organizational indictment. That is why there may be fewer GOP contenders after Saturday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/07/AR2007080701730.html

Thompson Puts His Political Eggs in Straw Poll Basket

KTIV TV - Sioux City

Thompson candidly admits that if he's not one of the top two on Saturday, he'll be out of the race, and last quarter's fundraising efforts weren't good. Thompson sits dead last, with just $120,000 in the bank, compared to other candidates who've raised millions.

http://www.ktiv.com/News/index.php?ID=15818

Thousands of Republicans will head to Ames for Straw Poll on Saturday

Forest City Summit

Welcome to the world of the Iowa GOP Straw Poll, an event where presidential candidates can prove the mettle of their campaign organization by bringing hundreds or even thousands of Republicans to vote for their favorite candidate.

http://www.forestcitysummit.com/articles/2007/08/08/latest_forest_city_news/latestnews07.txt

Spectacle to greet straw poll-goers

Cedar Rapids Gazette

It's almost Republican presidential straw poll time in Ames, so that means charter buses, large tents and balloons are in short supply in central Iowa.

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/IOWACAUCUS/70807044/1011/IOWACAUCUS

Stakes are high for Iowa Straw Poll

Sioux City Journal

The center of GOP presidential politics will shift to Ames next Saturday as the Republican White House hopefuls aim for a strong finish in the Iowa Straw Poll, a closely watched test of their strength five months before the caucuses.
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/08/04/news/iowa/d67090046c0106038625732d000dd25c.txt

It's not official, but Iowa Straw Poll has draw

Houston Chronicle

High on the list of superpowers a campaign might wish for would be the ability to manipulate opinion surveys, and on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, Republican presidential contenders will get to live that dream through the Iowa straw poll.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5039007.html

The Education of Rudy - Iowa Style

Off the Bus Blog

Sweat spots oozing from his pristine starched blue shirt, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani admitted to OffTheBus, "Maybe it was a mistake not to participate in the Iowa Straw Poll."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/beverly-davis/the-education-of-rudy-i_b_59563.html

Voting At The Iowa Straw Poll

VOTING AT THE IOWA STRAW POLL: FRAUD-PROOF, HONEST & SECURE

The Republican Party of Iowa will host the Iowa Straw Poll on August 11, however, the voting procedure will be conducted with the assistance and oversight of the Story County Auditor's Office with assistance from the State Auditor's Office.

"Voting at the Iowa Straw Poll will follow procedures unique to this event," stated Chuck Laudner, Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa. "You will need to prove your Iowa residency during the credentialing process. This means you will need to display an Iowa driver's license, military ID, student ID, or other legitimate form of photo identification."

Only upon being successfully credentialed will the Straw Poll voter be given a paper ballot to cast their vote. An electronic scan of the photo ID will verify its authenticity and prevent multiple voting attempts. All Iowa residents who will be 18 years old on or before November 4, 2008, will be eligible to be credentialed and vote upon successful completion of that process.

Officials with the Republican Party of Iowa believe all official elections in Iowa should require every voter show a photo ID to vote. "It is unacceptable to engage in a voting process open to fraud," Laudner stated. "There should be no more important tenant in any election than one person, one vote." He went on to say only liberals oppose requiring showing a photo ID before voting. "Intentional fraud and illegal voting can mean the difference between victory and defeat in many elections," he said. "The steps we are requiring before ballots are cast at the Straw Poll are the minimum we believe should be used in each election in this state."

Voters at the Straw Poll will dip their thumb in purple ink to indicate they have cast their ballot. "We recognize the great privilege of voting by tipping our hat to the Iraqi people who cast their first votes in a free and democratic election," Laudner explained. "Iowans will be just as proud to display their inked thumb as the newly liberated Iraqi people were."

Voting begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues until 6:00 p.m. when the voting areas are shut down. Voting machines provided by the Story County Auditor will be used. These are the same machines used for every official election held in Story County. The machines will be positioned on the concourse level of Hilton Coliseum, Scheman Building, and CY Stephens auditorium. Votes will be tallied by the State Auditor's Office and results will be announced by emcee.

Iowa GOP Executive Pens Caucus Novel

Iowa GOP Executive Pens Caucus Novel
Laudner captures insider’s view of process

Des Moines, Iowa – Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa, wrote a novel about the caucus process in 2006. The book, titled Stand and Deliver – The 2008 Iowa GOP Caucus, begins with a fictional Straw Poll account and concludes with the declaration of the caucus winner in 2008.

All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Iowa Republican Party. It is available for preorder at www.iowagop.net and will be for sale at the Iowa Straw Poll. While Laudner’s name may be on the cover, his intention is for the book to bolster the Republican Party’s coffers and ability to assist its candidates.

“This book is the culmination of many discussions held with friends and co-workers in 2006 before I joined the Republican Party as executive director,” Laudner explained. “For those of us who operate in Iowa’s political sphere, the 2008 Iowa caucus is the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the bases loaded. Selection of the next Republican nominee for the presidency occupies our entire thought process.”

In the novel, readers are introduced to a field of Republican presidential candidates, and their staffs, as well as Iowa political figures. While no candidate in Stand and Deliver correlates directly with one of those currently criss-crossing Iowa, parallels on issues and circumstances do exist.

“When writing the book over a year ago, I had no idea the plot I outlined would reflect reality so closely in many instances,” Laudner commented. “The field of candidates in 2006 was different yet many similarities remain.”

A synopsis of the book states, “With a combination of seasoned political operatives from DC and their home states as well as Iowa activists, the battle for endorsements, face time with party leaders, and grassroots support plays out in Iowa’s cities, small towns, and living rooms.

“The everyday drama of a campaign plays out through ups and downs, the unexpected and predictable. Issues drive the interaction between Iowans and candidates with emphasis on energy, immigration, and family.

“Iowans see their role in the process of politics, and will understand how their participation will shape the outcome of not only the Iowa caucus, but the 2008 presidential race, the nation’s future, and – ultimately – America’s place on the world stage.”

Before joining the Republican Party of Iowa, Laudner served as chief of staff and senior policy advisor for Iowa Congressman Steve King, managed Bill Salier’s senate campaign, worked for Steve Forbes’ Iowa campaign team, and Senator Charles Grassley as well.

The Republican Party Of Iowa Straw Poll Ballot Announced

Iowa Straw Poll: The Starting Line-Up

The Republican Party of Iowa is looking forward to a strong and solid line-up at the Iowa Straw Poll.  This afternoon, both Mike Huckabee and Tommy Thompson announced they are currently planning on participating in the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday, August 11, in Ames, Iowa.  With their announcement, the field of candidates participating in the event now includes Senator Sam Brownback, John Cox, former Governor Mike Huckabee, Congressman Duncan Hunter, Congressman Ron Paul, former Governor Mitt Romney, Congressman Tom Tancredo and former Governor Tommy Thompson.

Chuck Laudner, the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Iowa, feels confident the event will be a success.  "The commitments from these eight candidates assures Iowa will have an impact with it's first in the nation status.  They will have the opportunity to connect with thousands of prospective Iowa caucus-goers, as well as receive a great deal of national and local media attention.  When I look at this line-up, I am convinced they will build the largest gathering of Republicans ever."

Also attending this year's Iowa Straw Poll will be Wayne LaPierre, CEO and Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association; former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich; and radio personality Neal Boortz who will be leading a rally for the FairTax Association.

Additionally, this past weekend, the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa decided that the following announced presidential candidates will appear on the Iowa Straw Poll ballot:

Sam Brownback
John Cox
Jim Gilmore
Rudy Giuliani
Mike Huckabee
Duncan Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson