A Republican congressman who is considering both a bid for the White House and a campaign for governor in his home state of Indiana in 2012 made a trip to Iowa this past weekend. Indiana Congressman Mike Pence was the headliner at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition’s fall banquet in Des Moines.
“You know there’s an old saying that says you don’t come to Iowa by accident,” Pence said, to laughter from the crowd. “Let me just say with media in the room I did come to Iowa on purpose and my purpose is to ask Iowa to send Brad Zaun, Ben Lange and Mariannette Miller-Meeks to congress and end the Pelosi-led congress once and for all.” Pence named the three Republican candidates who are seeking to oust Democrats who hold those three Iowa congressional seats today.
Listen to Pence’s speech: MikePence mp3
Steve King — one of Iowa’s two Republican congressmen — says Pence is the “best communicator” among the 178 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“He’s made of a lot of the right stuff,” King says. “And I encourage him to keep coming back.”
Steve Scheffler of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition — the host of Saturday night’s event — says Pence is “among the better ones” considering a run for president in 2012.
“He’s got a good track record on fiscal, monetary issues and social issues,” Scheffler says, “so I think he’s a solid guy.”
Some other high-profile Republicans are due to make appearance in Iowa this month. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is due in Iowa Monday evening to headline a fundraiser for Republican Terry Branstad’s campaign for governor. Later this month former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will make a trip to Iowa to raise money for Branstad.
The Iowa Democratic Party will hold its annual fall fundraiser in the middle of October, and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is to be the keynote speaker.