Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Christian Fong announced Monday the launch of a statewide radio advertisement geared at introducing the 32-year-old Cedar Rapids native to voters.
Fong’s campaign manager, Marlys Popma, said in a press release that strong fundraising has opened the door to this type of advertising so early in the process.
Below is a transcript of the ad:
Christian Fong: “It was 1944, as communism was ascending, Nelson Fong’s family escaped China. Meanwhile, the United States was a beacon of freedom. After tax cuts in ’61, the U.S. was booming. Nelson Fong, a Christian in Hong Kong was drawn by the promise of freedom to the United States in ‘63. He met a farm girl, worked many jobs and eventually settled in a small western Iowa town. Today, Nelson Fong lives that American dream…I know because he’s my father.
“I’m Christian Fong. Today, I see that dream slipping away. We have a state government that borrowed almost a billion dollars to pay its bills. As Governor I would end the use of taxpayer money to fund lobbyists and veto any budget that is not balanced.
“Like many of you, we live the Iowa Dream and we should never let that slip away. I’m Christian Fong.”
Announcer: “Paid for by Iowans for Christian Fong. Conservative Republican for Governor.”
According to a recent poll paid for by the Republican group “Iowa First Foundation,” Fong’s name recognition is lowest among the candidates for the GOP nomination, coming in at about 26 percent. Even though the gubernatorial primary is still 10 months away, Fong’s campaign is obviously trying to remedy that.
Other than calling it a “statewide” radio buy, the campaign gave no indication of how much money it is spending on the advertisement or where, exactly, it will be running.
Listen to the ad here.
Follow Jason Hancock on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter