Posted on 06/18/2005 3:07:13 PM PDT by IPWGOP
Vander Plaats wins first Iowa Guv Straw Poll
Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Vander Plaats has won the first head-to-head test with GOP rival Rep. Jim Nussle. The first straw poll in the state, held June 18th by the Hamilton County Republicans, proved a strong showing for Vander Plaats. Nussle, who refused to participate, was severely hurt by his decision with the vote being 87 for Vander Plaats and 9 votes for Nussle.
During the event, held in Williams, Iowa, Vander Plaats addressed the crowd and stressed the need to work with grassroot organizations. Hamilton County Chairman Roger Hughes encouraged other Iowa counties to follow suit and hold their own straw polls. “Iowans expect to be able to compare candidates face-to-face,” said Hughes.
Well, this is certainly contrary to any statewide poll I've heard about.
What caused all these people to change their minds?
This was obviously something staged by Vander Plaats people.
I am curious about BVP. He seems to be some kind of a moderate, from the looks of his website. No mention of any conservative issues; uses liberal slogans, e.g. wants to "build bridges." But there are a number of more or less conservative activists who seem to be fanatics for him.
He does seem to be an energetic campaigner. But it didn't do him any good last time, when he finished third in the three way GOP primary.
On the contrary, Vander Plaats is hard-core conservative. Pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Family, and legitimately for smaller government.
mmm..then he'll probably loose in the general election.
Iowa is conservative but not like the states on the great plains
Doubtful. They guy is a turn-around CEO who has been a teacher and a principal. The RATS have nothing to hang him on.
hope so
For years, the Republican Party of Iowa has labored under the delusion that we could chuck anyone that does not drool on stage and beat the RATS. Ganske proved otherwise.
Oh, this is HUGH. Vey series in deed.
If that is true, then why doesn't he say so?
Is he ashamed of it?
Is he hoping to get the liberal vote by deception?
No, he is not ashamed of it. He will discuss it if asked about it. Right now, there is not much out there for social issues in Iowa. No gay "marriage" proposals or the like so it does not come up very often.
Is it something Iowans can get exorcised about?
First, I apologize for not responding sooner... I just got the 'pings' today on this thread!!
So, regarding the Vander Plaats landslide: it's simply due to Nussle's refusing to come to the straw poll. His campaign's big strategy is to ignore Vander Plaats completely. And that has not set well with many grassroots folks. Nussle is a Big Washington politician. He's done his big tour of Iowa towns & cities this month. But thus far he's ignoring any grassroots-initiated efforts. And the voters didn't like it.
Nope, not even close. WAAAAAY wrong, there, my friend! I was part of the organization on this one. It was completely done by the Hamilton County Republicans from start to finish. They issued invites to both candidates. Vander Plaats was the only one who came. Period.
I think the felon voting issue was simply Vilsack's way of getting a step ahead of Hillary. They both want the 2008 Dem nomination. Vilsack has pulled the rug out from under Hillary on the felons' vote thing, which is something she was planning on touting when campaigning in Iowa for the nomination. Vilsack couldn't let her get that... not in his home state.
It's just 'political timing' stuff...
Hamilton County, Iowa, has a popultion of about 16,000 and leans Democrat anyway.
Where is VP on the Death Penalty?
By NOT participating in any straw polls, by NOT accepting any invitations to debate (yes, the Nussle campaign is ignoring them, too)... well, all that does is alienate the grassroots folks who work so hard to give Iowa voters a REAL look at these candidates.
When we (Hamilton County Republicans) were organizing this straw poll, we immediately got a "yes, we'll be there" response from the Vander Plaats campaign. What about the Nussle campaign? They wouldn't even respond! They wouldn't return phone calls (made repeatedly by many folks). And that left a very bad impression on many, many people -- many who were 'Nussle' oriented.
The mishandling of this by Nussle's campaign has aliented and thus hurt their candidate.
How 'bout it, nonliberal?
Hmmm, this supposedly Democrat country recently elected a REPUBLICAN sheriff for the county. And several to the board of supervisors. I live here in Hamilton County. I helped run the campaign for the sheriff (Denny Hagenson -- a fantastic guy!!)
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