Saturday, December 10, 2011
  Lead up to the ABC News/Yahoo! Debate
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PRESS RELEASE from Drake University Student Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sam Pritchard

DRAKE UNIVERSITY TO CONDUCT STRAW POLL IN CONJUNCTION WITH UPCOMING DEBATE

DES MOINES, Iowa — Dec. 1, 2011 — The Drake University Student Senate is proud to announce that it will be sponsoring a campus-wide student straw poll to coincide with the upcoming ABC News/Des Moines Register/Republican Party of Iowa Presidential Debate being held December 10th on Drake’s campus. The Drake Straw Poll will be the first poll in the nation this election cycle to target the entirety of a university student body.

The poll will be conducted over a 24-hour period on Dec. 10 through a secure and reliable online balloting system used in all of Drake’s elections. On-campus elections typically have voter turnout of over 1,200 participants. The results of the straw poll will be released on Dec. 11, 2011.

Drake’s diverse student body consists of 3,200 undergraduate students from all 50 states. Approximately 70 percent of students enrolled come from out-of-state. The University’s gender distribution of 57 percent female and 43 percent male.

The Drake University Student Senate is sponsoring this poll in addition to other debate events, including debate watching parties and a candidate meet and greet event called “Pancakes & Politics,” in order to encourage the student body’s engagement in the debate.

The Drake University Student Senate is the governing and representative body of all Drake University Students and is committed to maximizing student impact and involvement throughout the political process. It consists of 24 members and maintains seven standing committees charged with such diverse responsibilities as the allocation of student funds, publicizing campus activities and oversight of campus organizations.

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PRESS RELEASES from Veterans for a Strong America  Ed. Note: Rep. Bachmann did not speak at this event instead opting for debate prep; husband Marcus Bachmann spoke in her place

December 4, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Veterans for a Strong America Chairman Joel Arends announced today that the following presidential candidates have confirmed their appearance at the December 10 Iowa Veterans GOP Presidential Candidate Forum:

• Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
• Former Senator Rick Santorum
• Congresswoman Michele Bachmann

“Veterans for a Strong America is delighted to have the opportunity to increase public understanding of the candidates’ positions on critical foreign policy, national security and veterans issues that demand presidential leadership in the 21st century,” stated Arends, a veteran of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, a native Iowan and former member of the Iowa National Guard.

Additional candidates confirmations are forthcoming.

The forum will be held across from Drake University at the Varsity Theater located at 1207 25th Street in Des Moines.

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December 9, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Texas Governor Rick Perry to Attend Iowa Vets Forum
 
Veterans for a Strong America Chairman Joel Arends announced that Texas Governor Rick Perry has agreed to attend the Iowa Veterans Presidential Candidate Forum in Des Moines on December 10th at 2 p.m. to discuss national security, foreign policy and veterans issues.    
 
“Veterans for a Strong America applauds Governor Perry for agreeing to speak and meet with Iowa veterans.  This forum presents a great opportunity to increase public understanding of the candidates’ positions on critical foreign policy, national security and veterans issues that demand American leadership in the 21st century,” stated Arends, a veteran of the war in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom, a native Iowan and former member of the Iowa National Guard.

The following candidates have committed to attend the event:

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Former Senator Rick Santorum
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
Governor Rick Perry
 
 The forum will be held directly across from Drake University at the Varsity Theater located at 1207 25th Street in Des Moines.
 
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from the Democratic National Committee
December 10, 2011
DNC Vice Chair Previews IA GOP Debate on FOX

DNC Vice Chair RT Rybak, the Mayor of Minneapolis, is in Des Moines today giving the Democratic response to tonight's GOP Presidential debate. On FOX News this evening Mayor Rybak previewed the debate saying that the GOP field's views are too extreme, that Iowa voters don't trust Mitt Romney because of his politically calculated flip-flopping and that Republicans on the campaign trail and in Congress want to return to the failed policies that nearly sank our economy. 

Watch Mayor Rybak's interview on FOX News here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrqEECh-DKQ&feature=youtu.be