The Republican Party of Iowa’s “Growth and Opportunity Party” at the Iowa State Fairgrounds today featured 10 GOP presidential candidates, each of whom was given 15 minutes to address the audience. That might not seem like much, but consider that Carly Fiorina was the only candidate to break the 10-minute barrier at the CNBC debate, which ran two hours.
When not at the microphone, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Lindsey Graham, Jeb Bush, Rick Santorum and Carly Fiorina were able to meet with voters.
https://twitter.com/JamieJohnsonUSA/status/660548430545031168
Straw was everywhere at the event, with even the stage decorated with hay bales. And since the event was held on Halloween, there had to be some gentle scares here and there, such as this Hillary Clinton scarecrow. Hey, if Democrats can troll Republicans with giant freakish puppets, a Clinton scarecrow is fair game.
This HRC scarecrow is the spookiest thing you'll see this Halloween. #GOParty #iacaucus pic.twitter.com/u2abxi5mFk
— Eddie Failor (@edf_iii) October 31, 2015
Each candidate also had his or her own booth, and a few took the holiday as a cue for their displays. Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign volunteers seemed to be having the most fun.
At Iowa #GOParty event, @tedcruz camp also has a mini-haunted house w/ personification of "Washington cartel." pic.twitter.com/Ih6X94T800
— Matthew Patane (@mattpatane) October 31, 2015
.@tedcruz has a Halloween-themed booth at @IowaGOP's #GOParty this morning in Des Moines: pic.twitter.com/silizhnqsk
— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) October 31, 2015
.@tedcruz has zombies at #GOParty. I said "do something scary." pic.twitter.com/XbRNDPeJFT
— Annah Backstrom (@AnnahBackstrom) October 31, 2015
So, they did Common Core math problems. Well played.
The @LindseyGrahamSC booth at the #GOParty today has a "vote for the scariest democrat" setup. pic.twitter.com/CRpbWgJAnY
— BBJ (@BobbiJoR) October 31, 2015
At "scariest democrat" poll, @TerryBranstad votes for @HillaryClinton #GOParty pic.twitter.com/2ZGMScxZ0C
— Aaron Hepker (@ahepker) October 31, 2015
Jeb woman tells me their booth is the only one with authentic hay, straight from her farm #IaCaucus #GOParty pic.twitter.com/ZoYQ9QHJGg
— Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) October 31, 2015
Ben Carson wasn’t there, but he did have a booth at the #GOParty.
Our next generation at Iowa #GOParty reminding us why we must secure Growth and Opportunity for our youth. #BC2DC16 pic.twitter.com/7lfAWMPqOI
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) October 31, 2015
Tatiana & Tobias writing thank you notes to veterans at our #GOParty booth in IA. Great spirit from young Americans! pic.twitter.com/BbgWhnkZTA
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) October 31, 2015
Thanks to Rick Santorum, those who always wanted a photo of themselves with Abraham Lincoln in front of the White House finally had their chance.
.@RickSantorum #GOParty booth using visualization (See the White House. Be the White House.) and Abe. #iacaucus pic.twitter.com/ASnMxXJNbj
— Erin Murphy (@ErinDMurphy) October 31, 2015
Speaking of dead Presidents…..Honest Abe says he would have absolutely voted for Rick Santorum. #GOParty pic.twitter.com/yGNf4CMsMe
— Nick Robertson (@NickRobertson10) October 31, 2015
.@RickSantorum booth has Abraham Lincoln. @BobbyJindal booth seems lowest key #GOParty #IACaucus pic.twitter.com/UjbxiGACWY
— Iowa Caucus Info (@IACaucusInfo) October 31, 2015
.@marcorubio playing up his college football roots-he has the #IowaState game rolling. #GOParty #iacaucus pic.twitter.com/zs081Wglxw
— Sarah Beckman (@SarahBeckman3) October 31, 2015
A quick correction:
I was mistaken – THIS is the spookiest thing you'll see today…or ever, for that matter. #GOParty pic.twitter.com/QkxOjp0Y2e
— Eddie Failor (@edf_iii) October 31, 2015