IOWA CAUCUSES

Cruz gets biggest cheers; Rubio, Bush also get attention

Jennifer Jacobs
jejacobs@dmreg.com
An attendee of the Growth and Opportunity Party collects candidate stickers on his back on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015 at the Varied Industries Building in Des Moines.

The national press chatter is one thing, but on the ground, Republican voters aren’t ready to anoint anyone the winner — or the loser — of the Iowa caucuses quite yet.

Saturday’s daylong fall festival of candidates at the Growth and Opportunity Party in Des Moines went a long way to overturning the media narrative that Marco Rubio has all the magic fairy dust and Jeb Bush is on a death watch, Iowa caucusgoers said.

“I would not torpedo anybody’s candidacy,” said Don Cox, 73, a West Des Moines Republican who remains uncertain about whom to caucus for on Feb. 1 after listening to all 10 candidates who spoke Saturday.

Both Florida rivals — Rubio, whose performance in Wednesday’s debate has been the most lauded and Bush, whose showing was the most panned — did well Saturday, attracting applause and scrums of selfie-seekers after their speeches to the crowd of about 2,000 at the Iowa State Fair’s Varied Industries Building, audience members said.

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But it was a Texan who appeared to attract the wildest cheers and most widespread standing ovation.

“It’s obvious Ted Cruz had the biggest showing,” said undecided caucusgoer Michael Keefer, a 28-year-old civil engineer from Iowa City. “This is going to sound cliche, but I think Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are leading the way in their message, and how they're getting it across to the American public.”

Ryan Wiskerchen, 20, a sophomore at Drake University from Minneapolis, said: “I thought that Sen. Cruz did a really good job. He just has a natural energy when he speaks. It’s contagious. I can’t picture anyone ever falling asleep when Sen. Cruz is talking.”

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz speaks Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, during the Growth and Opportunity Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Cruz spent much of his time blasting the Washington, D.C., establishment and touting his record on defending religious liberty.

Amy Brickner, a factory worker from Armstrong, also was impressed by Cruz. She thought his best remarks were his criticism of the CNBC debate moderators for asking what she described as “gotcha questions.”

CRUZ'S SPEECH: Cruz rails against media, debate moderators

“It was all, 'How can we let you hang yourself?' kind of thing, instead of issues,” Brickner said.

In what some audience members considered something of a metaphor for Bush's campaign, the microphone frizzed out with a squeal of cringe-worthy feedback during the former Florida governor’s speech. Bush ignored the awkwardness and picked up his story right where he’d left off.

Several Republicans said Bush surprised them with his fiery screed about recognizing that human life is a “gift from God” and his reminder that, unlike some candidates whose accomplishments amount to “grandstanding,” he made difficult decisions as governor that “erred on the side of life.”

Bush, who has been under attack for months from the left and the right, turned some firepower on Rubio, stressing that as governor, his “actual record” is different from those who are just talk.

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush speaks Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, during the Growth and Opportunity Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

“You know what? If you’re elected to serve, you should do what Chuck Grassley does. You should show up and vote,” Bush said, referring to Rubio's record of missing more votes than any other U.S. senator running for the presidency.

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Rubio, who spoke earlier, also threw a couple of sharp elbows at Bush, arguing that the country needs to “turn the page” and “allow new leaders and new principles.”

Asked who impressed him, Rockwell City Republican Tom Decker said Bush did well. “I thought he seemed a lot more dynamic in person than he does on TV.”

Decker said it’s nice to hear the national media’s opinions, but "I guess I form my own opinions on whether they make a connection with me or not.” And Cruz made the biggest connection with him Saturday, he said.

Ardys Anderson, a West Des Moines Republican who is retired from the insurance industry, said after Bush failed on Wednesday to stand out in the third GOP debate, the national press quickly declared his candidacy on life support, if not dead already — and that hurt his standing.

“When it’s everywhere, it’s easy for people to say, ‘He’s not going to make it anymore.’ When it’s reinforced like that, you become a believer,” Anderson said.

Anderson and her husband, Carroll, said when they had heard Bush speak at the Iowa State Historical Building in early October, they thought his delivery was flat and scripted.

“Today he sounded like he was speaking from the heart,” Ardys Anderson said. “I thought be finally decided he wanted to run for president, and I thought he was great.”

“I certainly feel a lot better, especially after hearing him in comparison to the others,” said Carroll Anderson, who is retired from the financial industry.

GOP caucusgoer Andrea Gilsdorf, 22, a Dordt College student from Sioux Center, said: “I absolutely love Jeb’s personality and how friendly he is with everyone. No matter who you are, he makes you feel significant.”

But she doesn’t like his politics, she said. Gilsdorf remains undecided, but thought Rubio sparkled.

“I like how he came from nothing,” Gilsdorf said of Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrant parents who worked as a maid and bartender.

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015, during the Growth and Opportunity Party at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.

Her friend Karsen Kredit, 19 of Sioux Center, agreed, saying Rubio makes for a good contrast to Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. “She grew up with a silver spoon,” Kredit said. (Clinton portrays herself as growing up in a middle class home; her father owned a drapery business.)

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Another Republican who was the subject of big buzz Saturday was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was the only one of the 10 candidates who reserved his entire time on stage for taking audience questions.

“Everyone had a chance to speak their mind,” said Bellevue Republican Jean Davidsaver, who supported Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker until he dropped out in September. “It shows Gov. Christie is fast on his feet.”

The two front-runners in the Iowa race, retired doctor Ben Carson and real estate entrepreneur Donald Trump, chose not to attend Saturday’s event. And it didn’t go unnoticed.

“I think it’s an insult to Iowans. They didn’t care enough to come,” said Cyndi Cox, 74, of West Des Moines. “I think this was a big event. There are 2,000 Republicans here, and they didn’t care to come. That’s my personal opinion.”

Most of the other speakers got warm receptions, as well — former tech company CEO Carly Fiorina, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Carolina U.S. Sen Lindsey Graham, Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

But most of the audience departed before the final person in the lineup — former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, who won the caucuses last cycle — finished his remarks.

— Jason Noble, Kim Norvell, Matthew Patane and Mackenzie Ryan contributed to this report.

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