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Republicans test the waters in Iowa
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, speaks during a Presidential Lecture Series sponsored by The Family Leader, Monday, March 7, 2011, in Pella, Iowa.
Associated Press
PELLA, Iowa
Six Republicans mulling 2012 presidential bids descended on Iowa on Monday to test their strength among social conservatives who hold the key to the state’s lead-off caucuses.
Whether any of them manages to stand out from the crowd could hint at how a scattered and as-yet undeclared GOP field eventually shakes out. For the first time, several of the potential candidates were to share the stage, hoping to set themselves apart from one another.
The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition planned to host former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, businessman Herman Cain, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer for a forum at a suburban Des Moines church.
Earlier in the day, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who sought the GOP nomination in 2008, spoke at three events scattered throughout the state sponsored by The Family Leader.
Coalition president Steve Scheffler said with most of the candidates having similar views, activists are looking for someone who will back up his words with action.
“They are looking for a candidate who will carry out what they say after they’re elected,” Scheffler said. “We’re looking for somebody with some backbone, who has a little iron in his spine.”
Also Monday, a top aide to billionaire real-estate developer Donald Trump flew to Des Moines. Aide Michael Cohen planned to meet with key Republican officials, including Iowa Republican Chairman Matt Strawn and Strawn’s business partner Jeff Lamberti. He also was scheduled to meet with prominent Republican lawyer and former gubernatorial nominee Doug Gross.
In Pella, Paul argued that people must take more responsibility for their lives.
No major candidates have officially entered the race for president. That’s in marked contrast to four years ago, when most major candidates were clearly seeking the nomination by this time.