Look Who's Going to Iowa

Sarah Palin’s scheduled political trip to Iowa this month marks a shift from near silence in the leadoff presidential nominating state to the kind of outreach common among White House prospects.

Palin’s plan to headline the Iowa Republican Party’s annual fall fundraiser on Sept. 17 is solely to help raise money for the state party’s candidates, the former Alaska governor’s aides said.

And one trip to Iowa is a long way from a successful campaign for the state’s 2012 presidential caucuses, still 18 months away, Iowa party insiders said.

But Palin’s recent overtures to Iowa reveal a change in posture that puts her in a position — like other 2012 presidential prospects already laying campaign groundwork in Iowa — to build goodwill and relationships with influential activists, state Republican officials said.

“It does signal an interest in helping Iowans be successful in 2010,” state Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn said. “Iowa Republicans are going to look favorably on anybody that has come to this state this year to help us win in 2010.”

Palin aides confirmed Tuesday that she plans to be the featured guest at the Iowa GOP’s Reagan Day dinner on Sept. 17. Palin is also planning yet-announced political stops that day, with the state party’s marquee Ronald Reagan dinner that evening.

In the dinner’s nine years, it has drawn national party stars and up-and-coming figures. Some, such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in 2004, have gone on to wage competitive caucus campaigns. Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was the guest a year later, and saw his own presidential ambition fade when Republicans lost the majority in 2006.

No Reagan headliner has gone on to become president, or even the party’s presidential nominee. Still, the importance of the visit should not be underestimated, GOP leaders say.

“If she’s serious about her own prospects, she needs to be here — and she’s doing that with a big, high-profile event,” said Ann Trimble-Ray, vice chairwoman of the Sac County Republicans and an adviser to Congressman Steve King.

Palin, a Fox News Channel contributor, has emerged as a top national Republican Party draw since stepping down from the governorship last year. She was among the top draws last weekend at a Washington, D.C., rally sponsored by conservative commentator Glenn Beck, also with Fox News.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, is lending her voice and celebrity to the Iowa Republican party’s fundraising for this year’s elections — and nothing more, aides to her political action committee said Tuesday.

But after playing hard to get for the past year, Palin approached Iowa Republicans recently, party officials said.

Palin had drawn large, enthusiastic crowds during her four campaign stops in Iowa in the fall of 2008.

Iowa GOP event planners first invited Palin to headline the fall fundraiser a year ago after she stepped down as governor in July, 2009. Palin never responded, despite periodic reminders.

She touched Iowa soil once in the meantime, slipping in and out of Sioux City to sign copies of her books in December without holding any political meetings or press interviews.

Palin endorsed Republican candidate for governor Terry Branstad before the June 8 primary. But she did so with a Facebook post. Palin also contributed $5,000 to Branstad’s campaign and $5,000 to Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s campaign in June. Last month, Palin endorsed Iowa attorney general candidate Brenna Findley, also through Facebook.

Palin hasn’t avoided all early primary states. She campaigned in May in South Carolina, expected to host the first Southern primary in 2012, for gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.

Palin began taking a more active approach toward Iowa in late July, when her political action committee told Iowa Republican Party staff that Palin’s people were planning a more aggressive fall campaign schedule and had asked whether the Reagan invitation was still open.

Palin has remained popular with Iowa Republicans. Fifty eight percent of Iowa Republican primary voters said in June they had a favorable opinion of Palin, according to The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll.

That was slightly behind Romney, at 62 percent, and slightly ahead of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, at 56 percent.

Still, Palin lacks the connections other Republican presidential prospects have begun assembling.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, in five trips to Iowa since last November, has been the most active in lining up a team of key supporters and strategists. He has enlisted former Iowa GOP Chairman Chuck Larson, and former George W. Bush advisers Sara Taylor Fagen and Terry Nelson.

“She’s completely dark on that side,” said Des Moines Republican strategist Nick Ryan, who was a top aide to former Congressman Jim Nussle. “And amongst the opinion-leader class, there’s not a lot of fervor toward her.”

The Iowa Poll also showed more Iowa GOP primary voters — almost 40 percent — viewed Palin unfavorably than they did Gingrich or Romney.

West Des Moines Republican Ryan Rhodes said he plans to attend Palin’s appearance in Des Moines this month, but that it’s too early to say whether he would support a Palin caucus campaign. “

“I’ll go to the event. I’ll go and see her,” said Rhodes, chairman of the Iowa Tea Party Patriots. “But as far as the presidential candidates people are talking about now, I’m dissatisfied with any of them so far and hope there’s somebody else who emerges.”