Posted on 01/19/2004 5:24:54 PM PST by PhiKapMom
January 19, 2004
Mayor Rudy Giuliani's Message from Cedar Rapids
It's warmer and sunnier here than in New York.
After months and months of just hearing from the Democrats, I am here with a group of Republicans who want to tell the President's side of the story.
I spoke with a woman during lunch at Bishop's here in Cedar Rapids -- great mac and cheese and try the chocolate ambrosia pie -- and she said that listening to the negative attacks from the Democrats had been tough.
That's exactly why we're here in Iowa. The Iowa Caucuses are the perfect time to point out what a remarkable job the President has done during a challenging time for our country. People I spoke to here in Iowa agree.
Posted by Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 08:00 PM
Congressman Portman Blogs from Davenport: Strong support in a swing state
I’m here in Iowa on Caucus Day to rally President Bush’s grassroots supporters in the Hawkeye state. This is a swing state -- in 2000 President Bush lost Iowa by fewer than 4,200 votes. I’ve spent most of the day in Davenport meeting with enthusiastic Bush supporters who are charged up and ready to do all they can to help the President between now and November. Tonight, Republicans will caucus across the state (it’s not just the Democrats!) and it is an opportunity to spread our positive and hopeful message as a contrast to the negative and angry voices of the Democrats.
The Republicans that I met with in the Davenport area share President Bush’s optimistic vision for our great country. They know President Bush is working to make America and the world safer, they know he’s working to give every child a good education, to help every American find a job, and to give every senior citizen access to the prescriptions they need to stay healthy.
The election is ten months away, but it’s never too early to begin the work of energizing people throughout the country for what we know will be a close race. It’s been a lot of fun meeting with Iowans today and exciting to see their enthusiasm for George W. Bush and his positive message. I am looking forward to this evening’s Republican caucus at North High School in Davenport.
Posted by Rep. Rob Portman at 07:13 PM
Senator Santorum Blogs from Iowa: Hawkeyes are energized by the President
The energy here in Iowa today is just amazing. There is so much excitement about the caucuses and people understand that it is going to be a historically important election in November. I met with local Republicans in Dubuque this morning and am heading to see a group of Catholic supporters now. I’m impressed with how engaged people are on the issues and how eager they are to highlight the President’s record of accomplishment.
Iowans are anxious to carry the President’s positive message against whoever the Democrats nominate. They are ready for action! People here have told me that Iowans vote on results, not rhetoric, and that they are energized by President Bush’s positive agenda for our nation.
At 6 p.m. CST this evening I’ll be speaking in support of the President at the Dubuque Republican Caucus at Hempstead High School. I’ll have the chance to meet with hundreds of supporters and rally the grassroots organizations that are already mobilizing to reelect President Bush. Iowans credit his strong leadership in these challenging times and they believe that the Bush administration is keeping the nation prosperous, strong and secure. I am thoroughly enjoying caucus day in Iowa and I’m confident that Iowa will be Bush Country in November!
Posted by Senator Rick Santorum at 06:24 PM
Colorado Governor Bill Owens from Council Bluffs: Iowans Support the President's Record of Achievement
It's great to be in Iowa today in support of President Bush. We can already sense the excitement among Iowans about the President's record of achievement and his optimistic vision for America. What a contrast to the negative Democrats and their pessimistic platform that will only take our country backward!
Today we are energizing the grassroots, signing up Bush Team Leaders , and much more -- all to make sure that we put Iowa's electoral votes in the President's column in 2004. I'm looking forward to attending the Republican caucus in Council Bluffs this evening and visiting with many of the grassroots supporters who will carry President Bush and Vice President Cheney to victory this November. The election may be ten months away, but it’s not too early to get started.
Posted by Gov. Bill Owens at 05:33 PM
Senator Frist Blogs from West Des Moines: The excitement here is palpable
I’m excited to be in Iowa on caucus day and I can tell you that the response of Republicans here has been tremendous. The excitement is palpable and Iowans overwhelmingly support the President’s initiatives. My message to our grassroots supporters has been: “Now is the time to organize, now is the time to recruit voters, and now is the time to begin the get out the vote effort.”
Earlier today I met with a group of physicians and representatives of the medical community in West Des Moines. Their grassroots effort, “Doctors for Bush”, is a powerful coalition. It is interesting for me, as a physician, to discuss politics and policy with others working in medicine. I find that there is overwhelming support for the President’s positive agenda and specific policy proposals that effect doctors and their patients -- including medical liability reform.
Tonight we’ll be in Ankeny for the Republican caucus there. I look forward to meeting with local supporters and local reporters who have heard quite a bit from the President's critics over the last few months. I am confident that Iowans are behind the President and that the grassroots here will not disappoint in November.
Posted by Senator Bill Frist at 04:29 PM
Mary Matalin Blogs from Iowa: "Incredible" Effort to Grow the Bush Team!
We're in Iowa today and we're witnessing an incredible operation that continues to recruit new Bush Team Leaders who will register voters, turn out the vote, and spread the President's positive message. We are not here to attack the Democrats running -- like they've attacked our President with over $20 million of negative ads over ten months.
We will win Iowa by energizing the President's grassroots supporters. By the general election, we will touch every voter in Iowa and across the nation with the President’s positive, hopeful agenda for America.
Posted by Mary Matalin at 01:14 PM
IMO, it was a great decision by Bush-Cheney '04 not to leave Iowa to the Democrats but to show America the support for Bush-Cheney '04 that is in the State of Iowa.
I assume that the president is running unopposed on the Republican side, but a few people might support uncommitted delegates just for fun.
Hatchetface 36%
The Breck Girl 34%
Dr. Demento 18%
And Terry McAulliffe saves his job for one more day.....
Now that is one SUPER bumper sticker!! Gotta LOVE IT!!!
I love it too ! :O)
The concensus of the talking heads right now is that this is an impressive win for "F-in'" Kerry. I don't think so. Kerry's spurt among Iowa Democrats started just about a week ago. Why? Why at the last minute did the undecideds start to break for Kerry (or Edwards)? Kerry has been in this race for the better part of a year now. Why did he surge at the last minute?
My theory is that these were people who decided they didn't want Dean, but their late swing to Kerry indicates that they really weren't thrilled with Kerry either, otherwise they would have backed Kerry weeks or months ago, not just in the past few days.
Hence, this is definitely a defeat for Dean. Kerry won, and Edwards placed second because they are alternatives to Dean. Because these supporters of Kerry came on late, rather than early, can't be interpreted as a groundswell for Kerry, but the rubble left over from the collapse of Dean's campaign.
What isn't being reported tonight is that Bush leads all Democrats in Iowa.
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