Romney Tailgates in Iowa

Des Moines – Mitt Romney wants Iowans to know why he’s leading the
Republican race among statewide caucus-goers: He’s investing time there.

At three stops on Saturday, Romney informed supporters that his campaign has held more than 150 events
throughout the Hawkeye State in the months since he announced. And he thanked them for helping him win the
Ames straw poll – another reminder that he’s holding strong in the state.

He’s not about to let go. When Romney returned to Iowa State University in Ames for the first time since the
straw poll for the highly anticipated ISU/University of Iowa football game on Saturday morning, he was one
of just two Republican presidential contenders in attendance. Top rivals Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson and John McCain skipped what many Iowans consider the biggest state sporting event of the year and missed a second chance to woo Republicans in Ames.

None of Romney’s events attracted enormous crowds. At his first stop tailgating with the College Republicans
from both universities, Romney quipped, "This is just like Massachusetts. You can fit all the Republicans in
one tent." But Iowa adviser David Kochel later explained that the Sunday Des Moines Register the day after what is akin to the Super Bowl for Iowans is generally the most-read of the year,
and he expected good placement for Romney.

The Sunday paper indeed was plastered with photos from the game, but the AP story on Romney's appearances was located on page 2B and was sandwiched between a story on Bill Richardson and one on Sam Brownback. What's more, an opinion piece contributed to the Register by Des Moines-based immigration lawyer Lori Chesserbashes Romney for "superficial caucus politics" in attacking sanctuary cities (and thereby hitting Giuliani) rather than proposing new and innovative immigration enforcement laws.

But for Romney's Saturday visits with supporters and those leaning his way, the big issue to him was saving
the country from the "sharp left turn" it would take if led by Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John Edwards. He previewed Clinton's new plan on health care, due out today, and panned "Hillarycare" once again.

Students decked out in their Iowa State reds and their Iowa yellows were more interested in just meeting the
front-runner. Toward the end of his appearance, one said to him, "I have just one question for you. Coke
or Pepsi?" "Oh, I'm not answering that," he joked. "That's just like boxers or briefs. You don't answer
those kinds of questions." And he similarly wouldn't take sides in the game: "I'm for both teams."

Speaking to a few students after addressing the group, Romney called the support of students critical and
said he wanted to return to the university for more. He told another cluster that he wanted to return and
hold a student event with everyone, including Democrats and independents.

Ryan Rhodes, a 25-year-old Iowa undergraduate running for the state House, said he’s with Romney for a
number of reasons, but he noted that he’s the most presidential in the GOP right now.

Statewide College Republicans chairman Benjamin Johnson, a University of Iowa student, shared similar
thoughts. When asked why he was supporting Romney, he responded initially: “His eloquence.”

Johnson spoke one on one with Romney, who eyed the enthusiastic, surfer-looking blond, gold-bead wearing
chairman up and down with amusement. As their exchange was wrapping up, Romney asked, “What are you, a
junior?” Romney nodded vigorously at the yes. “Good. I want you around another year.” The Romney team ought
to like that: Johnson said they had asked to make sure that if alcohol would be present, it remain covered.
“We would have done that anyway out of respect for the candidate,” he said, adding, “it’s not John Kerry.”

Before heading to the north side of the stadium where the campaign was hosting its own tailgate, Romney
visited the tent hosted by Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy and hobnobbed with the
university donors who've given more than $10,000 to the school.

At his own tailgate, he was greeted by what the campaign estimated to be about 300 supporters or
leaners, many of whom had come out one month prior for the straw poll. One woman greeted with open arms and
commanded, "Eat!" telling him that he looked like he had gotten thinner since the last month. John Ahart, a
73-year-old supporter who voted in the straw poll, brought his son, Michael, out to Saturday's cookout to
convince him to support Romney. And the former Massachusetts governor tried to a little convincing of
his own by dropping by about three or four skyboxes in the first quarter of the game.

At both his tailgate and the Jones County Republican Party fundraiser later in Anamosa later in the
afternoon, Romney referred to this week's cover shot on Time magazine. The only downside of this campaign
is they’re writing about my wife. And they’re writing good things about her,” he laughed. He described the
cover, graced with “five potential first ladies.” Ann Romney, he said, is in the upper left-hand corner –next to Bill Clinton – but she’s “a whole lot prettier.” “How are you supposed to go home and live with a woman who Time magazine says looks 10 years younger?” he went on, calling himself an “old buzzard” before the elderly crowd at the afternoon supper.

Jones County Republican Chairman Al Conrad said both before and after Romney's speech that he's leaning toward Romney. "I'm doing that because he's got less negatives than anybody else," he explained. Conrad explained that his associates in the county party were tasked with finding a speaker, and after reaching out to the state central committee, it was Romney’s team that jumped. Organizers said they expected 300
attendees but attributed the estimated 120 or so who turned out to a cancer benefit that was being held
simultaneously in Anamosa and the football game earlier in the day.

Former state Sen. Andy McKean, who introduced Romney at the fundraiser, said after that he's torn between Romney and Mike Huckabee. "I find them both very impressive at the personal level," he said. But Romney's speech impressed him. Like many others tilting toward the front-runner who came out to see him Saturday, for McKean, it's the former governor's business background and presidential image that's
pushing him in that direction. [ERIN MCPIKE]