Sioux City, Iowa Caucus, Romney Camp (After Action Report)

I went down Thursday about noon to Sioux City from South Dakota. Listening to Rush Limbaugh on the way down he said some things that I understood better after the evening was over. I guess he’s the King of Conservative radio for a reason. One young man called up supporting Huckabee and bashing Romney. He was angry and accused Rush of endorsing Romney. Rush said he did not endorse anyone. Rush admitted praising the National Review’s brand of conservatism and said he praised Romney for his Faith speech. The man listed anti Romney talking points which Rush did not dispute. Rush did say he had met personally with Romney and Romney said he would work on the borders. Rush did not defend Romney but did go on to explain to the caller how Huckabee is no conservative. The next lady who called in asked him how so many people can endorse Huck when he is not conservative. Rush gave her (and me) a lesson in identity politics. Basically people vote for the people most like them no matter what the political philosophy is. They overlay their hopes onto the person and feel most attuned to them because of identity. This rung a bell for me as I had a co worker friend in 04 who liked John Kerry (Yeah I know a few socialists, I try not to hold it too much against them). This coworker of mine was descended from French Canadians. He did have an almost French Kerryesque manner about him. I tried not to criticize Kerry at work realizing that he had personally identified with him but I did focus on some policy discussions with him. I have to admit that part of the reason I believe in Romney’s conservative conversion is probably due to identity politics. Though many other conservatives far greater than I believe his conversion is genuine as well.

Driving into Sioux City I only saw Romney signs. There were quite a few. It was great to see. Fred was in town as well. At the campaign office I made calls for Romney from 1-5:30 to likely voters and those who voted for Romney in the straw poll. There were about 50 of us in the field Office. Local supporters, me from SD, and some college kids from out West, Idaho, California and Utah. We went out and held signs for Romney for a half hour. It was 20 degrees but had warmed up from the negative 4 earlier this week. The office had done well over 10,000 calls this week and knocked over 5000 doors to get out the vote.

Former Governor of Idaho, James Risch and his wife Vicki made a stop in the Office. He was making calls for Romney (with the media pics). They met the Romney’s at the Governors Presidential meeting. Gov. Risch was the Lt. Gov. in Idaho when George Bush appointed Governor Dirk Kempthorne to his cabinet to be Sec. of the Interior. He was Governor for 7 months. I talked with Vicki Risch for a bit while her husband made calls. She had been impressed with the Romney’s and shared Ann’s love of Horses. They are actively campaigning in Idaho right now for Sen. Larry Craig’s seat. The vote is in November. When I asked Mrs. Risch how the campaign was going she said well. She was confident but also mentioned that you never know what can happen in politics. Some unforeseen opponent may rise. Idaho is heavily Republican so I’m glad to hear that they are doing their part to help keep the Senate conservative. Gov. Risch is a no nonsense cut to the chase type and his wife is sharp and a leader in her own right, much like Ann Romney.

There were many undecided (or they just weren’t telling) but the majority went to Romney, followed by Huckabee supporters. I did talk to 2 Fred supporters, 1 McCain supporter and a few Paul supporters and 1 Edwards supporter (whose mom was voting Pubbie the 19 year old daughter just answered the phone). No one else was mentioned. When someone indicates another candidate I asked them what issues are important for them and try to build on that. The Fred supporter was worried about Government and guns. I told him Romney was not perfect on guns as he had a B rating from the NRA but that the NRA had endorsed his Mass bill as well as Gun Owners of America as loosening gun restrictions. The Huckabee supporters seemed defensive a few actually said they weren’t voting for Romney because of his mormonism.

I only had one angry yelling call. It was the XXXXXXX County Republican Party Chair. She wouldn’t say who she was going for as she felt that would be inappropriate for her to say as County chair. But she then went on a tirade and yelled about how Romney had never even come to her county and Josh had only come once. (Josh went to all 99 Mitt went to about 69) She was mad about the “lack of communication” with the local Romney’s representative. I asked her specifics and reassured her if there was a problem with one of Romney’s team I would be interested in getting details so we could help the local representative do a better job. She wouldn’t do that but just seemed interested in yelling. I apologized to her and ended the conversation. Any guess who she supports? She wouldn’t tell me but if it is inappropriate for her to openly endorse a candidate as the Pubbie county chair isn’t it equally inappropriate to single out one of the candidates so vehemently? Too bad I don’t have a recording. In retrospect it is probably quite entertaining. (Note to XXXXXXX County: Get a new Republican chair. Preferably one who realizes that screaming into a phone against a candidate is improper conduct for a local chair.) Maybe I’m being too harsh about the affair. Perhaps she is just upset her county didn’t get as much attention as she hoped. I guess you can’t please everyone. I was going to post her county but not list her name. But I quickly found her when I googled her country. I’m decided not to post her county online though I am very tempted. (Matt. 5:25)

We divided up and went to two locations. A High School and Middle School. At the location it was interesting to see each group of supporters even looked like their candidate. A few Rudy supporters who were stylishly dressed and young (I’m no fashionista but they looked like they were from the East, one gal I talked to was from NY). The Huckabee supporters were opening the inside doors so we took the outside doors to open them for the old ladies (wearing our Romney t-shirts of course). We congratulated ourselves for braving the cold outside doors while the Huckabee guys had the warm inside ones. The Huckabee crowd was Southern and Evangelical. I talked to one from Missouri. We had the nice looking young Mormons from out west as well as the local Business and upper middle class types judging from the styles of dress. The Paulistinains were, well typically Paulistinian. Older, skinny with a crazy look in their eye, some with long stringy beards. There was an openly gay couple who came riding up on their bikes (yeah it’s winter here). I didn’t ask and they didn’t tell but if there were any gaydar sirens at the venue they would have lit off. They stood by other Paulistinians inside sort of (but they could have been there for Rudy as well). There was an obvious rivalry between the Romney and Huckabee camps. Everyone else seemed affable, except for a few Paulistinians. Most of the Paulistinians were friendly. Only a few seems to have that paranoid look about them, but we’ll get to that in a second. When one of the Huckabee supporters came through the doors the Romney guy across from me patted him on the shoulder and said welcome. The guy said “Ewww, now I have to take a shower!” The Huckabee crew was scowling and seemed upset generally. I know I am a biased Romney supporter but I’m sure those supporting other candidates would have agreed with my assessment. To be honest I was most impressed with the Fred supporters. They were you typical solid, middle class, beefy types. I don’t mean beefy as in overweight but solid thick necked types sort of like Fred. I had a good conversation with a 40 something ex-marine FredHead I gave a Hooah too. He didn’t hold it against me that I was an army vet. We talked about Fred and Romney for a bit. The McCain supporter was also a vet and looked a bit like McCain, as in old.

The news reports of overcrowding are accurate. We had people parking on the sidewalks. And over half a mile away. I felt bad for some of the older ladies, one 92 year old gal with a cane came on by. After the Caucus we sent one of our Romney college kids to get the car to drive her out to her car.

Well this is when the only real incident of the evening happened. The Caucus was supposed to start at 7 PM. Cars were backed up for blocks and still coming so they didn’t start until 7:30. Since we were the self appointed door greeters one Paulistinian got very agitated that we were opening the doors. It was one of those nobody is in charge moments. He insisted we lock the doors. We were like “hey were not in charge we don’t have keys. As long as they haven’t started we are letting the old ladies in.” Some local man, maybe one of the precinct chairs who seemed to have some semblance of authority, but wasn’t really in charge either told us we could stay. He told the Paulistinian to go find someone with a key if they want the doors locked. The Paulistinian came back monetarily with a 20 something year old gal with a cell phone camera. She looked slightly like a hippie but maybe it was just the general unkempt look. She could have been a conservative, I guess. The Paulistinian confronted the precinct man explaining to the camera phone that “This is where the altercation will probably take place.” It was pretty funny but slightly crazy. Nobody had even raised a hand or even gotten within two arms lengths of each other. The gal was weaving in and around for better angles and trying to get everyone’s’ faces on camera. An older local business looking Romney supporter came over and told us Romney guys to leave. The Precinct guy didn’t say if he was a Romney supporter but from the look of him he was one of the beefy Fred guys, didn’t talk a lot just stood there. We left off opening the doors and went in. The precinct guy stayed at the doors, not opening them but just stood there. But after we left the Paulistinian did too. They didn’t confront the other guy any more.

So on to the talks in the crowded gym. We sat on the floor as the bleachers were full. Each candidate had a 3 minute speaker. Fred’s speaker went first. Then McCain’s (the old guy I met earlier). Each got applause. Someone from NY spoke for Rudy, muted applause. The Paul speaker actually had an excellent talk. He was maybe upper 20’s and worked for the local Boy Scout Council but explicitly stated the Boy Scouts does not endorse any candidates. His talk was good because he wove in his personal life experience in Iowa with his Constitutional views and how he came to support Paul. Not much on foreign policy though, smart move. There seem to be some true conservatives in the Paul camp if the crazy ones just didn’t make them look bad by association. My neighbor and good friend is a true conservative and supports Paul. The activist ones just make the others bad. Huckabee’s talk was from a 30 something southern evangelical type. (Ok, I didn’t ask if he was evangelical, but you know the look, young preacher type, with the hair, just like I’m sure the crowd could pick out the Mormon kids from out west.) They called out for a talk on Duncan Hunter but nobody was scheduled. They asked if anyone would talk about him. I wanted so badly to go up but didn’t. I should have. I would have had to take off my Romney hat. But heck any Freeper could give a decent campaign speech for Duncan. “He built the fence you. His son served in Iraq he a solid conservative, excellent voting record, confronts liberals in California, Reaganesque etc. etc.” I would have gone up but didn’t think it would go over well wearing a Romney t-shirt. No speaker for Keyes either, no surprise there. Many of the other speeches were really referencing Romney without openly referencing him of course. So and so has always been pro-life, so and so hasn’t changed positions, so and so is a man of faith. He was clearly the man to target and beat.

Romney’s speech got the most cheers and loudest applause and fired up the crowd. His representative pretty much gave a typical Romney speech, stay on message stay optimistic and motivate. Strong Families, Strong Military and Strong Economy. Romney got the only boo of the evening when the speaker talked about devoting 4% of our GDP to rebuilding the military. One lone soul from the Paulistinian camp hollered, after which most of the room glared at him.

At the end of the speeches everyone divided up according to precinct and voted with their ballot according to precinct. The chair phoned in the results. We went back out and held the doors for those going outside. I thought it was interesting that everyone wanted to hold the doors going in and put on a good face for their candidate (Huckabee, Paul, McCain guys) but it was the Romney guys who were nice enough to hold the doors for everyone on the way out. One of the little old ladies said “See they are still being nice.”

Romney won at our site as well as at the other site in town. He took Sioux City so we were riding high. Until we got back to the Office and checked the results online. The conservative counties went for Romney while the liberal parts went to Huckabee giving him the State. I was upset driving home. Oh well. Now that I’ve slept it off. I can get back to normal life again. I’ve been obsessed this week with politics so close next door. Romney did come in a solid second almost catching the Huckster. As a consolation Huckabee has barely stepped foot out of Iowa so Romney may stomp him everywhere else. But Romney has his work cut out for him beating McCain in New Hampshire and Giuliani in Florida. Romney lost fair and square. I won’t blame others. We tried our best and we lost Iowa.

But keeping in mind I’m not blaming others for a loss here are a few things to think about. Romney has been hit by the DNC more than any other candidate. When the Huckster rose in the polls the DNC declared a cease fire for a month and a half on him. Propaganda works unfortunately. And back to Rush, as he summed it up the best. Romney got a hard lesson in identity politics. In a State that is half evangelical I suppose Romney doing as well as he did is a miracle of sorts. If the first state was Wyoming which is half Mormon it’d be other way around with the Evangelicals complaining about the identity politics. It was interesting that the Mormons came from out west and the Evangelicals from Missouri. The Hatfield and McCoy relationship from 150 years ago is still being played out in our little precinct caucus. Thankfully, today it is peaceful and we generally get along. Eisenhower once said “sometimes it just gets down to the dirty job of killing [campaigning] until one side or the other cracks.” I know Romney will keep campaigning. I don’t think Huckabee will play well in some of the other early states. I think Romney still has a chance to keep fighting. Yes it is a tactical loss losing Iowa, but every campaign has its Losses. When George Washington lost Long Island he turned to crack troops from Massachusetts to save what remained of his army. Romney can turn his loss around. Romney has years of experience in the shark eat shark world of Capitalism. He knows that if he can run things a little better than the others he can edge them out.

Another main thing I came away with was respect for Fred supporters (besides the few overly vocal anti-Romney ones here on FR). I am glad Fred came in third in Iowa. I still like Duncan more but I don’t take the all or nothing approach. I would be happy with any one of the three as President. I just “identify” the closest with Romney. I am also glad we have evangelicals in this country who are one of the few groups to stay true to moral and generally conservative ideals. Some of the most conservative friends I have are evangelical, including a Pentecostal minister. Why couldn’t they have put up an actual conservative candidate instead of Huckabee? After last night my prayers may be turning into “Please God anybody but Huckabee, even Paul.” But I'm still banking on Romney. Reports of his demise are early. He came in second and still has more money than others. If Romney is done then what does that mean for those who came in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and have less cash on hand?

When the caucus was over I grabbed some Romney signs to bring back to SD to live to fight another day. I grabbed some Ron Paul signs for my good friend and neighbor as well. Turnout for the Dems caucuses was even higher than for the Repulicans. Many independents may go their way rather than the Pubbie way. But both sides had record turnouts. The best part of yesterday was Hilary coming in third. I wish Romney would have won but you can’t have everything I guess.

Basically people vote for the people most like them no matter what the political philosophy is.

I don't agree with this assertion. I don't think I've ever found a candidate who I thought was "like me." In 1996 and 2000, I supported Alan Keyes, and he's about as different from me as one can imagine. I started the campaign supporting Duncan Hunter, but I don't see myself as like him at all. I'll now leaning towards Mitt Romney, but I'm not like Mitt Romney either.

Bill

What an ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS job! Thank you so much for taking all the time you did to report and to do such a thorough job.

I, like you, really love Hunter, but know the infrastructure just isn't there to carry him all the way...so sad. He truly IS the Conservatives' Conservative.

My second choice (primary only) is between Thompson and Romney giving an edge to Romney for his energy and delivery--and I like the fact that he would run the Country like a business too (it's WAY more efficient and logical that way). My desire for Thompson is his consistent Conservative stance on the issues. At least Mr. G has the right outlook on the WOT. But as far as Huck, McCain, or Paul....yikes.

Thank you again for your posting and all the effort and un-biased reporting.

I forgot a couple of other important points.

First, thanks for making an effort in this campaign. Plenty of people are willing to sit in front of a computer spewing nonsense, but few of them are willing to do any real work to help a candidate win. Thank you for your willingness to put action behind your words.

Thanks also for the report. I enjoy hearing these first-hand accounts of events.

Another interesting point is that Mitt Romney seems to be the only candidate who understands that he's running to be president of the entire country. Rudy Giuliani seems to want to be president of Florida, New York, California, and New Jersey. Fred Thompson wants to be president of the old Confederacy. John McCain wants to be president of New Hampshire. If any of these other candidates is nominated, he could have a hard time in swing states that he ignored during the primary. His ignoring the state send the message that he isn't interested in those people or their votes.

Bill

Well written perspective.

But as far as I’m concerned, the only true conservative is Fred.
Even his campaign is conservative. How can we trust anyone to balance the budget or curb spending if they throw millions of dollars around trying to convince us how badly they need the job.

Only career politicians need a job.

Fred would like the job. But his life won’t end if he don’t make it. As for the others, they will fight tooth and nail and throw the cash around. And we know that politicians in office always use the cash to influence the people.

As usual, the media disses Fred. I think they are scared that he will prove how a real conservitive should act.
The MSM is trying to pass off “pseudo-conservatives” off on us as main stream. Heaven forbid there be any comparison or contrast between candidates.

Go Fred!

Thanks for the report. It's good to hear what it's like on the ground.

It's unfortunate that Hunter has not been able to organize a campaign but this report is just further evidence of that.

I hope people are voting more on principles than on who they look like/identify with. We are not voting for cheerleader or class president.

Thanks for the insight. And the hard work and dedication. If we had to come inn second, why couldn’t it have been Fred. Anyone but Huckabee. I can easily support Fred, even Rudy, but the thought of Huckabee makes my skin crawl. Even worse, imagine the comparisons between cranky, codger McCain and young, energetic Obama in the General. Scary thought.
All in all, I think Mitt will still pull it out and win the nomination. Afterall, Reagan came in second in Iowa in 1980.

And not everyone looks like his or her pet either, but lots do. I enjoyed reading about the caucus through this freeper’s eyes.

I expect that people with similar life experiences do tend toward more similar political philosophies and vice versa, and I was glad to read that Fred’s and Mitt’s supporters were so well mannered—and Fred’s were apparently ‘take charge’ as well!

Thanks for the great report. I is a great read.

Just my opinion, but I think Romney made a mistake by going negative agains Huckabee in Iowa. Also, Huckabee seems to appeal well to the lower middle class. Romney needs to find a way to connect with these people.

I don’t believe his conversion, on most issues he’s still a stealth liberal

“Go Mitt! and Anyone but Huckabee!”<——<<<<Reverse these then I’d be fine with it!

Wait you can stomach gun grabbing, gay supporting, pro-death anti-life not really fiscially conservative Guiliani but you can’t Huckabee?? ARE YOU (A: A liberal NE Republican, or B) Insane??) Just wondering for debates’ sake, not really insulting you personally, or at least that wasnt my intention...?

That was fun to read. Thank you for posting such an interesting report.

BTW...I am told that have some similarities to Bush, yet I have the thick neck. And in person, I am much funnier than Hickabeeeee.

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