Bob Smith Visits to Iowa

Bob Smith in Iowa
Democracy in Action total: 14 visits, 51 days. Thank you to Prof. Hugh Winebrenner for his assistance.

1999 ...3 visits, 8 days
April 23-24            April 23 Des Moines. Iowa Newspaper Association press conference, campaign open house at Iowa campaign headquarters. April 24 Meet Senator Bob Smith at restaurant in Amana, speech meeting with students at University at Iowa in Iowa City. [April 25 Keynote at California Republican Assembly convention in Fremont].

March 29-April 1
March 29 Meets Shelby County Republicans at Mickel's Family Restaurant in Harlan; meets Montgomery County Republicans at the Red Coach Inn in Red Oak; meets Mills County Republicans at the Glenwood Public Library in Glenwood; rally at Sherwood Community Church in Council Bluffs.
March 30 Addresses students at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City; live in studio at KSEJ with Randy Renshaw in Sioux City; addresses students at North High School in Sioux City; participates in a prayer vigil outside of an abortion clinic in Sioux City; addresses seniors at senior center in downtown Sioux City; rally at Luccianos Restaurant in Sioux City; dinner with supporters at Prenger's restaurant in Norfolk, NE.
March 31 Meets area Republicans at the Red Top in Lohrville (Calhoun County); meets area Republicans at the Public Library in Rockwell City (Calhoun County); breakfast at R Place Café in Albert City; meets with area Republicans at the Public Library in Algona; press conference at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, then speaks in their series "This Way To the White House" (attendance 200), then tapes "Hardball with Chris Matthews;" rally at Best Western Walnut Creek Inn in West Des Moines.
April 1 In Des Moines, addresses Mr. Hodson's Government classes at East High School; live in studio with Jan Mickelson at WHO; speaker at the Bull Moose Club Luncheon at the Des Moines Club, addresses 8th through 12th grade students at Grandview Park Baptist School; to Winterset, visits John Wayne's birthplace; rally at May Goodrell Junior High in Des Moines (attendance 100).
April 2 Leaves early a.m. from Omaha, NE.

(Feb. 18 Formally announces candidacy at Kingswood Regional High School in Wolfeboro, NH at 1:00). February 19-20        Feb. 19 Two-day eight city 650-mile "Chart the Right Course for America" bus tour around Iowa. Starts the day at his campaign office at 4214 Fleur Drive in Des Moines; Cedar Rapids Public Library; Davenport Country Kitchen; Loras College in Dubuque; Waterloo West High School; finishing the day Fort Dodge. Feb. 20 Sioux City; Leach Camper Sales in Council Bluffs. To North Carolina, keynote address to Onslow County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner at Swansboro Civic Center in Jacksonville.

Jan. 4                     Becomes the first Republican to officially enter the race, filing papers with the FEC to establish the Bob Smith for President Committee.

1998 ...9 visits, 34 days
December 9               Source HW: Meet with Dave Nelson in Des Moines.

October 30                   Pro-life rally with Scott Arthofer for state Rep in Dubuque; meets with conservative activists in Davenport. (Smith originally had planned to stump in Iowa Oct. 28-30 after stops in Texas and California, but he decided to campaign for Linda Smith for U.S. Senate in Washington state on the 28th and 29th).

October 21-24             Oct. 21 Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Coralville--event for Mary Howard for state Senate and two events for Sen. Grassley. Oct. 22 Des Moines, Jan Mickelson radio show; campaigning for state Rep. candidate Danny Carroll in Grinnell; press conference with Bruce Rhoads for state Senate, in Newton; to Sioux City. Oct. 23 Radio shows, fundraising luncheon for Kathy Hoffman for state Senate, in Sioux City; addresses Boyer Valley School in Dunlap. Oct. 24 Breakfast for David Nelson for state Senate in Altoona; Larry Hughes for state Senate in Indianola. To Texas and California.

August 20-24          Aug. 20 Arriving in the afternoon, does the State Fair in Des Moines; fundraiser at a home in Ames for Norm Luiken. Aug. 21 State Fair, including the Jan Mickelson show (WHO 1040 AM). Aug. 22 Wright County GOP summer celebration at Ev Keller Farm just west of Clarion; Hardin County Republicans at Iowa Falls; fundraiser and birthday celebration for State Senate candidate Mike Sexton at a home in Rockwell City. Aug. 23 Fundraiser for Kathy Hoffman for State Senate at Victorian Opera Company in Sioux City; rally for Jo Ann Douglas for Senate at a home in Waukee. Aug. 24 Fundraiser for Mary Howard for State Senate at Lower City Park in Iowa City; fundraiser for Dave Miller for State Senate at a hotel in Keosaqua; fundraiser for Larry McKibben at a home in Burlington.

June 12-13                 Cedar Rapids for the First-in-the-Nation Gala and State Convention. Leaves morning of June 14.

May 1-4                     Southern Iowa, driving Highway 34 and Highway 2, meeting with Republican activists in 12 counties (14 if one counts the two fundraisers for Sen. Grassley). The settings are various cafes, restaurants and community halls. May 1 Red Oak (Montgomery County GOP), Corning (Adams County GOP), Creston (Union County GOP); Grassley fundraiser at a home in Indianola.   May 2 Grassley fundraiser at Happy Chef restaurant in Oskaloosa; Ottumwa (Wapello County GOP), Albia (Monroe County GOP), Chariton (Lucas County GOP), Osceola (Clarke County GOP), Leon (Decatur County GOP).   May 3 Attends Mass in Leon; Bedford (Taylor County GOP), Sidney (Fremont County Republicans), Glenwood (Mills County Republicans), Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County GOP activists). May 4 Addresses students at Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs.   [Sen. Smith has spent 30 days in Iowa since his first trip in September].

April 13-18                 Another jam-packed Iowa visit, concentrating on the eastern part of the state from Waukon in the northeast corner to Burlington in the southeast corner (on the 17th and 18th Smith did a jaunt into Des Moines and to Newton for the district caucus). Events in 15 counties, by my count: meetings with local Republicans, lots of local radio and newspapers, a few fundraisers, a couple of Tax Day events, and on the 18th, appearances at two district caucuses.
April 13 At the University of Dubuque, does a fundraiser for Scott Arthofer, Central Committee meeting, and speaks to conservative activists.
April 14 Does local media in Guttenberg, Elkader (Clayton County) and Waukon (Allamakee County). Postville, fundraiser for Neil Schwake. West Union. Olwein, fundraiser for Roger Sill. Fayette County Central Committee meeting.
April 15 Waterloo, meets with conservative activists, tours Power Engineering and Manufacturing plant and holds Tax Day press conference on over-taxation/over regulation. Marion, Tax Day press conference at Sejkora's Farm. Washington, meets with Washington County Republicans.
April 16 Starts in Mt. Pleasant with 6 am radio interview, visits prison, tours Iowa Army Ammunition Plant   Burlington, KBUR/KGRS live call-in show, interview with the Burlington Hawkeye. De Witt, keynote speaker at Clinton County GOP annual banquet.
April 17 Starts in Iowa City with 7 am. Johnson County Republican meeting; Grinell, meets with Poweshiek County Republicans; Des Moines, stops by the press room at the State House.
April 18 Third District Republican Convention in Newton and the First District Republican Convention in Davenport. Evening fundraiser for Phil Allen in Davenport.

February 15-17             Feb. 15 Meet with Warren County Republicans at a home in Norwalk. Feb. 16 Des Moines, live call-in KWKY, Maxine Sielman show (pro-family Christian radio); taping Iowa Press TV show at Iowa Public Television in Johnston; interview with Iowa Commerce magazine. . Feb. 17 Speaks to the Republican Caucus of the Iowa State Senate; Sioux City, addresses pro-life audience at Morningside Public Library.

January 9-17               A packed schedule includes meetings with at least a dozen county Republican groups, appearances on radio call-in shows and interviews with local newspapers. The trip in starts in western Iowa, includes a day in Des Moines and stops around central Iowa before wrapping up in Atlantic.
Jan. 9 Arr. Omaha; Council Bluffs.
Jan. 10 Council Bluffs, radio, Pottawattamie County Republicans.
Jan. 11 Sioux City, press interviews, Woodbury County Republicans.
Jan. 12 Sioux City, call-in KSCJ Radio. Le Mars--Plymouth County Republicans. Storm Lake--Buena Vista County GOP. Carroll, coffee with activists.
Jan. 13 Des Moines, attends Legislative Kick-off breakfast, meets with staff at GOP headquarters, press interviews.
Jan. 14 Des Moines, interview, WHO Jan Mickelson show. Ames, meet with GOP activists. Boone--Boone County Republicans. Fort Dodge--Webster County Republicans. Webster City--meet with Hamilton County Republicans.
Jan. 15 Webster City, Cedar Falls, radio, Black Hawk County GOP dinner.
Jan. 16 Des Moines, lunch with Polk County Republicans. Greenfield--Adair County Republicans. Atlantic--Cass County Republicans.

1997 ...2 visits, 9 days [HW also includes Nov. 17 in DSM making a total of 10 days]
November 11-17            Nov. 11 Arr. Moline. Nov. 12 Private breakfast in Tipton; lunch with pro-life activists in Dubuque. Nov. 13 Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Dubuque; meeting with conservative activists in Waterloo; speaking to Republicans from three counties in Clear Lake (C-SPAN present). Nov. 14 Reception for Lynn Schulte for State Rep. in Marion. [source HW] Nov. 15 Speaks to the Iowa state convention of Concerned Women for America in Des Moines. (Deane Sykes). Nov. 16 Open Bible Church in Des Moines. Nov. 17 Leave Moline.

September 19-22           Sept. 19 Arr. Davenport Quad Cities; Iowa Knights of Columbus Memorial for the Unborn; Grassley fundraiser; private meeting with pro-life activists. Sept. 20 Breakfast with Steve Grubbs; Quad Cities Prayer Breakfast; meeting with local conservatives; meeting with Iowans for Tax Relief in Muscatine; meeting with local conservatives in Cedar Rapids; to Des Moines. Sept. 21 Church service at First Assembly; mass at St. Augustine's parish; interview with Leroy Corey, publisher of the American Conservative newspaper.   Sept. 22 Jan Mickelson WHO radio call-in show; lunch meeting with Right to Work.