2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Barack Obama Campaign To Open Office At 2722 University Ave SE In Minneapolis On Monday, November 7, 2011

Obama Campaign to Open Minneapolis Office

Minneapolis, Minn. – With just one year until the 2012 elections, Organizing for America – Minnesota will hold the grand opening of its first office in-state on Monday, November 7th at 5:45pm in Minneapolis. Volunteers and supporters of President Obama will join together with Representative Keith Ellison, Mayor RT Rybak and DFL Chair Ken Martin to celebrate.

Organizing for America (OFA) has been engaging and training volunteers and supporters since just after President Obama was inaugurated.  Since the launch of the re-election campaign in April, OFA-Minnesota staff and volunteers have held trainings, planning sessions, house parties, and phone banks around the state working to elect the President to a second term.

WHO: Rep. Keith Ellison, Mayor RT Rybak, DFL Chair Ken Martin, and OFA-MN volunteers & supporters

WHAT: Office opening

WHERE: OFA-Minnesota Minneapolis Office

2722 University Avenue, SE

Minneapolis, MN

WHEN: Monday, November 7, 2011 at 5:45 pm.

Program begins at 6:15pm.

Bachmann Announces South Carolina Team; Wesley Donehue joins Ron Thomas and Sheri Few as Senior Advisor

Bachmann Announces South Carolina Team
Wesley Donehue joins Ron Thomas and Sheri Few as Senior Advisor

Columbia, SC – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann announced today the team that will lead her presidential campaign to victory in the nation’s key “first-in-the-south’” primary. Joining previously announced senior advisor Ron Thomas and state campaign director Sheri Few is South Carolina political strategist Wesley Donehue. Donehue will help lead state strategy and communications, as well as aiding the national new media team.

“We’re running in South Carolina to win, and I know Ron, Wesley, and Sheri will help me deliver my message of controlling spending, limiting government, and securing the border to the people of the Palmetto State," Bachmann said. "South Carolinians want someone with a proven track record of fighting to uphold our conservative values, both personally and politically; I am that candidate."

The full South Carolina team includes:

SC Senior Advisor, Ron Thomas

Thomas served as President George W. Bush’s appointee as deputy assistant secretary for policy in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. He also served as the designated federal official for the Secretary’s Advisory Committee of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans and Families. In 2004, Mr. Thomas was elected second vice chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. He is former political director for the SCGOP, a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention, vice chairman of the South Carolina delegation, and the vice president of the South Carolina Republican Party Convention. Thomas is a 1997 grad of USMA at West Point and a 2004 graduate of the USC School of Law.

SC Senior Advisor and SC Communications Director, Wesley Donehue

Wesley Donehue will serve as a SC consultant and SC communications director and he will aide in national new media outreach. Donehue is the CEO of Donehue Direct, a Columbia, SC-based political consulting and Internet strategy firm. He currently serves as the political director and spokesman for the SC Senate Republican Caucus and the general consultant for numerous members of the SC General Assembly. Donehue is currently the senior Internet consultant for campaigns across the country, including Congressman Joe Wilson in South Carolina. Last cycle he served as a strategist for the SC Republican Party, helping lead the party to historic wins.

SC State Campaign Director, Sheri Few

Few is the founder and president of SC Parents Involved in Education. Mrs. Few is a gubernatorial appointee to the South Carolina Commission on Women and currently serves as chair. She is president of the Kershaw County Republican Women; treasurer of the Kershaw County Republican Party; associate member of the Capital City Republican Women; and lifetime member of the SC General Assembly’s Women’s Caucus. She is former commissioner to Governor’s Campbell and Beasley; former chairman and executive committeeman of the Kershaw County Republican Party; and co-founder and chair of Midlands Crisis Pregnancy Center. Few has been active in the SC TEA Party movement since its inception and has been a featured speaker at many state capital rallies.

Assistant to the Director, Gavin Smith

Smith is a college student studying International Business and Political Science and plans to attend law school. In 2010, Smith volunteered for gubernatorial election events for Nikki Haley. Following Haley’s election, he worked as an intern in her transition office and later in her Executive Office. Here he worked on constituent services, legislative relations, and office operations. Smith recently founded and serves as president and CEO of a non-profit designed for students living in financial crisis in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Upstate Coordinator, Natalie Lennon

Lennon is a graduate of Bob Jones University majoring in Political Science. She worked on the Gresham Barrett campaign for South Carolina Governor in 2010,maintaining the local campaign office, recruiting volunteers and assisting with local debates and other events. She was also a volunteer for the Wendy Nanney for State House campaign in 2008. Miss Lennon was a delegate to the Greenville County GOP Convention in 2011.

Midlands Coordinator, Patsy Dabney
Dabney is a real estate agent and longtime conservative activist. She served as campaign manager and lead volunteer for various state house campaigns. Mrs. Dabney has been a grassroots activist for conservative issues for over 30 years, and previously served as a School Board member in Alabama while her husband was serving in the US Army.

Low Country Coordinator, Taylor Mason
Mason is a Junior at USC-Beaufort with a strong record of campus leadership. Prior to his position with Team Bachmann, Mason served as chairman of the College Republicans, secretary general of the Beaufort County Republican Party (BCRP), and the director of youth involvement for the BCRP. In addition, Mason was instrumental in planning and coordinating “Rock the Vote,” a key young voter initiative featuring state and federal candidates. In 2010, he worked with the Joe Wilson campaign, helping compile opposition research, and organizing campaign rallies and other campaign events.

Rick Perry Des Moines Iowa Education and Economic Townhall Photos 3 of 3 #iacaucus University of Phoenix

Rick Perry Des Moines Iowa Townhall Photos 2 of 3 #iacaucus University of Phoenix

Rick Perry Des Moines Iowa Townhall Photos 1 of 3 #iacaucus

9 Candidates Qualify for South Carolina Primary

9 Candidates Qualify for South Carolina Primary

Columbia, S.C. - South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly today announced that nine Presidential candidates have met the qualifications to appear on the 2012 South Carolina Republican Primary ballot for the office of President of the United States of America.

"Presidential candidates and Republican activists across our nation know South Carolina's thirty year tradition of successfully choosing the Republican nominee," said Chairman Connelly.

"That tradition will continue on January 21, 2012, as South Carolina Republicans again live up to our motto, "We Pick Presidents!"

The following list represents all candidates who qualified by the November 1, 2011, 5:00 P.M. deadline:

Michele Bachmann
Herman Cain
Newt Gingrich
Jon Huntsman
Gary Johnson
Ron Paul
Rick Perry
Mitt Romney
Rick Santorum

Iowa GOP Announces 2011 Reagan Dinner Speaking Order; Five GOP presidential hopefuls featured at Nov. 4, 2011 Event

Iowa GOP Announces 2011 Reagan Dinner Speaking Order

Five GOP presidential hopefuls featured at Friday event

DES MOINES- The Iowa GOP today released the approximate speaking schedule for the 2011 Ronald Reagan Dinner set to take place the evening of Friday, November 4 at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. Each candidate will have ten minutes of total speaking time before an audience of Iowa’s most influential Republican office holders and activists, as well as a live national television audience on C-SPAN2.

Confirmed Republican presidential candidates include U.S. Representative Michelle Bachmann, former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, U.S. Representative Ron Paul, former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, and Texas Governor Rick Perry. Iowa Republican officials speaking include U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, and Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn.

Iowa GOP officials today announced VIP seating for the dinner is sold out, but a limited number of general seating dinner tickets remain. The $75 dinner tickets can be reserved by calling (515) 282-8105, emailing RSVP@iowagop.org, or purchasing securely online at www.iowagop.org.

2011 Iowa GOP Ronald Reagan Dinner Speaking Schedule

*all times approximate (local Iowa time is Central Standard Time)

6:00p- Doors Open/General Reception

7:00p- Welcome by Iowa GOP Co-Chairman Bill Schickel

7:15p- Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds delivers remarks

7:20p- U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley delivers remarks

7:26p- Chairman Matt Strawn delivers remarks

7:30p- U.S. Representative Ron Paul delivers remarks

7:41p- U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann delivers remarks

7:52p- Speaker Newt Gingrich delivers remarks

8:02p- Senator Rick Santorum delivers remarks

8:13p- Governor Rick Perry delivers remarks

8:25p- Closing Ronald Reagan Tribute Video

Ron Paul Campaign Issues Statement on Federal Debt News. U.S. debt surpasses Gross Domestic Product

Ron Paul Campaign Issues Statement on Federal Debt News
U.S. debt surpasses Gross Domestic Product

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – Today, Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate released the following statement regarding the news that the federal debt now exceeds the Gross Domestic Product of the United States.

“For far too long, Congress and Presidents have played budgetary tricks on the American people by pretending we could trim around the edges and still afford endless expenditures on entitlements and foreign interventions. Ron Paul's ‘Plan to Restore America’ confronts our debt crisis head-on by cutting $1 trillion in his first year and delivering a fully balanced budget by his third year.

“We can no longer afford politicians who play games with America's future. As President, Ron Paul will treat the American people with the respect they deserve by being honest about our nation's situation and implementing fundamental reforms to return America to prosperity.”

Michele Bachmann Iowa Schedule November 1-4, 2011 #iacaucus

Bachmann Continues Tour of Hawkeye State, Focuses on Job Creation and Economic Growth

Urbandale, Iowa – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will continue her tour of Iowa this week. During a series of addresses and events, Bachmann will lay out her strategic plan to spur economic growth and put hardworking Americans back to work. The following events, which occur in Central Time, are open to credentialed media.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:	National Association of Manufacturers Presidential Forum NOTE: This event will be streamed live on Iowa Public Television at iptv.org. 10:00 am CT Vermeer Manufacturing 1210 East Vermeer Road Pella, Iowa
EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:	Iowa Association of Independent Baptists Conference Address 7:20 pm CT First Fellowship Baptist Church 1008 East Olive Street Marshalltown, Iowa

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:	"Mickelson in the Morning" live radio interview with host Jan Mickelson on WHO Radio NOTE: This interview will be streamed live on whoradio.com. 10:00 am CT WHO Radio Studios 2141 Grand Avenue Des Moines, Iowa
EVENT:	Presidential Tele-Town Hall Series hosted by National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) 3:00 pm CT

Thursday, November 3, 2011

EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:	Economic Policy Address 12:00 pm CT South Ballroom Iowa State University Memorial Union Ames, Iowa
EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:	Dallas County GOP Dinner 6:00 pm CT Dallas County Fairgrounds 28057 Fairground Rd Adel, Iowa

Friday, November 4, 2011

EVENT: WHEN: WHERE:

Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner NOTE: Remarks will be streamed live on C-SPAN2 and c-span.org. 6:00 pm CT – Bachmann Arrives 7:00 pm CT – Event Begins Iowa Events Center – Hy-Vee Hall 730 3rd Street Des Moines, Iowa

Minnesota Artist Joseph Hautman Wins 2011 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

Minnesota Artist Joseph Hautman Wins 2011 Federal Duck Stamp Contest

Joseph Hautman, an artist from Plymouth, Minn., is the winner of the 2011 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest.    The announcement was made today by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, W. Va., during the annual art competition.
 
This is Hautman’s fourth Federal Duck Stamp Contest win.   His art previously appeared on the 1992-1993, 2002-2003 and 2008-2009 Federal Duck Stamps.    Hautman’s acrylic painting of a single wood duck will be made into the 2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2012.   The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $15 and raises about $25 million each year to provide critical funds for conserving wetlands for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.
 
Of 190 entries in this year’s two-day competition, 32 entries made it through to the final round of judging.   Adam Grimm of Burbank, S.D., placed second with his oil painting of a single gadwall.   Grimm is also a previous Federal Duck Stamp Contest winner.   His art appeared on the 2000-2001 Federal Duck Stamp.
 
Richard Clifton of Milford, Del., took third place with an acrylic painting of a pair of mallards.   Clifton won the 2006 Federal Duck Stamp Contest and his winning art appeared on the 2007-2008 Federal Duck Stamp.  "I wasn’t too nervous to begin with," said Hautman.   “But as soon as my brother- Bob’s painting went out, I started wanting to win.”
 
Hautman’s brother Bob has won the Federal Duck Stamp twice previously, in 1996 and 2000.   Their brother Jim is the current Federal Duck Stamp artist, having won the 2010 contest and three previous contests.   Among them, the three brothers have won the contest 10 times.  
 
"My sincerest congratulations to Joe Hautman on his win, and to all of the artists who entered this year,” said Dan Ashe, the Service’s Director.   “The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is a time-honored tradition, and the dedication of wildlife artists to the contest and the stamp’s conservation mission spans generations.   This year we saw the oldest contest entrant – a veteran wildlife artist -- as well as the youngest entrant, a young woman of just 19 years old. 
 
“The stamp itself is widely known as one of this nation’s most successful and effective conservation programs,” said Assistant Director Jerome Ford of the Service’s Migratory Bird Program.   “This connection of generations through the traditions of wildlife art and conservation is what makes the Federal Duck Stamp Program so successful.”
 
This year's five-judge panel included Ira Cotton, a stamp collector (philatelist) and philatelic journalist; H. Dale Hall, a former Service Director and current CEO of Ducks Unlimited, Inc.; Gary Kramer, an award-winning freelance outdoor writer and photographer; John Neal Mullican, a sculptor whose works have been displayed in the United States and abroad; and Lynn Scarlett, former Deputy Interior Secretary and a visiting scholar and co-director at the Center for the Management of Ecological Wealth at Resources for the Future.   The alternate judge was Christine Thomas, dean and professor of resource management at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources.
 
Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are required to purchase and carry the current Migratory Bird Conservation and Hunting Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp. Conservationists, stamp collectors and others must also purchase the stamp in support of habitat conservation.
 
Ninety-eight percent of the proceeds from the $15 Duck Stamp go to the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which supports the purchase of acres of wetlands for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System.
 
Since 1934, sales of Federal Duck Stamps have helped to purchase nearly six million acres of wildlife habitat for the Refuge System.   To date, Duck Stamp funds have been used to acquire habitat at hundreds of refuges in nearly every state.   There are 555 national wildlife refuges spread across all 50 states and U.S. territories.   A current Duck Stamp may also be used for free admission to any national wildlife refuge open to the public. Refuges offer unparalleled recreational opportunities, including hunting, fishing, bird watching and photography.