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The Spectacle Blog
Ames, Iowa — Late this afternoon Tim Pawlenty appeared a few blocks from the Hilton Coliseum on the so-called Greek Triangle, a patch of land in the middle of a three-way intersection in a neighborhood full of Iowa State University fraternity and sorority houses. Students for Pawlenty was holding a pizza party, attracting a healthy-sized crowd. Pawlenty gave a relatively brief speech (it would have been a mistake to go on too long with the 82 degree sun beating down) and encouraged the crowd, most of them ISU students, to turn out at the Straw Poll.
Are college students really interested in taking time out of a Saturday to think about politics? Though the crowd did seem fairly engaged, it was hard not to suspect that the vast majority of them had just stopped by for free pizza. Indeed, Pawlenty’s pitch emphasized the free food that will be served at his tent tomorrow, where tickets to the straw poll will be given away; it is by now a cliche to note that this amiably undisguised bribery is a hallmark of the Ames Straw Poll. A Students for Pawlenty representative announced that they’d be running shuttles from the Greek Triangle to the Pawlenty tent every half hour for much of the day tomorrow; it will be interesting to see how full those shuttles turn out to be.
It sounds a bit silly — come for free ice cream and vote for me! — but this is what it means in practice when we say that Ames is a test of organizational strength. Ames is make-or-break for Pawlenty because if he doesn’t make a splash, his fundraising will quickly dry up. Whether or not Pawlenty’s undergraduate fans can get enough bodies in those shuttles to make a difference — and, by extension, whether or not other parts of Pawlenty’s organizational machine are similarly effective — will be a signal to donors as to whether or not money given to the Pawlenty campaign would be wasted.
View all comments (9) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by John Tabin
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/08/12/the-politics-of-free-food
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Occam's Tool| 8.12.11 @ 9:56PM
I'd come on out if I could have the handshaking photo.
Pawlenty is a good sort. So is Bachmann. Either would be better than Romney.
Occam's Tool| 8.12.11 @ 9:56PM
I also like Santorum.
They Lie| 8.12.11 @ 10:46PM
It's time to thin out the weak wannabes, and let the Four heavyweights battle. Romney, Bachman, Perry and I believe Palin will jump in. Odd man out in this group is Romney. I would be happy with any of the remaining three, but I sure hate to see them destroy each other.
Bob Grant| 8.12.11 @ 11:07PM
The real question is what will the social and economic backdrop be during the election and how will it affect it?
We might be in the midst of a social unraveling that makes London look like a sports championship celebration.
Can you say 1968 x10?
PCC| 8.13.11 @ 8:46AM
Super.
Give a pizza, get a vote. So that's the modern version of "Democracy at Work" in the "Greatest Country on the Face of the Earth" (humility obviously not being a key determinant of national greatness)?
Pizzas in Iowa, bags of rice Burma. What's the difference? Not much.
rendite| 8.13.11 @ 2:30PM
And pick up trucks in Saudi Arabia topped off with the first tank of gas gratis. It works.
Oldefarte| 8.13.11 @ 1:29PM
Yeah, those hot dogs provided at typical political rallies can sometimes be heard BARKING when bitten into!!!!!!!!!
wodiej| 8.13.11 @ 1:30PM
This is common vote buying. Paul seems to be the best at getting college students to show up as he consistently wins straw polls. Pawlenty, Santorum, Cain, Bachmann-none will have staying power. Bachmann was 30 mins. late (again) at the Iowa State Fair and then only spoke 3 mins. Then her kooky, husband she is submissive too elbowed a reporter knocking him into a golf cart resulting in him hitting his head. And I don't like it when candidates use religion to get votes like Santorum and Perry have done. It will be part of their downfall.
Occam's Tool| 8.13.11 @ 6:54PM
Bachmann is taking care of business, kicking Paul's Ass.