Posted on 11/19/2011 9:35:20 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
DES MOINES -- On Saturday afternoon at a megachurch in Des Moines, the Republican presidential candidates will gather -- with a notable exception.
....To add insult to injury, he [Mitt Romney] will be spending the day in New Hampshire.
[SNIP]
"Governor Branstad has enormous respect for Governor Romney, but he has decided it's time to hold his feet to the fire," Albrecht said.
Steve Scheffler, head of another Iowa social conservative group, the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, also hosted six candidates -- but no Romney -- at a forum last month. "I think he's arrogant," Scheffler said bluntly in an interview.
"It's becoming irritating to a lot of people that he's not showing up to things," said Scheffler, who is also the state's Republican National Committeeman. There were 1,200 attendees at his event, he noted, all of them likely caucus-goers. Hundreds also attended the Republican Party of Iowa's Nov. 4 Reagan Dinner, and hundreds are expected at Saturday's two events.
Scheffler vowed that the conservatives of Iowa would not take Romney's disrespect lying down, and indeed, anger at Romney appears to be the cause that unites the two pillars of the Iowa GOP -- the business-oriented establishment, represented by Branstad, and the social-conservative grassroots, represented by the FAMiLY LEADER, whose head, Bob Vander Plaats, ran against Branstad in the 2010 gubernatorial primary.
"For him to deliberately shun these events is an insult to Iowans," Scheffler said. And despite early polls showing Romney near the top of the pack, Iowans, he vowed, will have their revenge.
"There is a really strong desire among people who don't want to see Romney win this state," he said. "Don't discount the possibility that people will coalesce around one or two other candidates just to ensure Mitt Romney doesn't win the state by default."
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Two comments:
Nice comment. So what pissant state do you live in?
South Carolina may be an early voting state as well, but it doesn't share the cloying inflated sense of self-importance with NH and IA.
BTW, there is nothing wrong with being a small state. Wyoming happens to be my favorite. I just take issue with one having an inflated sense of self-importance. I'm tired of Sodom-on-the-Prairie thinking they can pick nominees for the rest of us.
It took him that "long" to say it out loud.
and after 5 years in IA, he figures he knows who his supporters are. And the folks at these events are not going to support Mitt. So no loss for him and he lowers the expectation of victory in IA.
It is peculiar that if he tried real hard in Iowa, he would not do any better and might do worse than he will with a half effort. Cuz the more he is seen as fighting it out their, the more opposition he riles up. Maybe.
My thoughts exactly. Must be this great Texas heritage.
They teach all of the 12 year old boys that they hold more power in the eyes of God(s) than the President of the United States !
They teach the 18 year olds that they are the Saviors of the world !....Really !
Keep in mind however that we are not truly the ones “picking” these nominees. The nation is doing it now.
Of the “sorting” that has so far happened; how much of it is do to my state of Iowa?
Very little. The debates; the gaffes that have happened; are not Iowa centered.
The pools which are reflecting preferences; are mostly national polls.
There is value in having candidates get into small states and meet people face to face.
If not; all it would require is a lot of money and slick ad campaigns.
That would give us people like Mitt Romney.
“I am puzzled why Romney would deliberately kick sand in the face of Iowa Voters”
My guess is he’s tired of so-called Christians kicking sand in his face and eyes, condemning him to hell along with the Jews and Catholics. One can only take so much.
The “mega Church” title should give you a clue. Romney probably knows the anti Mormons will show up and pick some kind of stupid faith fight. He’s turning the other cheek IMHO.
sanctimonious self righteous bigots, ya just can’t please them
sanctimonious self righteous bigots, ya just can’t please them
Conservatives want someone with stronger conservative principles than Romney. Sadly, even McCain fit that bill last cycle. This time, ALL of the other SEVEN candidates do!
Romney = Toast
Because he's not going to win there and he knows it. He'll take his third or fourth place finish and more on. It's more important to make sure he wins New Hampshire by as large a margin as possible.
But Willard keeps tellin us he’s a Christian. He can’t even stand up for or defend his own faith — and he wants to be President???
It bears repeating: If Newt and Cain blow him away in Iowa, Willard won’t be having such a nice time in New Hampshire after all.
My last post was for 31. Oops!
IS that he is determined to come in 5th place in Iowa.
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