Walking amid the good folk and food booths and rides at the Iowa State Fair, it's hard to get a sense people are fixated on politics in the aftermath of the Republican debate and before the important straw vote in Ames.
Iowans seem more intent on viewing the giant carved-butter cow in the ag building or sampling the newest featured food at this fair -- deep fried butter on a stick. This interesting new delicacy (?) seems to draw the eyes and mouths of the folks who wander past all of the other fried foods and foods on a stick. I thought to myself, the only thing that would make this all complete would be for a cardiologists' convention to be held next door. Ironically, there is a booth here at the fair offering free blood-pressure tests.
Turning back to the mundane world of politics, many of the GOP candidates have shown up at the fair to speak at something they call the "soapbox," where there is no box and no soap. It's a stage with hay bales where candidates address voters and fairgoers with all the fervor of their stump speeches. Five of the candidates will show up in the aftermath of the debate to try to get a jump on the Ames Straw Poll.
So where do we stand in this in-between time in Iowa? In the debate, some candidates reappeared; some candidates disappeared; and one new, big player who's about to appear was on everyone's minds.
For the last few weeks, Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty have basically gone off most folks' radar screens, but that changed. Each showed up in a much more forceful way. Pawlenty had a number of skirmishes and exchanges with the other candidates, especially Michele Bachmann -- who definitely held her own. Gingrich seemed to want to get in an argument more with the moderator than the other candidates, and he showed some passion we haven't seen in a while. Jon Huntsman, who has had a hard time getting traction since his announcement, basically disappeared over the two hours. He didn't get much time, and what he said was not very memorable.
And finally, the candidate who is about to appear, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, was part of the conversation at the debate and much of the discussion amongst the media as well as voters outside the hall. If you had to pick a winner last night, it was probably Perry. You got a palpable sense that everybody is waiting for him to get into the race, and all of the candidates know they are going to have to react to this Texan who will walk in with boots on and bravado in hand.
The debate highlighted that in the back-and-forth between Bachmann and Pawlenty, who see the results of the straw poll as key to their future prospects. Each needs to do well to be able to continue to build credibility and cash; if they don't meet expectations, their prospects are greatly diminished and may not make it to the Iowa caucuses in January.
The campaign is about to take a whole new turn in the aftermath of the straw vote, and the intensity will only increase. Ames won't pick the presidential winner, but it certainly will help decide the losers. Many candidates will either drop out not long after the straw poll or be left floundering. Although Perry will initially expand the field when he gets in, it will quickly shrink after the straw vote.
So enjoy the last days of summer, eat something fried and on a stick, take your kids or your friends to a fair in your area -- and get ready for a roller-coaster ride in the up-and-down of Republican politics starting next week.
The post originally appeared in National Journal.
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ARTINFO: A Hit at the Straw Poll, Iowa's Butter Cow Sculpture Enters the Republican Primary Race
The Blackman against some Great White Hope.
If I am not mistaken over and over they have had to cheat to win even then .
One Day Lord, Your People will become worthy but it will not be anytime soon .
When it comes to finding work, just 13% of American Adults believe the U.S. jobs market is better than it was a year ago. Half (50%) believe it is worse. That latter figure is up 11 points from June and the highest negative finding since August 2009.
Faced with continuing high unemployment, voters feel strongly that the government needs to launch a job-creating program, but they have far more faith in business leaders to create new jobs. They give mixed reviews to President Obama’s new plan to create jobs for military veterans.
The number of Americans who believe the federal government should assume financial responsibility for the long-term unemployed has increased throughout 2011. Most, however, still continue to reject that approach.
When it comes to job creation and improving the overall economy, voters continue to think tax cuts will work better than government solutions.
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Let's start with ending the Bush tax cuts and end government interference with unions.
How many jobs have their demands driven from our shores.
I worked in manufacturing for 40 years, and I saw it over and over again.
Current policy will NEVER lead to any improvement, as you can see if you look around, even a little.
they know this will make people Jaded and most likely will not vote thinking it is a waste of time.
>>> Aren't you being a bit hard on Iowa? Do you live a better, non-Mickey Mouse state?
The scariest aspect of it all though is the interchangeable group of GOP?Tbag candidates. Puppets, one and all dangling on strings controlled by the likes of Koch Industries. Each one more hypocritical and insipid than the other.
We are at an absolute crossroads. What we do in November 2012 will determine the fate of the country for at least two generations. It will also expose who we truly are, our national soul.
I believe that sanity will in fact win the day, yet am deeply concerned at how close to the precipice we have allowed ourselves to come.
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/08/liberals-have-been-played-chumps
I think Herbert Hoover would do much less damage to our country than any of the current Republicans.
We must get out and vote next year. This is very serious.
Fanned and faved.
We might find ourselves in 3 wars, have a 8.2% undemployment rate, and get a credit rating downgrade.
Sarah's mean streak surfaces again.
I hope there's enough butter on a stick to go around.
We get name calling , mis direction, mis information , and misleading voter information.
Now those Absentee Ballots sent out by PAC'S or anyone other than the Government should be consider TAMPERING WITH AN ELECTION !!!!
I can only guess you also missed the the Ohio State Vote in 2004 was sent to a Corporation in Tennesse and the Vote was Flipped to make Bush the Winner !!!!!
BUSH LOST ON 2004 !!!!! Just like the FRAUD that made him President in 2000 !
We were BUSHWACKED , robbed and PLUNDERED !!!
I thought EVERYONE knew that.
Where have you been?