Rick Perry moved quickly to smooth some ruffled Iowa GOP feathers after word got out that the Texas governor would jump into the presidential race at a South Carolina event (the Red State conference) on the day of the Ames straw poll. Perry will now travel to Waterloo — Michele Bachmann’s home town — to speak at a fundraiser for Republicans on Sunday afternoon:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry will speak Sunday at a fundraiser hosted by the Black Hawk County Republicans, his campaign has confirmed.
The Lincoln Day Dinner event in Waterloo will mark Perry’s first visit to Iowa as a potential 2012 presidential candidate. It follows a speech he will make Saturday in South Carolina, where he is expected to make clear his intentions to run, although he may stop short of a formal announcement.
“It’s an important area of the state for Republicans,” said Mark Miner, a spokesman for Perry. “There’s nothing new to announce, but stay tuned.”
Perry’s apparent decision to, er, clarify his position in the presidential race on Saturday angered some Republicans here in Iowa. The Iowa Republican called it an “insult” to Iowans:
Texas Governor Rick Perry’s decision to announce his candidacy in South Carolina at the same time the Iowa Straw Poll is taking place in Ames is not only a slap in the face to Republican voters in Iowa, but it also is disrespectful to the Iowa GOP and the other candidates seeking the nomination.
The move makes it obvious that Governor Perry either doesn’t understand the Iowa caucuses or doesn’t respect the role that Iowa plays in the nominating process. We shouldn’t be surprised. The candidate he endorsed for president in 2008, Rudy Giuliani, never could figure out Iowa either.
Well, I’m pretty sure that Perry didn’t intend it as a slap, but it’s easy to see why it comes across that way. The Ames straw poll helps the Republican party raise funds for the coming caucuses, which is really its most important role. It also gives candidates a chance to test their organizational skills and position themselves against their competition. Neither of those apply to Perry, who has just begun to organize, and for whom a test might turn into a damaging flop.
It didn’t take long for Perry to recognize the potential for damage, however, and react to it. While the Ames poll will go on without him, Perry will still be on hand for a fundraiser to help boost Republicans in the Hawkeye State. Whether that satisfies the honor of “insulted” Iowans is anyone’s guess, but I’m pretty sure that no one will care much about it one way or the other by January.
Meanwhile, Mike Huckabee is making his presence known in Iowa — and spreading it around, too:
Mike Huckabee, already slated to broadcast for Fox from the Ames straw poll, will also be deploying his talents as an entertainer at Herman Cain’s campaign tent …
Huckabee’s daughter, Pawlenty adviser Sarah Huckabee Sanders, tweets that her father will also “be playing with Sonicflood and the Nadas @timpawlenty’s tent at the Ames Straw Poll on Sat! Very excited!”
He’s also joining Rick Santorum:
Not one to play favorites, Mike Huckabee will play bass for not only Herman Cain but Rick Santorum and Tim Pawlenty as well at the Ames Straw Poll this weekend.
I think that’s called hedging your bets.
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