On the Campaign Trail with Ed Tibbetts

You may have heard already, but several thousand Republicans across the state have received robocalls featuring former Lt. Gov. Joy Corning supporting the same-sex marriage rights.

The call was done for One Iowa, the advocacy group that’s seeking to build support for the ruling.

Here’s the text:

“Hi, this is former Lieutenant Governor Joy Corning. Iowa has a well-deserved reputation for being open-minded and fair. That’s why I’m proud to be a supporter of One Iowa.  Our Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of civil marriage for committed gay and lesbian couples, continuing Iowa’s tradition of protecting the civil rights of all Iowans.  Please join with me to ensure that Iowa continues to move forward as a leader for fairness and equality.”

Of course, the call has turned into a problem for former Gov. Terry Branstad, who’s moving toward a bid for the GOP’s 2010 gubernatorial nomination. Corning was Branstad’s second for eight years and isn’t a favorite with social conservatives.

Bob Vander Plaats was quick to jump on the issue.

Also, the Iowa Family Policy Center says it’s a reminder “why it is such a bad idea to compromise with political figures who do not promote Iowa values,” a not so subtle dig at Branstad.

Tim Albrecht, a Branstad spokesman, tells the Des Moines Register, “what’s remarkable is, despite disagreement on this fundamental issue, Joy is willing to put that aside to support Governor Branstad.” The Register also said, however, that neither Albrecht nor a top aide would say how Branstad would vote if there were a referendum.

And just as I was finishing this post, I see The Iowa Republican has received a statement from the Branstad campaign, which answers that last question.

Here’s the statement:

“Governor Branstad supports the definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman and is the only Iowa Governor to have signed the Defense of Marriage Act. He will work to break the legislative roadblock that prevents Iowans from having an opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Should such a constitutional amendment ever be placed on the ballot, Governor Branstad will vote yes on its passage.”

The Iowa Family Policy Council issued a news release today saying 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin won’t be coming to the organization’s Nov. 21 banquet.

But, the IFPC says, “she has asked if she could speak at a future mutually agreeable date.”

This all comes on the heels of a flap over whether Palin demanded a speaking fee for the event.

You can see my post on it here. In sum: A Politico article and headline suggested yesterday that she did. A Palin’s spokeswoman said she didn’t.

I won’t go over the whole thing again. See my post.

Lest there be any confusion over Palin’s future appearance, the IFPC closes out its news release today with this: “She will not accept any fees for her appearance.”

The Iowa Family Policy Center issued a news release earlier this week that raised a few eyebrows. And a piece in the Politico today adds even more intrigue.

The release, issued Tuesday, said the IFPC had invited former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to its Nov. 21 banquet.

Nothing unusual there. She’s in high demand. But the group also added it had begun “soliciting financial support for the event this week in anticipation of the Governor’s potential visit.”

That’s what was unusual. Potential presidential candidates aren’t usually paid to come to the state. Getting in front of Iowa activists is seen as the payoff.

Jonathan Martin’s fascinating story in the Politico today explores the whole business. In it, he quotes some familiar GOP operatives — Steve Scheffler, Ed Failor, Jr., Dave Kochel, Tim Albrecht, etc. — talking about the unusualness of paying a potential presidential a fee to speak in Iowa.

But in the article, IFPC spokesman Bryan English says he is not personally aware of a speaker’s fee.

Yet, the Politico piece says: “At the request of the Iowa Family Policy Center, Team Sarah, a national pro-Palin organization not formally connected to the former governor, has begun raising money among its members in an effort to collect the $100,000.”

As I say, intriguing. Of course, Palin’s visit would be the same night that Vice President Joe Biden is in Des Moines for an Iowa Democratic Party event. An intriguing possibility in itself, as noted earlier this week by Kay Henderson.

The bottom line in this, however, is that it appears unlikely the two 2008 vice presidential candidates will be in the same city, if not the same stage, on Nov. 21. A spokesman for the former governor tells Martin it would be “incredibly difficult” for Palin to attend given her book tour.

Alas. (Maybe)

UPDATE: (2:15 p.m.). The mystery deepens. A Newsweek blog called The Gaggle, reports that a Palin spokesperson, Meg Stapleton, says the former governor isn’t asking for a speaking fee.

Writes Newsweek’s Holly Bailey:: “Meg Stapleton, Palin’s spokeswoman, tells your Gaggler that Palin “has not requested anything” and that she “does not charge people to campaign for them.” According to Stapleton, Palin would instead cover such travel costs through her political-action committee, SarahPAC.

Incidentally, Bailey quotes Stapleton saying it’s unlikely Palin will be in Iowa for the IFPC event.