Expectations
In the 1995 Ames straw poll, Alan Keyes finished fifth in the ten-person  field with 804 votes (7.3%); in the Feb. 1996 caucuses he came in sixth with 7,179 votes (7%).  The grassroots network Keyes built up in the 1996 campaign has continued and grown, and he has the experience of that campaign to build on.  Keyes seems to have the most committed supporters and the greatest ability to fire up a crowd. 

Keyes' appeal to voters is tempered by concerns about electability.  Further, this time around he faces more competition for the support of social conservatives--from Gary Bauer, Pat Buchanan, Dan Quayle and Steve Forbes.  Though abortion and the moral crisis in America are central issues for Keyes, to the extent that some perceive him as a one issue candidate, he also argues passionately for greater self government, exemplified by his call for repeal of the 16th Amendment and its replacement by a sales tax. 
 

(August 7, 1999) Keyes spoke to a crowd at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs.

Outcome: Seventh--1,101 Votes (4.6%)
Keyes' seventh place finish was somewhat disappointing to his supporters.  However, the Keyes campaign did not buy tickets for its supporters like other campaigns, nor did it provide transportation and free goodies like tee-shirts and hats.  On that basis, the seventh place showing may underrepresent the relative level of Keyes' support.  Keyes did obtain more votes than he had in the 1995 straw poll and he finished ahead of former Vice President Dan Quayle. 

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A Memo From Ron Granzow, Chairman Iowa Keyes 2000 

Straw Poll Score: 
Alan Keyes 2, 
Gov. Bush 1

WHY OUR COUNTY STRAW POLL VICTORIES POINT TO A STRONG CAUCUS SHOWING NEXT JANUARY.  THAT'S BECAUSE THESE STRONG COUNTY SHOWINGS GIVE EVIDENCE OF OUR GRASSROOTS STRENGTH. 

On Sunday, June 12, the Marshall County (Republican) Pachyderm Club conducted a county wide GOP straw poll. The result was a victory for Alan Keyes who captured 30% of the ballots cast. Governor George W. Bush came in fourth place with 12%. 

How was this local county-wide event different from the August 14th state-wide GOP Straw Poll? Here's the differences. Local grass roots vs. Out-Of-State Political Operatives. To win the August 14 GOP state straw poll, the other campaigns gave away free tickets, free bus rides and free meals. That state-wide August 14th event was just that, an event run by professionals with lots and lots of money. While on the other hand the Marshall County straw poll was run completely by the local Co-Chairs Jim Downs and Dan Schmidt. There were no free tickets, bus rides, barbeques or big entertainment. There was just grassroots. 

On Saturday evening, June 19th, in Polk, Iowa's largest county, Alan Keyes again took first place with 34% of the votes to George Bush's 18%. Again, the Polk County victory was won by grassroots effort. No tickets were given by the Keyes organization in either county event! No free bus rides and no big time political operators from out of state. Just plain old wonderful grassroots ordinary Iowans who believe strongly in the Alan Keyes message. 

ONLY THE KEYES ORGANIZATION DID NOT GIVE FREE TICKETS OR BUS RIDES AT THE IOWA GOP STRAW POLL! 

The media reported that all of the campaigns donated tickets and bus rides at the state straw poll to their supporters. This is not true. Just as in the County-wide straw polls, the Keyes organization gave no free tickets nor bus rides at the GOP State Straw Poll in Ames August 14th. (There were some supporters who did buy individual tickets and donated them to other supporters who wanted to vote but lacked the $25.00) 

SPECIAL DIVISION WINNER IN NO-FREE TICKET CATEGORY. KEYES 2000! 

In fact, it is too bad the State GOP did not have a special division in the Iowa Straw Poll contest for those organizations which did not pay for tickets or bus rides because as the only organization which qualified, we would have won big time! 

LIBERALS MAXIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A STATE EVENT BUT REAL CONSERVATIVES MAXIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL COUNTY EVENTS! 

Some of the other GOP campaigns and the media minimized the importance of the Polk and Marshall counties' straw polls that we won. I don't know about you, but I on the other hand, minimize the importance of the GOP state straw poll in comparison to the GOP county straw polls. 

Maybe that's because I am a conservative. And as a conservative I favor local control and involvement over distant and less accessible state and federal. I, for instance, am for local control of education, not Federal. 

So with that in mind, why would one big money driven state sponsored straw poll be more meaningful to me than two local grassroots driven county straw polls? 

It is not! 

We can be very thankful that we have an organization that does not buy votes. And we can be thankful we have such strong grassroots at the county level. Because it's grass roots strength that will pay off at the Iowa caucuses next January! 

No buses for ballots, and no barbeques for ballots. Just as in the Polk County and Marshall County straw polls, it will be the grassroots of the local Keyes people in each county which will shine. 

Let us go forward with confidence in the grassroots because it is ourselves. And let us go forward in God's Grace and Mercy. 

WITH 35 MILLION MORE LIVES HANGING IN THE BALANCE THE QUESTION IS "SHOULD THE LIBERAL LOSE THE DEBATE?" 

If we could ask the 35 million aborted unborn the question, "Should the liberal lose the debate?" And if they could answer they would say, "Yes!" And if we were to ask the high school graduate who cannot read his diploma, "Should the liberal lose the debate?" He would say, "Yes!" And if we were to ask the generals and admirals of our depleted and weakened military, "Should the liberal lose the debate?" They would say "Yes!" 

So the question becomes, "Who would be most capable of winning the debate if he were elected president?" Who, with his communicative ability could save a future 35 million, could win the education debate, the defense debate? What presidential candidate is more qualified to win this debate than Alan Keyes? 

Name one other presidential candidate if you can. 

This is why our message is, "President Alan Keyes--Finally! The liberals lose the debate!"