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.
I think they should include her in the straw poll. Let her see exactly how little support she has. Then again, if she tries to run for President....and she more than likely will......she'll see how unpopular she is and hopefully that will be the end of her.
I feel this Pain article is very much like the royal wedding of Williams and Kate. Who really cares about her? Feel sickening.
There she goes again. Headline: "Palin throws a monkey wrench into Iowa Republican events".
I do not understand why cnn continues to report on anything related to this person. She is not a candidate, not a political scientist, not a philosopher. She IS a hysterical cog in the hysterical hype machine, which is to say she is an employee of fox news. Unless cnn is owned by fox news they shouldnt be promoting her by reporting on her every cranial bowel movement.
She truly is useless and hope she gets the nomination.
No doubt if Palin runs against Obama, Palin will win in a landslide. Heck, if my pet rock ran against Obama my pet rock would win in a landslide.
Why do people insist on addressing her as Governor Palin and don't show the same respect to President Obama. It is always Obama this and Obama that. If nothing else, do respect the office of president and address him as President Obama. Thank you
Go Palin!! Maybe she'll team up with Perry? What a great combo!!
T. F. Support wrote:
"Tina Fey for PRESIDENT!"
Tina Fey would most certainly be a better choice!
I'm no fan of how Obama has handled his first term as President, but like everyone I know, I dont care about Palin. We don't view her as a viable candidate. We've seen what an inexperienced person can do with the Presidency and we shouldn't make the same mistake again. The only good that I see of the coverage is that the people are exposed to the true nature of the Democrat party and their hate machine. Their personal attacks on Palin and her family are disgusting and without merit.
I wish I could start a PAC, have rich people give me money, then use that money to tour America with my family...all while paying no taxes! SWEET!
She's great at making sure she is still in the limelight! She definitely represents seperatism and everything the GOP seems to want to represent now. Despite her manufactured hominess and "you betcha's," she doesn't represent mainstream America. Don't let her fool you!
Why? Did the bus breakdown?
I did not read the article, just the head line, two words... Please become president! I miss the late night jokes!! (sarcasm greatly insinuated)
She quit the job in Alaska to hop aboard the money train, how do we know she won't pull that again.
I guess she needed her name in the news more.
Sarah Palin hanging out at political hotspots is like Paris Hilton hanging out at the Oscars: not gonna happen. Does CNN follow any other political candidate groupies?
Would you please just go away!!!!!!!!
wow...way to divert attention off of more viable Republican candidates who actually may have something to say and have a chance of getting elected, Sarah Palin. Oh but who am I kidding, I love news articles about her! Just read the comments, they really make my day 😀
PALIN 2012 (sponsored by the Committee to Re-Elect Obama 2012)
This actually says a lot about the lack of discerning values, character, and reasoning that seems to possess the GOP and those that are "impressed by her". The GOP faithful seems like they really want to support anything that has two legs and walks upright, never mind having a brain and knowledge. Maybe the Tin Man from "The Wizard of OZ" should run.
Where does she get all this money? I'd love to take a national bus tour and spout my ideas, but, I doubt anyone would care to hear them, or finance my ride...
I love the way she spent the whole 2008 presidential campaign saying that Obama is nothing but a celebrity, and she's spent virtually every hour since that election trying to make herself into a celebrity.
It's time for her to either get OFF the fence or go home. At this point,she is just a distraction. Last time she caused a distraction, we were unfortunate enough to get Obama. Can't do that again!
Sarah Palin.......IS THE RIGHT CHOICE!