Good Morning.
Between ice storms, Governor Culver’s refusal to rule out tax increases, and hundreds of miles on the ol’ Strawn cruiser, it has been an awfully busy week.
Today, the Pizza & Politics tour will reach the halfway point as it rolls into Western Iowa. Of course, we’re calling an audible on the “pizza” portion for the morning’s first stop in Orange City, where you can join me for “Breakfast & Politics” at 8:30 am at De Koffiehoek and Bistro (819 Lincoln Place SE). Later in the day, please feel free to meet up with us at 11:45 a.m. in Sioux City at the Town House Pizza & Lounge (2701 Floyd Blvd.).
Following today’s Western Iowa travels, I will provide a mid-tour update; but, in the meantime, here is a brief report and audio interview from IowaPolitics.com regarding yesterday’s Pizza & Politics in West Des Moines. Thanks to all who attended.
IowaPolitics.Com, December 19
-- Matt Strawn, one of at least nine candidates vying to replace Stewart Iverson as state Republican Party chairman, said today that his party must utilize new communication tools such as YouTube, Facebook and blogs in order to compete with Democrats. “We need to be more technologically savvy,” Strawn said. “The Obama campaign was communicating with people of all ages using the types of devices and techniques they used. And our party quite frankly fell down and didn’t utilize those technologies.” Strawn, a co-owner of the Iowa Barnstormers and former state director for John McCain, was at the Tavern in West Des Moines Friday for the fourth in a 10-stop “GOP Pizza & Politics” tour of the state. Strawn has taken his candidacy for state party chairman to the public, even though only the 17 members of the State Central Committee can cast votes. “We’re a party that believes that people in Des Moines and people in D.C. don’t have all the answers,” Strawn said. “I think it’s important to reach out to Republicans statewide and find out what they think about rebuilding the party. It’s a little bit unorthodox, but in football terms I’ve always believed that you play how you practice. So I’m running my campaign in a way that shows people how I will play as chairman. That’s why I’ve utilized blogs, utilized YouTube, utilized a very aggressive e-mail campaign.” James Van Ginkel, chairman of the Madison County Republicans, was one of about 20 people at the event Friday. He said Strawn’s approach to running makes people feel more represented, and that might be a welcome change after the last election cycle. “I think this is a great way to run for state party chair,” Van Ginkel said. “I’m a big fan of Stew (Iverson) and I hate to see him leave, but he’s got other things. I don’t think the party’s in that bad of straits, but if you lose you’ve got to say, ‘Hey, we need something.’”
*Listen to an interview with Strawn:http://www.iowapolitics.com/1009/081219strawn.mp3
