Photo credit: Dave Davidson – Prezography.com
(Des Moines, IA) Congressman Steve King, along with Citizens United, announces the first Iowa Freedom Summit to be held Saturday, January 24, 2015. Confirmed speakers for the Summit include Senator Ted Cruz, Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Rick Santorum, Senator Mike Lee, Representative Marsha Blackburn, Ambassador John Bolton, and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. The Iowa Freedom Summit will be held at Hoyt-Sherman Place and is free for the public to attend.
This is not the first time King has hosted an event highlighting prospective presidential candidates. In 2011, King was involved with a forum held at Southern New Hampshire University. He later hosted his own event, the Conservative Principles Conferece, in Des Moines in March of 2011 that featured every Republican presidential candidate with the exception of Mitt Romney.
“Midterm elections gave our country a dramatic shift in possibilities. It is exactly the right time to bring our national leaders to Iowa to hear them cast a conservative vision for our Nation’s future,” King said in a released statement. “Iowa’s First in the Nation status has created an informed, engaged, and active electorate all eager to begin the evaluation process of potential leaders of the free world. The Iowa Freedom Summit will further energize conservatives and begin the caucus season in earnest. I’m very glad to partner with Citizens United and David Bossie to bring this unique opportunity to Iowa in January.”
King, very popular among conservatives, has the ability to play kingmaker prior to the Iowa Caucus. It is uncertain that he will, however, as he declined making an endorsement prior to the 2012 Iowa Caucus. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum edged out Mitt Romney to win the first contest. King in 2008 endorsed former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson late in the Caucus race that saw momentum swing toward former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee who won the caucus convincingly. Thompson came in a distant third place.
Citizens United has increased their presence, and influence, in Iowa through participation at The FAMiLY Leadership Summits held in Ames, IA. They have been co-sponsors with other events as well. They are wading even further into presidential politics with this upcoming event.
“Coming off our successful New Hampshire Freedom Summit last Spring, the Iowa Freedom Summit will only build on that success and bring grassroots conservatives together in the Hawkeye State,” David N. Bossie, President of Citizens United stated. “This free event will focus on how America can get back on the right track. It will feature speakers who will talk about the importance of pro-growth economics, social conservatism, and a strong national defense. Citizens United is excited to partner with Congressman Steve King on this inaugural summit and look forward to the sharing of conservative ideas in Des Moines early next year.”
Additional speakers at the Iowa Freedom Summit will be announced in the near future. More information is available at www.IowaFreedomSummit.com.