Iowa

Vivek Ramaswamy’s zinger-fueled campaign meets the Iowa grind

Published

1 year ago

August 29, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy’s zinger-fueled campaign meets the Iowa grind

URBANDALE, Iowa — Crowds are mobbing Vivek Ramaswamy for photos at his campaign events. And while the Republican presidential candidate is obliging, he’s demanding something in return: voters’ signatures.

“No exceptions! Sign up and take a picture,” Ramaswamy said on Saturday, urging Iowans at a campaign stop to sign a caucus card before they could snap a photo. It’s one of the age-old building blocks of caucus campaigns: cards filled out with supporters’ personal information, allowing campaigns to get back in touch via phone, email or a door knock later. And it’s a relatively new step for Ramaswamy as he tries to capitalize on his attention-grabbing turn at the first GOP presidential debate.

But Ramaswamy’s ask last weekend was largely ignored, with the Iowans in attendance more interested in capturing their moment with the 38-year-old entrepreneur than taking the steps needed to commit to caucusing for him.

The challenge now facing Ramaswamy has bedeviled presidential candidates before: How to take rising interest and attention nationally and translate it into success on the ground in early-voting states. That starts in the first state to vote next year, Iowa, where Ramaswamy has been hiring staff and making repeated visits in the hope of making a splash.

Caucus cards at a Vivek Ramaswamy campaign event alongside campaign literature and a sign-up sheet.Katherine Koretski

Since the beginning of July, Ramaswamy has hosted the most town hall events in the Hawkeye State among the Republican presidential field, according to an NBC News analysis. He held eight events over two days immediately following last week’s debate, and he will travel to Iowa again this week for four events — followed by 11 scheduled stops in New Hampshire, the next contest on the 2024 calendar.

Ramaswamy spoke to the importance of rallying Iowa caucusgoers in an interview with NBC News, saying “the most influential people in a community are the ones who actually were the ones showing up for the last five months, because they were most plugged in and really earnestly curious about who a new candidate is.”

“Now that many of them are on our side, now they’re actually going to be our multiplier effect in a caucus system,” Ramaswamy continued.

That’s been a model for victorious Iowa campaigns, with early supporters becoming ambassadors in their communities and attracting new ones. For now, the number of Iowans who will be on Ramaswamy’s side come caucus day remains to be seen. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom statewide poll, conducted before the first GOP debate, saw Ramaswamy register at 4% first-choice support among GOP caucusgoers.

But the self-funder’s staffing levels in Iowa are among the most robust in the 2024 campaign, neutral observers said, making his presence known even when the candidate is physically elsewhere.

“It’s actually one of the stronger ground games in the state right now,” says Brett Barker, the chair of the Story County GOP and mayor of Nevada, Iowa.

“They had a good group of volunteers march in our county Fourth of July parade, they generally have a representative at our monthly meetings,” he said. “So they are present and putting in a lot of work on the ground.”

Senior adviser Tricia McLaughlin, a consistent presence with Ramaswamy on the trail, said the campaign currently has about 200 volunteers in the state and about a dozen staff.

“We are actively hiring,” McLaughlin said, adding that the campaign has had to make shifts to accommodate greater interest. “We clearly need to get bigger venues,” said McLaughlin, after Iowans were turned away at least twice over the weekend when venues hit maximum capacity.

While Ramaswamy’s campaign has a presence on the ground in Iowa, it’s been less active on the airwaves. Ramaswamy’s super PAC, American Exceptionalism PAC, had only spent $323,000 in Iowa through Aug. 28, far less than groups supporting his competitors, according to AdImpact.

McLaughlin said she doesn’t believe ad spending will be a determining factor this early in the race. “I don’t think a 30-second TV ad can [in] any way make up for being on the ground and meeting people one on one, and answering your questions,” she said.

Republican political strategist Dave Kochel, a native Iowan who worked on Sen. Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign and Jeb Bush’s 2016 effort, believes Ramaswamy’s faith could be a factor that ends up holding the candidate back in the state. Kochel referenced his experience working for Romney and the questions voters had about his religion.

“If evangelicals in Northwest Iowa had a problem with a Mormon because they just thought the religion was a little funny, you know, that’s gonna be times five with a Hindu candidate,” said Kochel. Romney finished second in the Iowa GOP caucuses in both 2008 and 2012.

For many Iowans, Ramaswamy’s debate performance was reminiscent of 2016. “He showed the public he has a backbone. He reminds me of a younger Trump,” said Darla Chappell, the Jackson County Republican Party chair.

Yet Kochel said that might be just the problem for Ramaswamy, with Trump dominating the current polling in Iowa.

“If you’re agreeing with Vivek Ramaswamy, you’ve already got a candidate. You’re for Donald Trump,” he said.

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Iowa

What channel is Iowa State vs. West Virginia game tonight (10/12/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for college football, Week 7

Published

6 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Press Room

What channel is Iowa State vs. West Virginia game tonight (10/12/24)? FREE LIVE STREAM, Time, TV, Channel for college football, Week 7

The No. 11 Iowa State Cyclones, led by quarterback Rocco Becht, face the West Virginia Mountaineers, led by quarterback Garrett Greene on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (10/12/24) at Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, W. Va.

How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV. You can also watch via a subscription to Sling TV.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NCAA Football, Week 7

Who: Iowa State vs. West Virginia

When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024

Where: Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FOX

Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial)

***

Here are the best streaming options for college football this season:

Fubo TV (free trial): fuboTV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS.

DirecTV Stream (free trial): DirecTV Stream carries ESPN, FOX, NBC and CBS.

Sling TV ($25 off the first month)– Sling TV carries ESPN, FOX, ABC and NBC.

ESPN+($9.99 a month): ESPN+ carries college football games each weekend for only $9.99 a month. These games are exclusive to the platform.

Peacock TV ($5.99 a month): Peacock will simulstream all of NBC Sports’ college football games airing on the NBC broadcast network this season, including Big Ten Saturday Night. Peacock will also stream Notre Dame home games. Certain games will be streamed exclusively on Peacock this year as well.

Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year.

***

Here’s a preview capsule via the Associated Press:

No. 11 Iowa State (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) at West Virginia (3-2, 2-0), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET (Fox)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Iowa State by 3.

Series record: West Virginia leads 6-5.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Iowa State is off to its best start since 1980, and a win would make them 6-0 for the first time since 1938. The Cyclones are looking to extend their road winning streak to seven games. West Virginia is going after its third straight win after a 1-2 start. Iowa State and West Virginia are 2-0 in conference play. One of them will forge a first-place tie with idle Texas Tech.

KEY MATCHUP

Iowa State’s defense vs. West Virginia QB Garrett Greene. Of the dual-threat quarterbacks the Cyclones have faced so far, Greene could be the best. He had runs of 39, 15 and 10 yards against Oklahoma State last week and is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 59 yards per game. Run defense hasn’t been a strength for the Cyclones, who hope to force Greene to try to beat them through the air. Iowa State has the Big 12’s top defense, allowing just 10 points and 272 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Iowa State: LB Kooper Ebel has led or co-led the team in tackles in three straight games. He made just three tackles in eight games as a freshman last year. He added 15 pounds to get up to 240 on his 6-foot-4 frame and has made at least six stops in all five games. Last week he had eight tackles and a quarterback hurry against Baylor.

West Virginia: RB Jahiem White. The sophomore ran for a season-high 158 yards in the lopsided win at Oklahoma State and the Mountaineers compiled 389 on the ground. White hopes to be back on track after being limited to 94 yards combined against No. 4 Penn State, No. 22 Pittsburgh and Kansas.

FACTS & FIGURES

Anthony Becht, a tight end for the Mountaineers from 1996 to 1999, will be honored during the game for his induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. His son, Rocco, is Iowa State’s quarterback. … The Cyclones have won 12 straight when scoring at least 30 points. They’ve scored at least 30 in the last five meetings with WVU. … ISU had nine plays of 20 or more yards against Baylor last week, tied for the most by a Power Four team against a conference opponent this season. … The Cyclones’ defense gets better as the game progresses. They’re allowing an average of 4.0 points and 112 yards in the second halves. … West Virginia will wear all-black uniforms in honor of the state’s coal mining industry.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

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Iowa

Rosemount H.S. Marching Band wins at Iowa competition

Published

13 hours ago

October 12, 2024

Press Room

Rosemount H.S. Marching Band wins at Iowa competition

The Rosemount High School Marching Band is celebrating a big victory from a competition earlier this fall. In late September they took home the Class AAA Championship trophy at the Bands of America regional competition in Waukee, Iowa. Members of the band joined the FOX 9 Morning News to talk about the win and share how they are getting ready for another big competition this weekend at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

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