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.
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Oh, poor Iowa.
Keep sending her and her hillbilly family your money knuckledraggers!
The scary thing here is that there are voters who actually think this idiot has any clue. Fortunately, I am sure they are the minority. If by some freak chance Palin was elected, I would SERIOUSLY consider moving to Canada!
And her theme song is "If I only had a brain"
Missus Palin, have you no shame?
Oh boy, here we go again.
Well, this "aint" no big surprise. I sure hope Sarah tells the bus driver to be sure to drive to Dixon, Illinois . . . . not Eureka, Illinois, if she is planning on stopping by the homestead of President Reagan!! You see, Eureka, Illinois, has a small college called Eureka College, and President Reagan attended this college. Now after ALL of this information I've provided, isn't it a HOOT to think that Sarah Palin wants to be President, and has a very limited knowledge of Presidential history!! Somehow I don't care to have a President who only knows about big bucks $$$$$, reality TV shows, and can see Russia from her house???? Lord help ALL of us IF the Palin family ends up in the White House!!! Katy Bar the Door!!!!!
Ohhh poor Piper! Another ruined vacation! Too bad she is too young to realize she is but a prop in her mom's phony drama!
As an Alaskan THIS WOMAN is a continuing embarrassment and a pain that won't go away. All you Palin lovers will learn what us Alaskans did...how she's stupid (to begin with) AND doesn't fullfill her commitments to people...it's all about her. GO AWAY PALIN
Maybe one day she should read the side of her bus, and then get someone to explain it to her....
A Palin/Perry ticket would be AWESOME!
Palin doesn't have a clue. But she's not stupid enough to become a candidate, and lose her handout from Fox. Fox should fire her. She dumbs down the whole network.
As much as her supporters want to believe she can win, she stands zero chance. Even if Obama's approval rating drops to near 35% that will still be higher than those who approve of Palin. The Republicans need to put up a contender who can appeal to Independents – something Palin doesn't do. She is despised by Independents on a level with Democrats. And without Independents she has no chance. Hell, she cannot even get a full consensus among Republicans.
Please donmt
She needs to go back home and take care of her children. She's been so busy being a "modern woman" she has neglected her children. Her oldest son just had a baby after three months of marriage. She neglects her baby son. She should be reported to child and protective services. For all her talk of Christian values, she should be ashamed of herself and take care of her children first.
Sarah, WHO?
That shameless hussie will stop at nothing to make a buck! And if you think she is going to run for president you are dumber than a box of cat litter.
She ain't running folks. Her new career is to run from place to place and be on the news so she can charge speaking fees, sell her booty on the air at Fox, and otherwise pump the cash handle wherever she can get sponsorships. She may "file" as a candidate in order to write off expenses, but she is not really trying to become president just to become rich..
Hey, HEY, HEY!!! Its ME, Sarah Palin you sexist lame stream media buffoons –
Pay attention to ME!!
Sarah, Please go back to Grade School!
Needing a little attention, Sarah?
Palin is another word for pain in the ear!!!
Sarah Palin, independent conservative, running against the incompetent, shot-himself-in-both-feet Obama, and the corrupt, never-saw-enough-spending, trash the economy, Washington insiders of both parties, and Wall Street with which both party leaderships are in cahoots (including Obama and his non-taxpaying Treasury Secretary), sweeps to victory in 2012 and starts gutting Washington in 2013. Democrat bludgers and RINOs are left shrieking by the roadside.
The wanna be President has arrived once again. Did anyone really think that she would stay out! There are not enough idiots out there that would vote for her. I guess she will get the votes from those who drink a six pack daily. News Week should have had her picture next to the other wanna be crazy.
It's official. . . All Republicans have lost their minds. Could they be smoking more than tea?