Iowa Becomes Focus Of Presidential Race
Republican Mitt Romney (left) greets Rep. Paul Ryan aboard the battleship Wisconsin. Ryan is Romney’s choice for Vice President on the Republican ticket. (photo by Jonathan Henry)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Oskaloosa is gearing up for a historic visit from a sitting President. Iowa once again finds itself smack dab in the middle of the Presidential election as President Obama is headed towards Oskaloosa on day two of a campaign swing through the state.
Republican presumptive candidate Mitt Romney announced on Saturday his choice in running mate in Rep. Paul Ryan. Ryan has served Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District since 1999 and serves as Chairman of the House Budget Committee.
The announcement location made Romney’s choice much clearer with it being on the BB-64 Wisconsin, an Iowa Class battleship. The two have spent the hours since the announcement in joint campaign mode. Ryan will head out on his own on Monday by making a planned trip to the Iowa State Fair.
Romney in a release to donors on Saturday stated, “Paul Ryan is a strong conservative leader, and I am proud to have him as my running mate. He is widely respected for his leadership skills and his intellect, and for his ability to tackle serious issues. Together, we understand that a limited government and fiscal responsibility will unleash prosperity for all Americans.”
Ryan’s visit to Iowa could take much of the attention away from Obama’s first day in the state, where polling now shows a two percentage point difference between the two candidates. Rasmussen Reports puts Romney ahead of Obama 46% to 44%. Additionally, 5% prefer another candidate while another 6% remain undecided.
In an unscientific poll conducted by Oskaloosa News, 243 people responded to the question “If voting was to take place today, who would you vote for?” The options in the poll included Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Other and None.
Of the two named candidates in the poll, Mitt Romney leads Barack Obama 30% to 26%. An interesting amount of people, 35%, said they would rather vote for another candidate. Not voting for either candidate was an additional 8%. All percentages were rounded up to the nearest percentage point.
Locally, people chimed in with their thoughts about Romney’s VP choice.
Madonna Bowie commented, “I watched his speech this morning from NC [North Carolina]. Very well spoken and confident in his vision and plan, instead of the regular hot phrases. Makes me want to research and learn more.”
Bowie wasn’t the only one interested in Ryan. Michall Holmes added, “Interesting choice and maybe a good one. We’ll see how it boils down. Very disappointing how the Democratic staffers reacted instantly and negatively (some of it pretty immature, I thought). Seems to me they’re intent on diminishing the opposition while trying hard to avoid their team’s record the last 3 plus years.”
Sue Milonas isn’t impressed with Ryan, “Scary… For everyone…especially women!”
Mark Doland, Republican State Central Committee in Iowa says, “Paul Ryan helps Romney because of his passion for real change and his ability to explain confusing economics to the American Electorate in a way that they can understand. This election now more clearly than ever is going to be about the economy and how Obama’s policies have failed us. The road toward socialism that the current administration has taken us down is absolutely killing the American Dream.”
Iowa GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker released a comment on Saturday about Romney’s choice. “America is currently facing a spending crisis that threatens the future prosperity of our children and grandchildren, and Iowans are ready for real solutions- not empty rhetoric. Congressman Ryan has shown the leadership necessary to get our nation back on track and I am confident he will serve the people of Iowa well as the next Vice President. ”
‘Obama for America’ Campaign Manager Jim Messina released a statement over the VP choice by Romney on Saturday. “In naming Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has chosen a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy. The architect of the radical Republican House budget, Ryan, like Romney, proposed an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires, and deep cuts in education from Head Start to college aid. His plan also would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors. As a member of Congress, Ryan rubber-stamped the reckless Bush economic policies that exploded our deficit and crashed our economy. Now the Romney-Ryan ticket would take us back by repeating the same, catastrophic mistakes.”
Will the visit by President Obama be enough to energize the base that helped propel him in 2008? Will the Romney/Ryan ticket help bring Republicans, that were less than enthusiastic about Romney, around to being more supportive of the ticket? Iowa’s voters have 3 months to figure that out.
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