GOP Enthusiasm Low In Iowa

cronincal · 12-21-2007, 08:33 AM

not surprising when you look at their choices.

December 21, 2007
Lower GOP activity reflects uncertainty
By JASON CLAYWORTH
REGISTER STAFF WRITER

Iowa Republican Party leaders say the level of activity and enthusiasm surrounding the 2008 campaign has not approached the level of eight years ago or the Democrats' race this year, reflecting in part a struggle among voters to find the right candidate.

But they say the lower enthusiasm levels are not signs of bigger problems that will follow the party into the 2008 general election. Instead, the enthusiasm levels are a result of the Republican presidential candidates more evenly spreading their time in other states.

"Agree or disagree with the strategy, but the Democrats have made Iowa the whole ball game," said Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Iowa Republican Party. "I think there's still that mistrust in government, and they're struggling to find a candidate who matches up on the issues and is viable beyond Iowa. I think that's the struggle."

He contrasted the race to the last GOP caucus campaign in 2000. It was "only eight years ago the last time we went through this but you had bus tours and big events, and we just haven't seen a lot of that in Iowa this year. There are pockets, but it's not consistent like the Democrats are doing."

Some of the comparisons between the parties are anecdotal. For example, six Democratic campaigns blanketed the grounds outside Iowa Public Television with signs and supporters at last week's Des Moines Register debates - far more than the nine GOP campaigns mustered. Other indications of GOP enthusiasm are more measurable, such as the less-than-expected attendance at August's straw poll, a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Iowa.

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain skipped the highly anticipated event. Giuliani stayed in New York while McCain campaigned in New Hampshire. Attendance was about 14,300, roughly 10,000 people less than the previous straw poll in 1999.

"None of the candidates who are running really get my blood going," said Story County resident Frank McGreevy, 58, during the straw poll.

The Des Moines Register reported this fall that Republicans had dedicated far fewer resources to campaigning in Iowa than their Democratic counterparts. As of mid-October, Democrats had 573 paid staffers, which accounted for more than 4½ times the 126 paid Republican staffers. Democrats had spent roughly 100 days more in the state between January and mid-October.

"If you're a Republican, we're in a pretty rough patch right now, and I think that's reflective in terms of enthusiasm, in terms of excitement and in terms of participation," said Joe Gaylord, a national GOP consultant who is a former executive director of the Republican State Central Committee in Iowa.

Iowa Democratic fundraisers such as the Jefferson-Jackson Day banquet on Nov. 10 attracted 9,000 people while roughly 15,000 people flocked to the Harkin Steak Fry in September, marking the event's largest crowd in its 30-year history.

Republican fundraisers since the straw poll have been smaller affairs. The Oct. 27 Ronald Reagan dinner attracted 600 GOP activists. While six presidential candidates headlined, Giuliani, McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney did not attend. About 1,000 people attended the annual Lincoln Day dinner fundraiser in April, where Romney and McCain spoke.

However, there are pockets of intense interest in Iowa for Republican candidates. A recent example was the roughly 1,000 people who showed up a Romney campaign event this week in West Des Moines.

Ames resident Karen Anglin has attended more than a dozen campaign events from at least eight candidates divided about evenly among Republicans and Democrats. While, generally, the enthusiasm level may be less on the Republican side, she said she has witnessed some intense enthusiasm for people like Giuliani. It's an indication, she said, that GOP support in Iowa is alive.

"The distinctions between party lines blur. It's more to me about what people stand for," Anglin said.

Part of the reason for lower participation in Republican events is out of the control of the candidates, said Cary Covington, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. President Bush's low approval rating, the ongoing dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq, and the fact that Democrats haven't held the White House in almost eight years are all factors, he said.

"Democrats are just hungrier than the Republicans because they've been out of the presidency for eight years," Covington said. "You saw the same phenomena on the Republican side in 2000 when, after eight years of Bill Clinton, the Republicans were just chomping at the bit to get a chance to have their guy back in the presidency."
Despite the perception of lesser enthusiasm, Iowa remains critically important, campaign staff for some GOP candidates say.

Traditionally, candidates who ultimately win their party's presidential nomination have placed in the top three in the Iowa caucuses and this race is no different, said Eric Woolson, the Iowa campaign manager for Iowa GOP frontrunner Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor.

"This whole idea that these guys are going to say, 'Well, look, Huckabee is up because we're not playing in Iowa,' I don't buy it. ... Everybody in this contest wants to be in the top three," Woolson said. "That's the way it always has been and for as long as I can foresee always will be."

Reporter Jason Clayworth can be reached at (515) 699-7058 or jclayworth@dmreg.com

12-21-2007, 08:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
cronincal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,013 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	GOP Enthusiasm Low In Iowa not surprising when you look at their choices. December 21, 2007 Lower GOP activity reflects uncertainty By JASON CLAYWORTH REGISTER STAFF WRITER Iowa Republican Party leaders say the level of activity and enthusiasm surrounding the 2008 campaign has not approached the level of eight years ago or the Democrats' race this year, reflecting in part a struggle among voters to find the right candidate. But they say the lower enthusiasm levels are not signs of bigger problems that will follow the party into the 2008 general election. Instead, the enthusiasm levels are a result of the Republican presidential candidates more evenly spreading their time in other states. "Agree or disagree with the strategy, but the Democrats have made Iowa the whole ball game," said Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Iowa Republican Party. "I think there's still that mistrust in government, and they're struggling to find a candidate who matches up on the issues and is viable beyond Iowa. I think that's the struggle." He contrasted the race to the last GOP caucus campaign in 2000. It was "only eight years ago the last time we went through this but you had bus tours and big events, and we just haven't seen a lot of that in Iowa this year. There are pockets, but it's not consistent like the Democrats are doing." Some of the comparisons between the parties are anecdotal. For example, six Democratic campaigns blanketed the grounds outside Iowa Public Television with signs and supporters at last week's Des Moines Register debates - far more than the nine GOP campaigns mustered. Other indications of GOP enthusiasm are more measurable, such as the less-than-expected attendance at August's straw poll, a fundraiser for the Republican Party of Iowa. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain skipped the highly anticipated event. Giuliani stayed in New York while McCain campaigned in New Hampshire. Attendance was about 14,300, roughly 10,000 people less than the previous straw poll in 1999. "None of the candidates who are running really get my blood going," said Story County resident Frank McGreevy, 58, during the straw poll. The Des Moines Register reported this fall that Republicans had dedicated far fewer resources to campaigning in Iowa than their Democratic counterparts. As of mid-October, Democrats had 573 paid staffers, which accounted for more than 4½ times the 126 paid Republican staffers. Democrats had spent roughly 100 days more in the state between January and mid-October. "If you're a Republican, we're in a pretty rough patch right now, and I think that's reflective in terms of enthusiasm, in terms of excitement and in terms of participation," said Joe Gaylord, a national GOP consultant who is a former executive director of the Republican State Central Committee in Iowa. Iowa Democratic fundraisers such as the Jefferson-Jackson Day banquet on Nov. 10 attracted 9,000 people while roughly 15,000 people flocked to the Harkin Steak Fry in September, marking the event's largest crowd in its 30-year history. Republican fundraisers since the straw poll have been smaller affairs. The Oct. 27 Ronald Reagan dinner attracted 600 GOP activists. While six presidential candidates headlined, Giuliani, McCain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney did not attend. About 1,000 people attended the annual Lincoln Day dinner fundraiser in April, where Romney and McCain spoke. However, there are pockets of intense interest in Iowa for Republican candidates. A recent example was the roughly 1,000 people who showed up a Romney campaign event this week in West Des Moines. Ames resident Karen Anglin has attended more than a dozen campaign events from at least eight candidates divided about evenly among Republicans and Democrats. While, generally, the enthusiasm level may be less on the Republican side, she said she has witnessed some intense enthusiasm for people like Giuliani. It's an indication, she said, that GOP support in Iowa is alive. "The distinctions between party lines blur. It's more to me about what people stand for," Anglin said. Part of the reason for lower participation in Republican events is out of the control of the candidates, said Cary Covington, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. President Bush's low approval rating, the ongoing dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq, and the fact that Democrats haven't held the White House in almost eight years are all factors, he said. "Democrats are just hungrier than the Republicans because they've been out of the presidency for eight years," Covington said. "You saw the same phenomena on the Republican side in 2000 when, after eight years of Bill Clinton, the Republicans were just chomping at the bit to get a chance to have their guy back in the presidency." Despite the perception of lesser enthusiasm, Iowa remains critically important, campaign staff for some GOP candidates say. Traditionally, candidates who ultimately win their party's presidential nomination have placed in the top three in the Iowa caucuses and this race is no different, said Eric Woolson, the Iowa campaign manager for Iowa GOP frontrunner Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor. "This whole idea that these guys are going to say, 'Well, look, Huckabee is up because we're not playing in Iowa,' I don't buy it. ... Everybody in this contest wants to be in the top three," Woolson said. "That's the way it always has been and for as long as I can foresee always will be." Reporter Jason Clayworth can be reached at (515) 699-7058 or jclayworth@dmreg.com
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