Palin bus tour to roll into Iowa
(CNN) - After a more than two-month hiatus, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is planning to crash the presidential party once again with a heartland-themed re-launch of her "One Nation" bus tour this week in Iowa, according to a Palin fundraising email obtained by CNN.
Palin is bringing her Constitution-draped bus to the Iowa State Fair, just 30 miles south of where the Republican presidential field will take the stage on Thursday for a presidential debate in Ames.
It's not yet clear which day the tour begins, but her surprise arrival in Iowa will happen before the closely watched Ames straw poll. Palin is not on the straw poll ballot.
According to a video link included the fundraising solicitation for Palin's political action committee, Sarah PAC, it appears the bus will also take Palin to Missouri and Illinois to visit the respective hometowns of former presidents Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan.
"The heartland is perfect territory for more of the One Nation Tour as we put forth efforts to revitalize the fundamental restoration of America by highlighting our nation's heart, history, and founding principles," Palin wrote in the email.
Sarah PAC Treasurer Tim Crawford would not provide more the details about the tour.
During the opening act of her bus tour in May, Palin toured historical sites along the East Coast, grabbing countless headlines along the way and stealing a share of the political spotlight from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who announced his presidential bid in New Hampshire at the same time her bus was driving into the state.
Federal paperwork reveals that her political action committee shelled out nearly $20,000 on the tour this spring.
The bus tour sequel adds even more drama to a blockbuster political week in Iowa, which holds the first contest in the presidential nomination fight.
Along with the debate and the make-or-break straw poll, most of the Republican candidates are slated to deliver stump speeches this week at the Iowa State Fair on the Des Moines Register-sponsored political soapbox.
And on Sunday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Palin ally who is on the verge of joining the 2012 race, will make his Iowa debut at a Republican fundraising dinner in Waterloo.
Palin's re-emergence in Iowa just hours before the debate is a reminder that the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee intends to remain part of the presidential discussion as long as possible, despite being largely dismissed by party insiders.
While polls show that Republicans harbor doubts about whether she should run for president, Palin would undoubtedly be a factor in the GOP primary thanks to her popularity among conservative activists and a knack for attracting media attention.
A Gallup survey out Tuesday showed that Palin generates more enthusiasm among GOP voters than most of the candidates already in the race. And as Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour recently put it, "she could raise enough money to burn a wet mule."
Her advisers have long emphasized that such star power gives her the ability to delay a decision about joining the race until after Labor Day.
Palin has pointed to September as a loose deadline for making a decision about whether she will seek the GOP presidential nomination.
There is also anecdotal evidence that Palin has the potential to shake up the Republican race in Iowa.
Despite having no formal campaign infrastructure in the state, hundreds of supporters turned out in June to catch a glimpse of Palin when a sympathetic film about her rise to power debuted in Pella.
She has plans to return to the state over Labor Day weekend for a Tea Party rally in the Des Moines area.
Maybe it will end up in a ditch!!!!!
HURRAY FOR YOU PALIN. You are so far smarter than the bag in the Oval Office. Millions of us are out here waiiting on you to come on and commit to run. Don't let the ignorance of Obama supporters stop you. PALIN 2012
She can’t formally declare her candidacy because she’d be expected to get on stage and debate the others. Now wouldn’t THAT be a hoot?!
In my best, dismissive voice, a hearty – NO COMMENT.
Maybe she wants to be Perry's running mate. We all saw how well that worked for McCain..
Again, why is this news? Some bimbo in a gaudy RV rolls into Iowa. Big deal. It's not like she's got a snowball's chance in Hades of becoming relevant in the election or anything.
She should be thankful we do live in a democracy and have to put up with her. No one else would. BTW, she's gonna need a bigger bus... for her ego. Even she must know she would be destroyed in an national election. America's not completely around the bend.
Star Power? The only one that believes in her STar Power is her own delusional lunatic self. Well, maybe Todd and Bristol and Trig and Willow and Trip or Track and whatever other family members with weird names there are. Let's hope she stays in it long enough to have to deal with the 'gotcha media' folks from Faux News. That would be excellent.
Defying conventional wisdom, Palin apparently DOES need a meteor to fall on her head to find out that NOBODY wants her to run for president...
Her knack for getting media attention is akin to the knack of a race car skidding around a corner on two wheels inches from the wall getting the attention of someone watching a race.
She is the biggest Menace to America. Does any one know this truth....?????Idiot....
Will she bring her new Grandchild with her?
So what she's really saying is, "Hey everybody, look at ME! I'm still here. Why isn't anyone paying attention to ME? Why isn't anyone listening to ME? Why am I not on the television? Why isn't anyone giving ME free money?"
$arah Palin in making fools out of the citizens of this country. She needs to $_it or get off the pot!!!
A story about Palin doesn't do her justice, unless we can hear her screechy, sing-song, shrill voice, darn it.
Only one word for this lame brain: Media whore. Half-term and half-brained Gov.$arah Palin doesn't care about anything but MONEY. "People aren't paying enough attention to me!"
Hey, I'm taking the Megabus this weekend - will CNN do a story about me, too?
Once again, CNN: Show some actual journalistic judgment and spare us "news" about Scheming $arah.
Look at ME. Look at ME ,everbody!!!!!
Palin's Iowa surprise: her shoes were on the wrong feet.
If Sarah announced that she passed gas, CNN would run the story at the TOP of the political ticker. You know it, the quitter/media whore knows it and we know it. That being said, yesterday's "neener neener neener told ya so" story got 947 comments. So, there's that.
Before it's too late Iowa, lock your doors. The funny-farm is heading your way, with head funny aboard.
all of you stupid people still believing in her...she hasn't helped any cause other than the palin cause...WAKE UP!
The traveling circus. An ignorant, hate-filled, xenophobic circus...but a circus nonetheless.
I am sure the groupies will follow her anywhere. She should probably take up an musical instrument. She could add Pastor Huckabee, and Amb Huntsman, and travel as a band bus.
I guess if you have a complete flop for a movie you got to get out and lie to the people again to get your name in the news to keep the money train rolling. Her "Divided Nation" tour took quite a break and I am sure there are some that are excited that the unemployed, unelected Carnival Barker is about to hit the road in luxury to tell her cult members how bad Obama is and how great that the Tea Party won 98% of the deal that crashed the markets.At least she is going to Reagans hometown and it is good she will be in the hometown of the President that started the financial problems for the US.
Palin the glory hound! Always trying to steal someone else's spotlight. GO AWAAAAAAAAAY!!!