2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Newt Gingrich Travels To Iowa This Saturday, February 12, 2011

NEWT TRAVELS TO IOWA Saturday February 12, where he will meet doctors and nurses at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, as well as tour the facility. Newt will also participate in an American Solutions Business Roundtable breakfast and speak at a fundraiser for IA State Representative Tom Sands.

Iowa GOP Adds Additional Staff In Preparation For Straw Poll And 2012 Caucus

Iowa GOP adds experienced staff in preparation for straw poll/caucus

DES MOINES- Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn today announced the hiring of additional staff and the promotion of two current staff members as the party begins preparation for the straw poll and 2012 caucus. In addition to Executive Director Chad Olsen who was hired in November and formally confirmed late last month, Strawn has hired Communications Director, Casey Mills, Organization Director, Ryan Gough and Data Director, Patrick Stewart.

"We continue to build upon our successes since the November midterms by assembling a professional, experienced and committed staff in advance of the Ames Straw Poll and First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses. I am confident these additions to our team will make our grassroots activists, elected officials and donors proud,” Strawn said. “Collectively, this group brings a wealth of experience in political organization and communications and most importantly, they understand Iowa politics.”

Chad Olsen was first hired to serve as Executive Director in November and was formally confirmed by the State Central Committee last month. Olsen, a Harlan native, most recently served as the director of the 2010 Iowa GOP Voter Program which set records for voter contacts and returned Republican absentee ballots. He brings vast caucus experience, working every contested caucus since 1996.

Casey Mills has assumed the role of Communications Director.  Mills served as the Organization Director for Senator Chuck Grassley’s successful re-elect. Prior to returning to Iowa, he spent four years working for Grassley in Washington, most recently as his Deputy Press Secretary. Mills is originally from Sioux City.

Ryan Gough and Patrick Stewart come to the Republican Party of Iowa following roles as field director and data director respectively for the 2010 Iowa GOP Voter Program. Both Gough and Stewart worked at the Republican National Committee in the political department before coming to Iowa in 2010.

In addition to the new personnel at the Iowa GOP, both Kari Putney and Vonna Hall have been promoted to new roles within the organization. Putney, an Elgin native and Iowa State University graduate with extensive event and fundraising experience, was recently named the Iowa GOP's finance coordinator. Hall, who joined the party during the 2010 cycle, will serve as office manager.

Rick Santorum Commits to Steve King’s Conservative Principles Conference In Iowa

Santorum Commits to King’s Conservative Principles Conference
Event set for March 26 in Des Moines with Strawn as banquet emcee

Des Moines, Iowa – Congressman Steve King’s Conservative Principles Conference will include former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The potential 2012 Presidential candidate has confirmed his participation in the March 26th event being organized by King’s leadership political action committee.

“I am pleased to have Senator Santorum committed to participating in my Conservative Principles Conference,” King stated. “Iowans will appreciate this opportunity to hear from Senator Santorum and work together to shape the agenda of our nation.”

“I am looking forward to this opportunity to share my views with conservative activists from across Iowa and discuss how we can best tackle the economic, national security and cultural challenges our country is facing,” said Senator Santorum.

Additionally, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn will also participate in the Conservative Principles Conference. He will serve as emcee of the evening banquet featuring King and keynote speaker Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

Conservative Principles Conference will be held at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown. The day-long conference will include panel discussions and speakers including several invited 2012 Republican presidential prospects such as Santorum.

Doors will open at 8:00 am for the Conservative Principles Conference with the program set to begin at 9:00 am. An evening reception begins at 5:00 pm with the banquet starting at 6:00 pm. 

Tickets for King’s Conservative Principles Conference only are $25 each. Tickets for the banquet are $50 per person. Tickets for both the Conference and banquet are also $50 each. Those interested in purchasing tickets should call 888-722-4704. More information and tickets are available by visiting www.conservativeprinciplespac.com.

Iowa GOP Says Presidential Candidates Will Find A Different Political Landscape This Caucus Season

Presidential candidates will find a different political landscape this caucus season
Iowa GOP has expanded, made significant gains since ’08 caucus

DES MOINES- With the 2012 caucuses less than a year away, Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn highlighted the significant gains that Iowa Republicans have made since the 2008 caucuses. The Iowa caucuses will take place on February 6, 2012.

“The political landscape looks much different now than it did just four years ago,” Strawn said. “Candidates will find an emboldened GOP that has added nearly 50,000 Republicans to the voter rolls in addition to taking back the Governor’s Mansion and control of the State House. Our role as the ‘First in the Nation’ caucus state will only build on our momentum as we work to make Iowa a red state in 2012.”

The list below details the gains made by Republicans since the ’08 caucuses:

Increased Republican voter registration by nearly 50,000 voters;(January ‘08, 576,231- January ’11, 622,042)

Cut Iowa Democratic registration lead in half: in January ’09, Democrats held a voter registration edge of 115,915. Today, that number is 41,037

Election of Governor Terry Branstad, first Republican to be elected to the office in 12 years. Branstad carried 90 of Iowa’s 99 counties including:

Scott (Culver ‘06, 57%, Obama ’08, 56%)

Cerro Gordo (Culver ’06, 62%, Obama ’08, 60%)

Clinton (Culver ’06, 61%, Obama ’08, 60%)

Allamakee (Culver ’06, 54%, Obama ’08, 56%)

Muscatine (Culver ’06, 56%, Obama ’08, 57%)

Wapello (Culver ’06, 62%, Obama ’08, 55%)

Polk (Culver ’06, 56%, Obama ’08, 56%)

Jackson (Culver ’06, 63%, Obama ’08, 61%)

Election of Secretary of State Matt Schultz, first Republican to be elected to the office in 12 years

16-seat gain in the Iowa House in 2010 election, hold 60-40 margin with pickups in districts that included parts of Scott (Paustian), Cerro Gordo (Byrnes), Polk (Pearson), Muscatine (Lofgren), Jackson (Moore) and Allamakee (Hager) counties

Iowa House Republicans received 211,271 more total votes than their Democratic counterparts

6-seat gain in the Iowa Senate in the 2010 election including two pickups in districts that included Wapello County

Net-gain of 106 county offices, including supervisor seats in battleground terrain like Cerro Gordo, Linn, Scott and Dubuque counties

Orchestrated the most successful absentee ballot/early voting initiative in the history of the Iowa GOP, increasing returned Republican ballots by 83% compared to 2006 midterms

Executed a fully integrated voter program leveraged up and down the ticket, setting an Iowa GOP record with more than 1.5 million voter contacts

Jack Kimball Announces Christine Baratta As New Hampshire GOP Communications Director

Jack Kimball Announces Christine Baratta As NH GOP Communications Director

February 7, 2011 Concord, NH- Jack Kimball, Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, announced today that Christine Baratta will be the Communications Director for the NH Republican Party.

“I am delighted to welcome Christine to our team as Communications Director,” said Kimball. “With her media experience and communications skills working on political campaigns, I am confident she has the ability to effectively cultivate our message of strong republican values. Christine has a record of aggressively exposing the radical democrat agenda and I know she will work diligently to communicate the views of the NH GOP and keep a watchful eye on the democrats in Concord as we work to grow the party and sustain our majority at the State House.”

“I am thrilled to be working with the chairman and I am committed to work alongside republican state leaders and legislators to reinforce our conservative message,” said Baratta. “I look forward to an exciting year welcoming the Republican presidential candidates as we gear up for the first in the nation primary. The people of the granite state spoke loud and clear in last November’s election by sending the tax and spend crowd in Concord packing in a clear rejection of the democrats ill-conceived policies and reckless spending habits. Chairman Kimball is the leader who will unite the Republican Party while promoting conservative values of fiscal responsibility and limited government.”

Prior to joining the NH GOP, Christine served as a communications consultant on state and federal campaigns in New England and was the Communications Director at Jim Bender for US Senate in New Hampshire.

Christine also has comprehensive media experience including working as a talk radio producer in Boston for over 10 years and covering the 2008 New Hampshire Primary and Presidential Election for Bloomberg News.

Pawlenty delivers on substance at first “Presidential Lecture Series” event

“Tim Pawlenty said all the right things during the inaugural “Presidential Lecture Series” event sponsored by The FAMiLY Leader.   A crowd of 150 attendees, plus a dozen media members, gathered at Pella Christian High School early Monday afternoon to listen to the former Minnesota governor. “ By Kevin Hall

Pawlenty delivers on substance at first “Presidential Lecture Series” event

CNN Poll: Republicans want winner over ideology in 2012 – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

“Given the choice between a candidate who agrees with them on the issues or a candidate who can defeat President Barack Obama in 2012, a new national poll indicates Republicans overwhelming want a winner.” By: CNN Political Unit

CNN Poll: Republicans want winner over ideology in 2012 – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

Readout Of President Obama’s Call To Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy

Readout of President Obama’s Call to Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy

This afternoon, President Obama called Green Bay Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy to congratulate him and the team on their Super Bowl victory.  The President commended Coach McCarthy on his leadership in guiding the team through a rash of injuries both throughout season and during the game.  He also asked the coach to pass on how impressed he was with Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers’ game and season.  The President told McCarthy that even a Bears fan can appreciate what the victory means to the people of Green Bay and Wisconsin and said he looks forward to hosting the team at the White House, just as Charles Woodson predicted.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul Accepts The FAMiLY LEADER’s Invitation To Join The Presidential Lecture Series In March

TEXAS CONGRESSMAN RON PAUL ACCEPTS THE FAMiLY LEADER’s INVITATION TO JOIN THE PRESIDENTIAL LECTURE SERIES IN MARCH
Iowans Taking a Leading Role in Educational Process

Pleasant Hill, IA - The FAMiLY LEADER received confirmation Friday that Congressman Ron Paul will be the featured speaker at their Presidential Lecture Series on March 7.  Congressman Paul is scheduled to deliver his pro-family lecture and meet with members of Leadership Roundtables at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Pella Christian High School in Pella, and the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  Congressman Paul will follow former Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is kicking off this educational series today, February 7th.     

The primary purpose of the Presidential Lecture Series is to provide  national figures with a pre-planned, full day in Iowa to introduce them to Iowans and to give citizens an educational opportunity to become better informed on the pro-family vision of each lecturer.  The lectures will be videotaped, emailed to our comprehensive database, and posted on our www.TheFamilyLeader.com website to allow all interested citizens the opportunity to hear and watch the lectures.  

“We are pleased Congressman Paul has accepted our invitation to join our Presidential Lecture Series and anticipate that conservatives across Iowa will welcome the chance to learn about his pro-family vision for America”, said Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY LEADER.

Details of Dr. Paul’s schedule are being worked out and the final schedule for Monday, March 7th will be available soon.   

The FAMiLY LEADER will host the Presidential Lecture Series each month through August 1.  Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is scheduled for April 11 and former Senator Rick Santorum on May 2.  Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and businessman and radio host Herman Cain have also made commitments to participate.  Other invited speakers include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, South Dakota Senator John Thune, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and Indiana Representative Mike Pence.  The FAMiLY LEADER has been unable to reach former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

The Presidential Lecture Series will culminate with a Presidential Forum on November 19 at a location to be determined in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Big names' plans for Iowa caucus 2012 set to emerge by Thomas Beaumont Des Moines Register

“The fate-turning spectacle of the Iowa caucuses will unfold a year from today - or even sooner - but where are the big names?” By Thomas Beaumont

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110206/NEWS09/102060341/Big-names-plans-for-Iowa-caucus-2012-set-to-emerge?watchdog