Barbour schedules trip to Iowa with 2012 bid on horizon
Washington (CNN) - Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is slated to make his first appearance in Iowa as an all-but-certain candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
The Iowa Republican Party announced Monday that Barbour will keynote the first in a series of fundraising dinners designed to strengthen county party organizations across the state. Iowa GOP Chairman Matt Strawn said that other "national political leaders" will appear at future dinners.
The Barbour event will take place on March 15 in the Quad Cities, normally a Democratic-leaning part of the Hawkeye State.
Barbour last visited Iowa in October to campaign for then-candidate Terry Branstad, who was elected governor in November.
A Barbour adviser told CNN earlier this month that the governor is planning more visits to key presidential nominating states in the coming months as makes a final decision about whether to make a White House run.
Barbour has said he will announce his intention in April, but his advisers are operating under the assumption that he will enter the race for the Republican nomination.
"We have definitely shifted gears, there is no question about that," the adviser told CNN at the time. "He's running until he says he's not."
Barbour is making no secret of his national ambitions: he returned from a trip to Israel last week just in time to address thousands of right-leaning activists at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. The night before the speech, Barbour hosted a private meet-and-greet with about two dozen influential conservative bloggers.
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He can't govern Mississippi, how can we expect him to govern all the states?!?!?! Who ever is giving this guy advice is an idiot.
Shouldn't he be going to Indiana first? After all it is the birthplace of the Klan and he has repeatedly expressed his admiration for their ideals.
He's just not cut out to be President. I don't see how he'll win the general election without the minority vote, which he clearly won't get a smidgen of.
A heart attack waiting to happen
Give it up Governor and go home and help your poverty stricken state.
This obese racist has ZERO, let me repeat, ZERO chance to become President! Sarah Palin most likely has higher poll numbers and 65% of Americans have an unfavorable view of her!
Dems will control the White House until Republicans find a sane person more towards the middle. This act may win them regional election but it doesn't play nationally!
Haley, you have destroyed Mississippi, why would you think that you should be entitled to destroy America?
Haley because you pushed for amnesty for illegals your DOA regarding my vote in the primary.
Just what America needs – another ignorant, racist, backward hillbilly trying to take us back to the dark ages.
[Barbour schedules trip to Iowa]
Doesn’t he GET IT – jeez play the vi-o-la!!
He actually sees a [2012 bid on horizon]
But he’ll NEVER win – Praise the Lord – AMEN!!
This man makes me sick just to look at him. He's a fat slob. That and his kkk leanings are enough to put him out of the running of anything but running for exercise.
Barbour is a good example of a failed governor whose full term will end in 2011, Barbour should be embarrassed to even consider running for president. Barbour will find he is way out of his league running for president because this ain't Mississippi.
Somebody just needs to tell Barbour to stay home.
I wish Haley Barbour would win the Republican nomination, then people will really see how un-red America is...
NC,
What do you mean "help your poverty stricken state?"
We all know that states like California and New York pay for those poor bible belt states to be even considered as a 1st world nation. If it was up to me I'd cut all aide to those bible belt states, after all that is Socialism, he he, and see how fast even countries like Guatamala and El Salvador (no offense intended) laugh at those bible belt states...
...then we post a fence around California and hunt the red staters as illegals, see how they like it....
This guy is a vision of what the bottom looks like and America even considering people like this is a commentary on the condition of this countries current political status, which is frightening and angering to say the least..
I hear they have a lot of pig roasts in IA: he's going for the food, another fat, arrogant conservative.
Will he be taking his honorary KKK hood and robes?