Motorcycle ride revs up GOP hunger for caucus politics

BOONE, IA. – The sight of two presidential contenders leading two roaring packs of motorcycles, each filling a lane of highway for more than a mile, revved up feelings of patriotism — and an appetite for politics, guests at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's Roast & Ride said Saturday.

"It was pretty awesome to see all those bikes," said Daniel Saffeels, 34, a warehouse worker from Ankeny who rode in on a Harley-Davidson. "It felt amazing. We need new leadership to bring America back together. We need leadership badly."

Ernst's inaugural fundraiser was a made-for-the-media spectacle — part Harley parade and part pig cookout, with a couple of hours of abbreviated speeches tossed on top. Her aides said the crowd totaled 1,500, based on the ticket count.

The event attracted seven Republican presidential contenders, all of whom were no doubt hoping some of the GOP senator's popularity in Iowa conservative circles would rub off on them.

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Five didn't attempt the motorcycle journey: retired brain surgeon turned conservative book author Ben Carson, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, South Carolina U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the front-runner in the GOP race in Iowa, according to last weekend's Iowa Poll, joined Ernst in leading the main pack of about 300 motorcycles. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry led his own separate pack of about 70, which had a heavy mix of military veterans and war heroes. Perry, who staged the start of his ride in the town of Perry, rode a Harley that belongs to Taylor Morris, a Cedar Falls Navy veteran wounded in Afghanistan.

"There's something distinctly American about the motorcycle," said Jamie Johnson, an Iowa Christian conservative activist who is on Team Perry. "It calls forth something inside you that makes you just want to give your best to preserve the freedom we've enjoyed for generations."

Walker's and Ernst's entourage was the first to arrive at the Central Iowa Expo in rural Boone.

"The food lines got a lot longer when the bikes rolled in. They wanted their pork," said Alli Barker, 22, of North Liberty, referring to the feast of sliced pork roast, potato salad and baked beans.

As soon as Perry's posse arrived, law enforcement officials told him there was a security breach and whisked him away on a golf cart. All the presidential contenders were taken to an outbuilding a distance from the main stage area, Boone County Sheriff Chief Deputy Rick Lampe told The Des Moines Register.

"We had security here, and we took care of it," Lampe said.

Security officials didn't offer any official announcement to the crowd, but word eventually circulated that there had been a bomb threat.

"After we heard that there wasn't a bomb, everyone had fun," state Sen. Mark Chelgren, R-Ottumwa, said later. He added with a laugh: "I think what they really meant was 'Republican candidates, they're the bomb.' "

Several Iowans said the best part about the event was the one-on-one access to the candidates, all within about 100 feet of each other, in a row of small white pop-up open-air tents.

Rubio wandered the event grounds, tightly encircled by a tornado-like gaggle of national political reporters who mowed a wide path in their effort to stay on the senator's heels. At one point, he stood on one side of a white picket fence and greeted Iowans who were on the other side, where they'd be free from the press crush.

Graham also mingled extensively, with far fewer reporters tailing him. He'd go up to little kids, reach down to shake their hands, and say: "Sorry about Social Security." The children looked confused, but their parents laughed. One of Graham's goals is to shore up the financial underpinnings of Social Security, arguing that saving the system is crucial and keeps half of today's seniors out of poverty.

When it was Fiorina's turn to go up on stage, a platform flanked by hay bales stacked on truck beds, she immediately dove into criticism of likely Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Fiorina's speech ran over the eight-minute limit, but unlike at last month's Iowa GOP Lincoln Dinner fundraiser, no one gave her the hook.

Walker said he brought his rain gear, but a brisk wind that sent napkins and campaign handouts flying swept away the dark clouds. Other than some grumbling about the wind and the porta-potties, Republicans said they liked the venue, which is scheduled to host the embattled Iowa Straw Poll in August. No candidates have committed yet to attend the state GOP party fundraiser.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush didn't make the event. He was in Maine celebrating the 90th birthday of his mother, Barbara, the former first lady.

But aides handed out drink koozies emblazoned with his name.

Kathy Bolten, Timothy Meinch, Jason Noble, William Petroski, Brianne Pfannenstiel, Grant Rodgers and Mackenzie Ryan contributed to this report.