- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Iowa Straw Poll's Non-Candidate Glad Hand
Email
ShareAugust 10, 2007 4:16 PM
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Just because you're not an announced presidential candidate doesn't mean you can't come to Iowa and glad hand with potential voters.
Adjacent to the Iowa GOP's booth at the Iowa State Fair is a small table overflowing with the many books penned by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, mastermind of the Contract With America that swept Republicans to a dozen years of control in Congress back in 1994.
A line of a hundred Iowans lined the packed hallway of one of the few air conditioned spots at the fair as they waited to get their books signed by Gingrich, who was a half hour late and wore khakis and a blue-and-white striped shirt.
Gingrich's arrival eclipsed the appearance of Duncan Hunter, Republican Congressman from San Diego. Hunter, who had been outside in the stifling heat, was a bit sweaty and had on a big straw hat with "Go Hunter" emblazoned on the brim. He was with his son, Sam. Hunter's other son, Duncan Duane Hunter is a Marine serving in Afghanistan and is planning a run for his father's congressional seat. (Rep. Hunter is not planning to seek reelection in his District.)
Hunter, who had been talking to voters at the Iowa Republicans booth waved goodbye shortly after Gingrich arrived.
"See you later, Duncan," said Gingrich, waving back as he reached for another book to sign.
Gingrich has not ruled out a White House run of his own and will make a decision in October if, he says, the current buffet of candidates does not live up to its potential.
While not an official candidate, Gingrich is consummate politician. He has not missed an Iowa State Fair in three years and will go to tomorrow's straw poll in Ames and teach classes on, among other things, how to be a "green conservative."
August 10, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (4)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"Consummate Politician" Gingrich is a bright guy, but full of hubris. Occasionally he says something I agree with, such as: The Iraq war is a failure and has made us less secure. Too bad the other hypocripublican candidates are too cowardly to say that (with the exception of Ron Paul)
Posted by: genzavets | Aug 10, 2007 10:12:05 PM
The country needs another draft dodging Republican like we need another racial profiling Clinton (in case my Hispanic brothers have forgotten).
Posted by: A Viet Nam Vet | Aug 11, 2007 3:53:14 PM
Why is so little said about Ron Paul or is he a definite threat to the already established candidates? He is taking this country by storm and nothing seems to be acknowledged on any of the mainstreams but that doesn't surprise us either! I think it's time he gets the mention he certainly deserves as he has definitely taken the debates!
Posted by: Kathy | Aug 12, 2007 2:25:22 AM
It is one thing to have 100 people standing in line for an AUTOGRAPH, quite another for this same 100 to VOTE for him
Posted by: Callie369 | Sep 4, 2007 12:21:22 PM
Post a comment
