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Iowa: Pro-Perry Group Plans Straw Poll Write-in Push
Iowa Republican ^ | August 3, 2011 | Kevin Hall

Posted on 08/03/2011 12:46:53 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Rick Perry’s name will not appear on the Ames Straw Poll ballot, he will not be there, and the Republican Party of Iowa will not allow a pro-Perry PAC to purchase space at the event. However, all those obstacles are not preventing Americans for Rick Perry from attempting to influence the Straw Poll.

Since they will not be allowed a lot at Iowa State University, Perry supporters will set up shop in a Holiday Inn conference center, less than a mile away. They are offering free t-shirts and other inexpensive “swag” to people who drop by the hotel. According to sources, they will also offer free Straw Poll tickets to Rick Perry supporters.

Craig Schoenfeld, the Iowa executive director of Americans for Rick Perry, said the group has not purchased any tickets yet, but that could change within the next week or so. He also downplayed their efforts for the Ames Straw Poll. “There’s no goal, there’s no buses, there’s no candidate or campaign,” Schoenfeld told TheIowaRepublican.com. “The straw poll is a candidate driven event. That’s historical. We have no candidate.”

Schoenfeld added that having “50-60 people at the Straw Poll in Rick Perry t-shirts, out there talking to other activists, that’s a way to build on grassroots support”. However, the pro-Perry groups seem to be investing a lot of time and effort for just 50-60 votes. GrowPAC, another pro-Perry 527 group, purchased time on Des Moines and Ames radio stations with ads that encourage Iowans to write-in Rick Perry’s name on the Straw Poll ballot.

One of the pro-Perry groups conducted automated phone calls to Iowa Republicans in the past few days. The calls ask which candidate you favor. Perry’s is the first name on the list. If you select him, you are then asked if you would be interested in supporting Rick Perry at the Ames Straw Poll. If you say yes, the system responds that someone would be in touch with you in the next few days.

An email blast was also sent out by Americans for Rick Perry executive director Jeff LaCourse. The text includes a request to “Join us at the Republican Party of Iowa’s Presidential Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa on Saturday, August 13.” Readers are then directed to two email addresses and a phone number to call for more information.

Another 527 group, called Jobs for Iowa, produced a 30 second TV ad that is airing in Iowa. It does not mention the Straw Poll, but is a very professionally done commercial that promotes Perry’s record on creating jobs. The pro-Perry forces are sensing a groundswell of support for the Texas Governor.

“The bottom line is we’ve come across enough folks in the last few weeks that have expressed an interest in having another voice in this race,” Schoenfeld said. “If there wasn’t that feeling for another voice, you wouldn’t see that type of activity. We wouldn’t be here doing what we’re doing.”

Write-ins have never been allowed on the Ames Straw Poll ballot before and there has never been a concerted effort to mobilize for an undeclared candidate. Fred Thompson was garnering a lot of grassroots excitement in the summer of 2007, but did not declare his official candidacy until three weeks after the event. He only picked up 203 votes. That was mainly because the Thompson team put no effort into the Straw Poll.

A week and a half ago, when it was announced that Perry and Sarah Palin would not be allowed on the ballot, the Americans for Rick Perry group said they preferred to be excluded. They felt Perry would be at a distinct disadvantage because he was not allowed a lot on the Straw Poll grounds and there was not enough time to organize a strong effort. Obviously, there was a strategic change in the past few days.

A top three finish would provide Rick Perry’s likely candidacy an enormous boost, but it is virtually impossible to pull that off at this late date. Americans for Rick Perry claim there is “no goal” for their efforts, but it makes one wonder what they really hope to accomplish by recruiting supporters to attend the event. If Perry places above any of the six declared candidates who also bought space at the Ames Straw Poll, a devastating blow would be dealt to those other campaigns. However, it is difficult to say how much that result helps Rick Perry.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: algore; cheerleaderricky; gopprimary; iowa; openborders; palin; perry; rickperry; rinoricky; strawpoll
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

My goodness! Looks like all the rude supporters of Freddie Dalton Thompson have now jumped on Rick Perry’s little red truck! I thought I’d recognized some of you. They say you are judged by the company you keep, and I guess that means candidates you support, too. Rudeness does not win anyone over to your candidate. The feedback I am getting on this thread only proves my suspicions to be true.


21 posted on 08/03/2011 1:22:31 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( NO MORE BUSHS!)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

The Texas DREAM Act allows illegals to pay less for college than Oklahomans, right? Otherwise its a “punishment”, idiocy.

..

Did Rick Perry try to beef up the State Defense Force and put them on the border? Of course not.

..


22 posted on 08/03/2011 1:22:52 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: isthisnickcool
“Hey Iowans, did you know Rick Perry signed a bill implementing a business income tax?"

"..........."If you're running against Rick Perry," [John] Sharp said in his June interview with the Tribune, "you better bring your lunch."

By the time the two Aggies took each other on in the close 1998 race for lieutenant governor, Perry’s high profile, combined with shifting political tides, made him formidable. Less than two years after winning that contest, Perry was headed for the governorship. And six years after that, the two reconciled after striking up a conversation in an Austin gun store. Perry and the Legislature were struggling to pull together a school finance package. He turned to Sharp, putting him in charge of a blue-ribbon task force of business leaders and others.

That panel devised a controversial package that lowered local school property taxes and replaced them with a new business margins tax. The governor got anti-tax activist Grover Norquist to bless the idea, while Sharp convinced the business community. In special session in spring 2006, the two got the Legislature to bless it. The tax remains controversial — many blame it for the recurring $5 billion annual hole in the state budget — but the changes forestalled lawsuits over school finance, and the two old friends turned rivals turned friends have remained close ever since.................Source

In the meantime Perry is working within and without the system to reform education. Check it out.

And Talking heads discuss: Gov. Perry takes on college education

23 posted on 08/03/2011 1:25:45 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I-35 is a nightmare. People ask online how to avoid it.

At least they will use less gas in the future while battling congestion. Obama's new fuel economy mileage standard is 54 miles/gallon. Of course, he's counting on a lot of new cars being battery operated.

And, BTW, they might just exhaust their battery capacity while in the traffic jam. TX DOT better plan on building battery recharging stations along the highways. Or better yet, let a new company, Exxon Electric build the stations, charge the drivers and pay taxes to the state on the income. A win for free enterprise, the company, the state but not the poor driver.

24 posted on 08/03/2011 1:27:16 PM PDT by CedarDave (For Sarah Palin news and updates, place "Keyword: palin" into your FR sidebar)
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To: isthisnickcool
“Hey Iowans, did you know Rick Perry tried to mandate that young Texas women be shot up with drugs? Via executive order?"

Do you know that he allowed parents an opt out so the vaccine wasn't mandatory?

“Hey Iowans, did you know Rick Perry could have stopped santuary cities in Texas but did not?"

Really? He recently pushed for legislation trying to ban sanctuary cities:

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/cities-51442-perry-sanctuary.html

Perry revives sanctuary cities bill

“Hey Iowans, did you know Rick Perry signed a bill implementing a business income tax?"

Really?

http://impactnews.com/central-austin/293-recent-news/11840-perry-reaffirms-support-for-small-business-tax-break

Gov. Rick Perry told small-business owners at a March 1 event that he will keep the low-tax and competitive jobs environment in Texas with the pledge to renew the 2009 small-business tax break.

http://lubbockonline.com/stories/061709/sta_451696447.shtml

Perry signs tax break for small businesses

STOP LYING.

25 posted on 08/03/2011 1:29:50 PM PDT by RINOs suck
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Well said my dear...well said..Being bred, born and raised in the great state of Texas,we can’t do any worse than what we have now. Perry/Palin 2012....again THANK YOU!


26 posted on 08/03/2011 1:29:55 PM PDT by VF-51vnv
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Comment #27 Removed by Moderator

To: bwc2221
The two biggest names (Perry and Palin) won’t be on the ballot.

I suspect the unofficial Palin group organizing in Iowa with the hope she will run is also pushing a write in campaign. The results of the efforts will be interesting as will the spin provided by the supporters of the loser.

28 posted on 08/03/2011 1:32:27 PM PDT by CedarDave (For Sarah Palin news and updates, place "Keyword: palin" into your FR sidebar)
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To: GeronL
Oklahomans have good schools and like to rival Texas schools.

Are you saying OK students must leave their state to get a good education in Texas?

How far do you want to carry this ridiculous argument about Texas doing something (VOTED IN 100% by the state Senate) to work with all these students allowed to be educated by law in the United States?

These are students who lived in Texas for at least 3 years leading to a high school diploma. They pay the same (no special grants). Take your compliant to D.C., Capital Hill and the courts.

29 posted on 08/03/2011 1:33:24 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Grover Norquist? LOL! Whoop-d-Do! Ya might take a gander at what Grover has been saying the last few days. He is as wrong headed on the bill just passed in Washington as he was here in Texas in 2006 on the Franchise/Income Tax.

That's the best retort you have on Perry's signature on a Texas business income tax?

I'm curious Cincinatus' Wife, what do you do for a living? Does your company, if you have one, pay this income tax? Or is your only job coming here to pimp Perry?

30 posted on 08/03/2011 1:34:57 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Sharia? No thanks.)
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To: RINOs suck
STOP LYING.

You first...

31 posted on 08/03/2011 1:36:51 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Sharia? No thanks.)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
How far do you want to carry this ridiculous argument about Texas doing something (VOTED IN 100% by the state Senate) to work with all these students allowed to be educated by law in the United States?

You really do not understand? Are you that dense? These are not American citizens, making them pay the same as Americans is a punishment? We should hang these politicians, all of them.

They should be denied schools and welfare. THAT is how we can end the illegal alien problem.

No, better they should be allowed to live in YOUR house.

32 posted on 08/03/2011 1:38:41 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: isthisnickcool
I started vetting Perry after realizing he might get into the race. Boy a lot of FReepers came flying at me like bats out of hell for my posts. SO I dug deeper and found so many lies being spread and half truth being pushed.

Some FReepers said I was putting stuff out there that wasn't so great. But I figured, well, let's take a look now, everything will come out anyway. And you know when you do that it's amazing how much there is to find that makes the lies recede and the truth come forward.

I know that quote I just gave and linked to might on the face of it look "bad" but I know it was done to work a problem and that that problem is still being worked to make things better for taxpayers, students, business and the general well being of Texas.

So that's my story. I am working to find someone to make Obama a one term president.

And you come on most every thread to slam a good candidate.

Who is your choice?

33 posted on 08/03/2011 1:43:11 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Who decides who gets on the ballot?

How is it decided?

IMO the “result” means very little with Palin and Perry not included.


34 posted on 08/03/2011 1:43:11 PM PDT by truth_seeker
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

Wrong it is in violation of FED law to fund illegal aliens but everyone including Perry is willfully skirting the law. That’s why former justice Steven Wayne Smith is currently gathering plaintiffs to overthrow the provision in Texas allowing illegal aliens more rights to college grant money and slots than native-born US citizens. This boys and girls is TREASON!
Even BLUE STATE MARYLAND is trying to overthrow this crap via a petitions ballot measure(MDPetitions). They got 50% more signatures than needed and 30% Democrat voters onboard.
PERRY is for the RULING-CLASS!


35 posted on 08/03/2011 1:45:29 PM PDT by magna carta
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To: truth_seeker

“Who decides who gets on the ballot? How is it decided?”

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2752893/posts#1


36 posted on 08/03/2011 1:47:20 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: VF-51vnv

Thank you!


37 posted on 08/03/2011 1:49:41 PM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: isthisnickcool

Well the one good thing I have read about Perry is that he said not long ago that the first 100 days of a Perry presidency would include shutting down the EPA and the Dept of Educ. Two of my personal favorites. I’m still on the fence about Perry. One more do nothing globalist President and this country is Greece.


38 posted on 08/03/2011 1:52:16 PM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: truth_seeker

>>>Who decides who gets on the ballot?

The Central Committee of the Republican Party of Iowa.

>>>How is it decided?

They had a meeting some time back - there’s a thread, or several, when the announcement of who would be on the ballot - search the FR archives.

>>>IMO the “result” means very little with Palin and Perry not included.

You opinion means squat. If Palin &/or Perry wanted to be included in the straw poll, either or both could have done so. They didn’t. And they did include toe option for a write in, which they’d not done before.


39 posted on 08/03/2011 1:55:07 PM PDT by Keith in Iowa (Hope & Change - I'm out of hope, and change is all I have left every week | FR Class of 1998 |)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

Get off the fence..I’m a Texan and Perry is the real deal...of course there are a couple of dozen people that take turns bashing Perry with lies and negative spins on each Perry thread...Same shitte over and over.... and you for certain don’t have to worry about Rick Perry being a globalist.....he’s a country boy that has done good....and trust me the trans Texas corridor is a great idea....we need added lanes between North and South...this is a big state. To wit...it’s further from Texarkana, TX to El Paso, TX than it is from Chicago to New York City....


40 posted on 08/03/2011 2:13:46 PM PDT by RVN Airplane Driver
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