Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Shannon Batchelder made the two-hour drive from Omaha to Des Moines Thursday night with her husband and two daughters to buy five copies of a book she’s already read.
Mike Huckabee's tour bus outside the Des Moines Sam's Club Thursday night.
“And it’s terrific,” she said. “I’ve got friends who will be getting a copy as a gift.”
That’s the level of dedication exhibited by supporters of Mike Huckabee.
The former Arkansas governor who shocked the nation and shook up the race for president when he won January’s Iowa Caucuses was back in Iowa Thursday promoting his newest book, “Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That’s Bringing Common Sense Back to America.” And the hundreds of supporters who turned out to Huckabee’s book signing at Sam’s Club in Des Moines were hopeful this was a sign of his intentions in 2012.
“Oh, I pray he runs again,” said Maggie Tonya, who along with her two grandchildren drove down from Ankeny to see Huckabee. “I think there would be a Republican in the White House for the next four years if we would have run him against [Barack] Obama.”
In an interview earlier in the day with The Des Moines Register, Huckabee played down any 2012
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at his Des Moines book signing.
ambitions he may have. But that hasn’t tamped down the enthusiasm of those who believe Huckabee is the best possible GOP candidate.
“He’s authentic, he has great ideas about where this country should go, he’s just got the total package,” said Tony Miller of Des Moines. “I think he’ll run again, and I think he’ll win.”
Batchelder, the mother from Omaha, said that while volunteering during the caucus campaign she made 4,000 calls on behalf of Huckabee. She also spoke for the Huckabee campaign at precincts in Council Bluffs and in Kansas. And she would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
“I will absolutely support him again,” she said.
Huckabee supporters line up Thursday night.
A Sam’s Club employee named Julia said that the line to see Huckabee already stretched to the door when she arrived for work at 4:30 p.m. The event wasn’t scheduled to begin until 6 p.m.
Huckabee’s book, which has garnered a lot of media attention because parts of it are sharply critical of his former Republican rival Mitt Romney, is a touted as being a rallying cry intended to inspire young conservative voters. Many believe, however, it’s more likely a way to get Huckabee back on the campaign trail.
The parade of potential GOP presidential candidates continues this weekend when Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal visits Cedar Rapids and Des Moines on Saturday.
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