NEWS AND OPINION:
Presidential campaigns appear to demand much time, attention and determination. Old school political “barnstorming” from town to town and personal appearances are certainly a factor here.
Former President Donald Trump and his campaign team have tallied up his recent visits to Iowa, advising that Mr. Trump already has visited the Hawkeye State six times this year, with stops in Davenport, Council Bluffs, Cedar Rapids, Ames and two visits to Des Moines, one of them for the Iowa State Fair of course.
Then there is the voter factor. The Trump campaign has recruited 200,000 voter contacts, 1,500 in-state volunteers, 1,000 precinct captains, and established 200 county chairs to cover all 99 Iowa counties. Over 100 Iowa farmers also have formed the Farmers for Trump Coalition, the campaign said.
But wait, there’s more.
Mr. Trump has accumulated 20 state legislative endorsements in Iowa, made eight video addresses and accumulated 27,500 signed caucus voter pledge cards in advance of the January caucuses in the state. His campaign has distributed 10,000 yard signs and 200 barn signs.
“President Trump’s Iowa team and outstanding army of grassroots volunteers have created one of the greatest campaign teams in Iowa Caucus history,” Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a written statement shared with Inside the Beltway.
“The numbers speak for themselves, from the on-the-ground activity to the 37-percentage point lead in polling. It’s impressive,” he said.
Mr. Cheung is referring to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll of 818 registered Republican voters in Iowa conducted July 23-27, which indeed found that 54% supported Mr. Trump while 17% supported Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
THE VIVEK FACTOR
Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, meanwhile, is also in the political fast lane.
“Vivek takes Iowa with five stops in 24 hours,” his campaign said in an advisory shared Inside with Beltway.
Indeed, the candidate will visit the town of Bettendorf on Wednesday, with Thursday stops to follow in Dubuque, Decorah, Fayette and Waterloo.
A DOMINANT FORCE
Republicans clearly have a political edge when it comes to state-level politics. Ready for the numbers? These are from Ballotpedia.org.
“At the end of August 2023, 54.86% of all state legislatures in the United States were Republican while 44.29% were Democratic. There are 7,386 state legislative seats in the country. Republicans control 57 chambers, while Democrats hold 40. The Alaska House of Representatives is the only chamber organized under a multipartisan, power-sharing coalition,” noted the Ballotpedia analysis.
“Democrats hold 851 state Senate seats and 2,420 state House seats, having lost five seats since last month. Republicans hold 1,109 state Senate seats and 2,943 state House seats, having lost six seats since last month,” it said.
“Independent or third-party legislators hold 27 seats across 10 different states, including 22 state House seats and five state Senate seats. There are 28 vacant state House seats and eight vacant state Senate seats across 34 different states. Compared to August 2022, Democrats have lost 13 state Senate seats (864 v. 851) and gained 11 state House seats (2,409 v. 2,420). Republicans have gained 17 state Senate seats (1,092 v. 1,109) and gained 43 state House seats (2,900 v. 2,943),” the research said.
ON THE RADAR
Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee — the advocacy arm of Concerned Women for America — has organized a major three-day “Leadership Summit” set to begin Friday at a grand hotel in the nation’s capital.
The leaders in question here are significant to say the least.
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be special guests at the event — which includes policy discussions, meetings with members of Congress, state director training, and speeches by an assortment of policy leaders.
The organization “protects and promotes Biblical values and constitutional principles through prayer, education, and advocacy,” according to a mission statement. Find them at ConcernedWomen.org.
ADVICE FROM AN AUTHOR
A new book has advice for the jittery citizenry out there, and the title tells all.
“Do Not Comply: Taking Power Back from America’s Corrupt Elite” by Will Witt has a direct message, and a warning perhaps.
“The America you grew up in is no longer here. Our country is in sharp decline. Yet we often fail to truly call out the culprits responsible for it. Who are the corrupters of our great country? They are politicians (both Democrat and Republican), they are businessmen, they are celebrities, they are media executives, they are scientists. They are the elite. And they are selfish,” says Center Street, in advance notes for the book.
“This book is a must-read for citizens seeking the truth about who really controls the levers of power in our country. As we watch America descend toward moral and economic destruction, it’s tempting to believe we have no power to enact change. But we always have a choice — and it’s not too late. ‘Do Not Comply’ is the first step towards righting the ship,” the publisher said.
The new book arrives Sept. 19.
Mr. Witt is also the author of “How to Win Friends and Influence Enemies,” published by Center Street in 2021. He is editor-in-chief of the Florida Standard, a news organization based in Tampa.
Center Street, by the way, is an imprint of publishing giant Hachette and counts Sen. Mike Lee, Utah Republican; former House Speaker Newt Gingrich; and presidential-primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy among its authors.
POLL DU JOUR
• 83% of U.S. men say they have “experienced stress” in the last six months.
• 81% say they believe they are “leading a healthy lifestyle.”
• 65% say they are hesitant to seek professional help for mental-health concerns.
• 54% are not satisfied with their current weight.
• 50% actively work to achieve a “goal weight.”
• 49% do not “keep a healthy diet.”
• 44% do not get a yearly physical.
• 44% do not take care of their mental health
• 27% watch TV for more than five hours per day on average.
SOURCE: A Cleveland Clinic survey of 1,000 U.S. men conducted online June 1-13 and released Sept. 6.
• Follow Jennifer Harper on Twitter @HarperBulletin.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.