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Subscribe to RSSSIOUX CITY, Iowa – In Mitt Romney’s first trip back to Iowa since August, he told the crowd he would love to win the first-in-the-nation caucus here.
“I want to get the support of Iowans. I’m in Iowa. This is not my first trip to Iowa, as you know,” Romney said in response to an attendee who questioned his absence in the State. “And I will be here again and again campaigning here. I want to get the support of the good people in Iowa. I’d love to win in Iowa, any of us would.”
The comments today at Morningside College may start to raise questions about the Romney campaign’s expectations in the January 3rd caucuses.
“Our strategy in Iowa has not changed,” Romney’s top Iowa advisor, Dave Kochel, told NBC News following the event this morning.
After staking his 2008 candidacy in Iowa, the former Massachusetts governor has been to the Hawkeye State just three times this year. But even Romney acknowledged before the crowd of a couple hundred the importance of the state.
“You guys have a big say. Iowa comes first. You have an enormous say in who the next president is going to be,” Romney said.
Matt Winter of Sibley, Iowa who posed the question to Romney said he was satisfied with the presidential candidate’s response.
“He really very directly answered the question so I was happy with that,” Winter said. “Whether he fulfills what he said he is going to do is an entirely different issue.”
One undecided voter in attendance, who is considering voting for Romney, said whether the Massachusetts governor frequents his state or not will not impact who he caucuses for.
“I think it is important that we vote for the best candidate, who would be the best president, no matter how often they are here,” Todd Barry of Sioux City said. “I think Iowans, I have been a lifelong Iowans, will select who the best candidate is no matter what.”
Romney continues with two more stops in Iowa today.
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I'm sure he would! lol
Sadly for Willard that's ever gonna happen! ;o)
Sounds to me like he's doing a really bad impersonation of bat crap crazy Bachmann!
Do these yahoo's get a prize or something for the number of times they can mention the state in one breath?
Are the good people of IA incapable of seeing through the bullsh!t?
The trick is to get the media not expecting your win, and then pull it out anyway. That's what Romney was going for. He may have just blown it, though, by acknowledging he does have an Iowa-based strategy.
But, still, he's walking the middle line probably well enough. If he comes in second or third, what will the media say on 4 Jan? Probably just that, eh, he didn't go there much anyway. If he comes in fourth, or even a distant-third, then the questions will start again.
His Iowa strategy is to, first, compete within expectations at a minimum, and, second, to beat those expectations. He did just raise them "a little," the question now being how much. Probably not enough to hurt him.
Just think, next to Huntsman, Romney is the smartest one of the bunch.
So the Department of Energy is going back and scrubbing it's earlier press releases related to certain loans to solar companies.
Looks like they'd like us to pretend that they didn't recently loan $1.2 billion to a company called SunPower, and that it is not about to go BK.
Man, Chu and Obama have set back green energy by years. I wonder if the DOE rewrote the terms of the deal like Solyndra so that Obama backers get their money out first, before us taxpayers.
So who's upfor another round of Solyndra Gate? First Read, I suspect this means you'll get to it sometime in mid January?
Hey First Read - you all go get ahead of the curve on this and investigate how many Green loans were made by Chu's department, how many have already failed, and how many are about to fail.
Oh and how much this all costs - cause Obama is all about jobs and infrastructure. As we all know Solyndra got more than 35 states did out of the Stimulus for infrastructure.
How many teachers, firefighters and cops could be hired for just SunPower'1 $1.2 Billion + Solyndra's $550 million?
If he were Bachmann he'd say ""What I love about Iowa and what we have in common is our extreme love for liberty. You're the state where John Glenn grew up dreaming of becoming an astronaut and he did."
editor's note * John Glenn was born in Cambridge, Ohio, to John Herschel Glenn Sr. and Teresa (née Sproat).[1] He was raised in New Concord, Ohio.
For a venture capitalist obama is pretty bad. He is pretty good at killing muslims dirtbags though. I'll give him credit there. But that's where it ends. He sucs on every other measure.
Spanky, You need to speculate big...
How many jobs would be created in the US with the 1 Trillion spent on the Iraq war?
Such a shame... we will never know.
Solyndra and SunPower have certainly been a stain on Obama's record of achievement. And the venture capitalist President can add that to the temporary jobs he created, ehh, saved, ehh, supported in 2009, and to the same temporary "jobs" he's trying to create, save, support in 2012.
Super Joe Biden got super testy when challenged at his presser, warning journalists "Don't screw around with me". That's Joe, always kidding around. Sure, no one messes with Joe. Who said that again?
Joe has been such a great success to the Obama administration. It's hard to see why anyone would want to replace him with Hillary.
And Harry Reid is on-board too. He thinks private sector jobs are doing just swell! Harry says he needs more money for those government jobs. Yeah, we just don't have enough government
With Obama spending the money? Same answer as with his Stimulus I plan. None.
You have to put it in terms Spanky can relate to.
Like how many Lake Havasus would a trillion dollars create?
Or do conservatives think stuff like the Parker Dam just dropped from the sky?
And why has it suddenly stopped dropping?
How cute!
The RWNJ's seem to have learned two new words today; venture capitalist lol
Hey DBO - you up for a drinking game on the number of times we're gonna see their new buzz words? lmao
Chu and Obama have set back green energy by years.
Not only Green Energy, but Liberalism itself.
It will be at least a generation before anyone is willing to try this stuff again. That is about how long it takes to forget what a failure it is.
President Obama has done what no amount of GOP Policy could do.
He has destroyed his party through his arrogance.
RIP Liberalism. We knew you far to well.
Spanky, JAS and WCA, What does this have to do with Iowa, I am starting to smell the fear in your writing at least I hope thats what that smell is. Everyone heard you the first time so move on. We know you are scared to death the dems will win, take you power and money away and we really don't care. Despiration is a sign of weakness and you are so despirate to get your little talking points out you create a wave of fear coming from the republican cult.
Anna Molly, Thanks for the clarification :)
I will repost....
JoAnnaSmith1
With Obama spending the money? Same answer as with his Stimulus I plan. None.
Did you do any form research on the stimulus 1 spending gains or you just want to keep the Right nuts lies alive and believing one day, those lies will turn into truth. I strongly implore you and rest nuts on the right to starts a honest discussion base on facts and not lies. All these lies show one thing, GOP/TP has no credibility.
Spanky, Taking the advise of AM. I am reframing my question.
We spent 1T on a war...
How many bridges could of been repaired in the US?
Currently ,one in nine bridges have been rated deficient in the US according to the Fed Highway Amin.
Spanky, how many bridges do you drive over in a day in Cali?
I drive over four here in MN. I always think about the one that did collapse here killing 11 people.
Check you pants.
Obama takes every ones power and money away. He is a destroyer of wealth, not a creator. And you will care when your government check doesn't show up TtS. You'll squeal like the little pig your are.
I like Joey Biden's talking point to the press yesterday; "Don't screw around with me". And Obama's talking point is a hoot too: We're just not spending enough money! True desperation (note correct spelling).
Buying votes is hard work for Obama. Especially when Congress won't give him the money to do so.
NorthstarDFL
Don't bother yourself. spanky doesn't drive over those bridges he floats over them just like he's floating on the reality of time.
Here is the graph demonstrating what the Obama administration predicted would happen both with and without Stimulus I. Please defend the current economy based on this graph, and be sure to tell us all about the successes of Stimulus I.
http://blogs.reuters.com/james-pethokoukis/2011/06/07/romer-bernstein-unemployment-chart-updated/
JSA
Every economic plan is base on forecast. Your graph is a forecast of what they did expect. My question again is did it work? I know your answer will be NO. Please prove it.
Not my graph PEN. It's the Obama administrations forecast.
So do you think they were right or wrong with their forecast for Stimulus I PEN?
And what about the Stimulus II forecast PEN? Do you think the Obama administration is right or wrong about it? Do you trust them to be right this time when they were so wrong last time? If so, why?
The graph is the proof of whether it worked or not. Obama came up a little short, no? Because if Stimulus I worked, there would be no need for Obama pushing Stimulus II, at least not according to the Obama administrations initial forecasts.
Between 2 and 3 million "created or saved" over a 2 year period. Isn't that the numbers the CBO gave out on the last stimulus of 800B?
So AM and Tis - why won't Obama end the wars?
He's the boss, it's his call.
End them all and pull in our troops from all over. Spend the money here.
Seems pretty easy to me.
Too bad all you libbies are now basking in the death of Gadaffi, and cheering the execution of Al Alawaki.
You all are the real Cowboys now, eh?
Spanky
Too bad all you libbies are now basking in the death of Gadaffi, and cheering the execution of Al Alawaki.
You all are the real Cowboys now, eh?
Is this a way of acknowledging that OUR policies are winning? Too bad for GOP/TP.
Spanky I suppose Gadaffi was an american citizen and Obama got him right? As for Al Alawaki I will go back to an earlier statement, you are so afraid Obama is going to send a missile your way aren't you. Just because you disagree with him right? You watching the rooftops yet and don't forget about open windows thats a favorite of snipers. They got your number spanks they are coming. I am glad to here you have life all figured out, world relations are just so simple for someone of your intellect, we all want to be like spanky uurp oh all over my desk again. I smell your fear Spanky, look behind you.
Conservatives having an emasculating moment, are they?
Your side gets so testy when you don't have any steers to round up and drive over a cliff.
Rasmussen has a new Iowa poll out, based on phone calls yesterday, 19 Oct. Cain has jumped out to a pretty good lead in Iowa at 28 percent. Romney has dropped to 21 percent.
It gets worse for Romney when looking at Republicans who know beyond any doubt there support isn't changing and know beyond any doubt they will actually participate in the caucus.
Just ran through the early states in Real Clear Politics. Cain, unorthodox campaigning and all, is moving up noticeably. Of the January contests, Cain has a lead in Iowa, is moving into a firm second place in New Hampshire, leading in South Carolina, has a slight lead in Florida; and Nevada doesn't seem to have any polling since August, but is assumed to be a race for second anyway.
This from a guy who hasn't followed a traditional early-states campaign schedule. A lot of time for numbers to change, but I do think things will lock down somewhat once we get into the week of Thanksgiving. And Cain seems to have upward momentum right now, so it's not unreasonable for his numbers to continue improving. If he wins Iowa, South Carolina and Florida, and comes in second in New Hampshire... could he then be stopped?
You'll be lucky to carry Utah.
Don't think Mitt is going to make Iowa. He's gotta stay home and trim the arborvite, edge the driveway, and weedwack around the pool. Man its a bitch when you have to fire the help.
Jon Stewart presented Willard's summary of "RomneyCare" last night from the debate on Tuesday...
1. Great Republican idea.
2. Works great.
3. The people of Massachusetts love it.
4. I'd never do it again because it's Socialism!
Way to stand by your record, Willard!
Less filling, tastes great.
I bet Iowa would just love to not see Romney again.
So Amy - upon what is that based?
Do you know a lot of folks from Iowa? Chatted them up recently about the republican primary?
I assume these people are republicans, hence affording you the ability to speak for them, or to this issue?
Speculation, it's what's for breakfast in Maine, eh Amy?
I bet First Readers would just love not to see Spanky again.
You got my vote Amy!
Anyone else in? lol
PS: Now that the ignore feature has magically disappeared I can't scroll past his crap fast enough! ;o)
How sad for you Amy.
I love reading all comments, particularly those on the other side.
To each his or her own.
I take that as a tacit admission that you don't know or speak for the people of Iowa, or Maine for that matter.
Nah Amy...We love our little Spanky..As a matter of fact, I consider him my own personal gnome...You can take him out, put him in the yard, water him and all kindsa entertaining things sprout from him. Be careful though, some have a tendency to morph into cockroaches and have lately overrun K street and the congress.
Man Spanky, if Torpedo is out stalking you already, True Patriot can't be far behind.
What is it with these people and their scary obsession with everything Spanky?
WCA , we always go after the weakest link and the bottom of that chain is Spanky, JAS next and then you, scared little bottom feeders.
Ah, look at that.
Tis, calling me the weakest link.
Good one Tis.
Ask the big strong link (or is it the missing link) to spell "Despiration".
Popcorn?
JAS your slipping that is the best you can do is correct spelling, Work on Spanky's spelling first then you can come back to mine. I would love some popcorn but yours is tainted with the fear of the republican cult. So I think I will pass. Do keep trying though JAS someday you may land one but don't count on it.
Hey Tis, I'm trying to figure out how I am third from the bottom.
Spanky and JAS1 are both way better at this than I am.
For that matter, I would say I am maybe a little better than some others. Not by much though..
So just how does one come up with the criteria to rank "cult" members?
Is up really down in your world? That would explain a lot.
i think he really meant to say "i'll say anything to win iowa."
Yep. That's our Slick Willard.
During a debate last week, Huntsman described Romney as "somebody who breaks down businesses, destroys jobs as opposed to creating jobs and opportunity, leveraging up, spinning off, enriching shareholders."
"The whole discussion around this campaign is going to be job creation — how can you win that debate given your background?" Huntsman asked him.
Romney parried the question, noting that Bain Capital had launched Staples and Sports Authority.
"We didn't take things apart and cut them off and sell them off," Romney said. "We instead helped start businesses." (From MSNBC).
So let's take Mittins at his word concerning Staples and "Sports Authority." Riddle me this Connies Where do most of the goods sold in these retail stores come from? You guessed it CHINA! AND what kinds of jobs are they creating?//Just askin?
Oh and Spankster..How is that Libya thingy working out for ya? Any predictions?
I don't know about Spanky but I'm guessing Michele Bachmann's pretty pissed today given how much she hates Arab Spring.
Not to mention the two wars we are in in Africa.
Chuck Todd - I have two questions. Do candidates need a ton of money in Iowa? I think I heard you or someone else say that Huckabee spent little $$ there in 2008 - but won. And my other question was isn't the GOP caucus voting procedure much less complicated than the one used by the Democrats? Thanks!
I know organization is important as far as getting people out to the caucus sites. But it seems to me that it is usually the very-engaged type of person - a political junkie-type - who participates in the caucuses - and they would not really be swayed by flyers in the mail, political ads, etc. which cost lots of $$. I would think that the more involved type caucus voter would base their decision on things like the debates, political talk show appearances, etc. which are free - and visits by the candidates so they can meet them up close.
So someone with limited funds like Herman Cain should have a shot - if he spends more time in Iowa. Michele Bachmann, of course, has practically been living in Iowa and it hasn't helped her in the polls. But as January gets closer I guess it would be smart for all of those who want to compete to spend more - rather than less - time there.
I wish Chuck Todd was old enough to have seen what mature, objective, balanced journalists looked like in the old days when Americans were Americans first and partisans second. Now all we have is a bunch of partisans posing as journalists, currying favor with the owners of their stations.
Go with Fox News then; you'll probably find lots to your liking with many anti-Obama pieces. "Fair and balanced" as they say...
Or now they say "We report. You decide..." Right.....report....opinions maybe.
Romney is about worthless. I truly feel sorry for anyone considering voting for him, much the same way I feel sorry for someone I see at the grocery store, wearing an anti bump helmet, and drooling on themselves. Sorry if that sounds mean, but it is the same feeling.
If you are not happy with the way things are going, then I would beg and plead with you to do just a bit of research on a candidate by the name of Ron Paul. He is the only candidate that can force this country to do a 180.
I've studied them all, and the other candidates are bad jokes. Vote for them, and guess what? in 2 years you won't be the ones laughing. The rich and priveledged will be, because they managed to fool all of you again. Maybe now you know why I feel that way.
Ron Paul 2012 -Every vote for Ron Paul is a win for America.-
Perhaps Ron Paul should run on the Libertarian ticket. Does anybody know how many votes he got last time?
Video of Romney getting questioned in Sioux City about his campaign in Iowa.
"Romulian Romney" the GOP/RNC only looks at Iowa in term of points to win, and get more money to continue his "Cooky Campaign" of "Political Puke." The Romulian has no clue of what many Americans are feeling right now concerning the economy. "Romulian Romney" was born into a very small economic world for the rich only. He is so alien to the Middle Class, the Working Poor, the elderly, and the disabled. That he is unable to politically relate to over 95% of America. That is fact!
I bet he would love to win the white house as well but he's not...LOL Neither is Perry or Cain
Obama again in 2012
OBAMA = One Big Ass Mistake America
Romney and Perry looked like little schoolgirls fighting during the debate. Neither one of them looked presidential. I think this may be one of the reasons why Cain has seen a rise in the polls. Cain also has more personality. He seems genuine and is extremely funny. His biggest problem will be convincing the masses that his 9-9-9 plan is a better alternative than current policy. Nobody really seems to fully understand it.
I am a disabled veteran with psych and physical ailments from my military accomplishments between 1990-1993 I was on 7 psych medications and chose to stop taking them over a year ago. I have a service dog (MARLEY) she helps with my anxiety levels but without me using “Black-market” marijuana its harder for me to control, without marijuana the ARTHRITIS in my back would be more painful. I have a young friend (24yrs.old) of mine who is diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis) he too benefits from the effects. I say to you the readers KNOW-THE-FACTS…..If it’s legalized it too would stimulate the economy by shutting down unneeded prisons and government spending on prison guards , low-level law officials and programs like” NARK” , “DARE” and the “BLACK CAUCUS COMMITTEE” ( I don’t believe in or promoting segregated government (MLK “EQUALITY”) it needs to be 1 BODY, 1 VOICE(the peoples voice)) each eats at local community budgets. These are local programs formed by the government. This would put the MONEY back where it came from SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTHCARE and WEL-FARE. why do you think we all want to know now “WHERE DID THE MONEY GO ?” The budgets are done every year the money is hidden in programs!!! Have we forgotten we gave IRAQ “GRANTS” to rebuild(just like we’re gonna do for IRAN and Afghanistan) not LOANS ? How about the tsunami $$ for Japan to rebuild or for Indonesia to rebuild OR HAITI $$$ after their earthquake to rebuild ? I have an IDEA use US tax dollars to help the U.S. TAXPAYER$……….The sad part is we the people didn’t vote on that $$$$ congress did for us. when we have a crisis we don’t have the money .The raise they are considering for SSDI is a joke compared the the gas$ increases over the past 3yrs. WE keep writing laws that keep LOW-income, LOW-income. Not to mention the new STATE “regulation” on pain medication means I now have to drive to my doctors once a month instead of once-every 3. wall-street has the gas market cornered their job is to make their investors money, it’s congress that’s spending our money and draining the purse not WALL street. Try sleeping at night knowing the country i was injured protecting is the same country I’m now fighting to legalize an” alleviation” from my symptoms.
And what will he do with it when he wins it? It's to big to take home and put in his back yard. Maybe he can break it up into smaller pieces and some in the back yards of his 28 homes. Me, I'd rather win the lottery.