The Hill interviewed two former candidates who did not receive the endorsement of Sarah Palin, one of whom is Bob Vander Plaats, former Iowa gubernatorial candidate and now leader of The FAMiLY LEADER (formerly Iowa Family Policy Center Action) who looks to make an impact in the 2012 Iowa Caucus.
They report:
In Iowa, Vander Plaats, a former gubernatorial contender, is positioning himself much the same way. After losing a GOP primary to Gov. Terry Branstad, Vander Plaats launched a successful campaign to oust three state Supreme Court Justices after they voted to overturn Iowa’s gay-marriage ban.
He recently launched The Family Leader, a social conservative organization that he, too, expects will endorse ahead of the Iowa Caucus.
“We plan on playing a major role in the caucuses,” Vander Plaats told the Ballot Box. “Our base of support largely consists of pro-family conservatives and we want to make sure we see these candidates up close and hear them first-hand.”….
“She has to come to Iowa and do more than just sign books,” said Vander Plaats, who acknowledged the former vice presidential nominee generates “more intrigue” than some of the other contenders.
“What I hear from people is that they really like her, but they just don’t know if they can connect the dots to her being president,” he said.
I agree that she has some work to do in Iowa, but she has not declared her intentions yet. If she does declare and shuns Iowa then he (and I) would have a valid complaint. But she hasn’t declared. Regarding “what I hear from people” well I have heard that from people as well, but I also have talked to people in Iowa who really hopes that she runs. I have also heard from people reservations about Mike Huckabee running, but I wouldn’t make a general statement that the sentiment is true around the state.
Anyway, when I hear Bob make comments like these if Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin do run, perhaps Sarah needs to send out a press release saying – “I concede The FAMiLY LEADER endorsement to Mike Huckabee” and be done with it. As a social conservative and follower of Christ, I do expect that organization, if they are going to make an endorsement, to give all of the candidates a fair shake. I would also hope their approach would be exceedingly different than the tone they took when they endorsed Bob Vander Plaats in his Iowa Gubernatorial bid.