Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011
Rick Perry
Campaigning with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Hudson, N.H.
Mitt Romney
Attending a fundraiser at the Tampa Museum of Art
120 W Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, Florida
8:30 AM
Mitt Romney
Speaking at Conchita Foods
9119 Northwest 105th Way, Medley, Fla.
9:00 AM
Jon Huntsman
Hosting a town hall meeting at Rivier College
420 South Main St., Nashua, N.H.
10:00 AM
Newt Gingrich
Touring Hilton Head Christian Academy Lower School
55 Gardner Drive, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
12:00 PM
Mitt Romney
Hosting a fundraiser
Naples, Fla.
12:00 PM
Rick Santorum
Speaking as part of the Georgia Republican Party 7th District Presidential Forum
1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, Ga.
12:00 PM
Buddy Roemer
Hosting a “Coffee with the Candidate” town hall meeting
530 Jersey Ave., Jersey City, N.J.
12:30 PM
Newt Gingrich
Visiting Newt 2012 Beaufort County Victory Office
1247 May River Road, Bluffton, S.C.
1:00 PM
Newt Gingrich
Holding a town hall meeting at The Promenade
1100 Promenade St., Bluffton, S.C.
4:00 PM
Mitt Romney
Speaking at the Port of Tampa
1101 Channelside Drive # 400, Tampa, Fla.
6:00 PM
Jon Huntsman
Speaking at a house party at the home of of Mark and Tracy Coen
Concord, N.H.
6:30 PM
Herman Cain
Giving a foreign policy speech at Hillsdale College
33 East College St., Hillsdale, Mich.
7:30 PM
Newt Gingrich
Hosting a town hall meeting at Newberry Opera House
1201 McKibben St., Newberry, S.C.
It’s unknown who created the criteria and what it all entails, but the meeting has a large contingent of Bachmann supporters. The reason why this is important is because TheIowaRepublican.com was told that this group has been charged with making a recommendation to the FAMiLY Leader’s board before they decide on who they will endorse. When asked why his board of directors cannot make a decision on their own, Vander Plaats admitted that the board will seek the input of others, and added that, “Wisdom comes in a multitude of counsel.”
Since showering praise on Gingrich in an interview with the Des Moines Register following the forum, social conservatives leaders around the state have been grumbling about what they think is a likelihood that Vander Plaats may endorse Gingrich.
Yesterday, an anonymous letter from a group called Iowans for Christian Leaders in Government distributed an open letter that they had sent Vander Plaats warning him about the negative ramifications that endorsing Gingrich would bring. The letter stated that Vander Plaats’ endorsement “may be guided, not by prayer and conviction, but by personal benefit and prior relationships.”
Vander Plaats traveled the state in 2008 to advocate on behalf Gingrich’s American Solutions. Gingrich also provided financial support to Vander Plaats’ effort to defeat three Iowa Supreme Court justices last fall. Vander Plaats also received financial support from the American Family Association and worked with Wayne Hamilton, a key Perry aide. …………
While Vander Plaats and the FAMiLY Leader are still searching for clarity, there is one thing he was very clear about. The process is more difficult because their goal is not to just find a candidate who can beat President Obama next fall, but this candidate also needs to be able to beat Mitt Romney.
The only question for Vander Plaats and the FAMiLY Leader is, what kind of candidate will best accomplish that goal? A surefire conservative whose core convictions match theirs, or a candidate who already has momentum or has the connections that may pay dividends down the road?”