Waukee a Must-Stop on GOP Presidential Campaign Tours: 2012 in Review

Editor's Note: As the year winds down, Waukee Patch is looking back at some of the stories that made you talk, cry, laugh or just scratch your head.

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By Jody Gifford and Deb Belt

Waukee was a GOP stronghold during the 2012 election campaign, and saw several visits by Republican presidential hopefuls trying to win the Iowa caucuses.

From Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann stumping at the Waukee Pizza Ranch with a flub over the county's name to Minnesota Governor and one-time presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty mingling with Dallas County Republicans at Chad Airhart's birthday party, Waukee was a must-stop on many political tours.

Here are some excerpts from the past year:

Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann breezed into the Waukee Pizza Ranch Wednesday night never removing her coat, shaking hands and saying hello to supporters.

It should come as no surprise then, with such a busy schedule and many, many miles behind her, that she might get a couple things wrong along the way. In this case, it was the county she was standing in.

"This looks like the congratulations committee for making Barack Obama a one-term president," said Bachmann from her soapbox positioned between the pizza and salad bars. "It’s going to happen right here in Waukee County - this is the epicenter of taking the country back because it's here in Waukee County where we love our Constitution, where we love liberty, where we’re going to make it happen right in Iowa. That’s exactly what we’re going to do."

There were some snickers among the large crowd that included Waukee Mayor Bill Peard. What did he think of the mistake?

"You know, my heart goes out to all those people," Peard said of the candidates and their staffs. "As hard as they work, I can certainly understand where she would make a gaffe like that. I’m going to give her a pass on that one."

Dallas County Recorder Chad Airhart Celebrates Birthday With 'Big Blue Jean Bash' Fundraiser

Schade Creek Vineyard was the home of Dallas County Recorder, Chad Airhart’s “35^thBig Blue Jean Birthday Bash."

The night was filled with compliments to Airhart for his work in Waukee and Dallas County, but also filled with jokes and good-natured ribbing at Airhart’s expense. As much as the event was a celebration of Airhart’s 35^th birthday, it was just as much - if not more - a political event. 

The featured guests were former Minnesota governor and former presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty, Iowa Congressman Tom Latham and Iowa Secretary of State Matt Schultz. Other office holders and candidates were present, including primary rivals State Senator Pat Ward and Jeff Mullen, Iowa House candidate Rob Taylor, Iowa Senate candidate Jake Chapman, Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard, Dallas County Deputy Auditor and Auditor candidate Vicki Klein and Waukee’s Mayor Bill Peard.

The featured guest of the night was former Pawlenty, who joked that Kim Kardashian’s marriage lasted longer than his presidential campaign and highlighted (again joking) his new book, "My American Journey: From Minnesota to Iowa."

Speaking to the room full of Republicans, Pawlenty went on to talk about the presidential race, and the need to defeat Barack Obama. He talked of how President Obama and his side have a worldview that the government needs to do more and more, and that “their basic question is what more can government do that it is not doing? And the answer on our side is nothing!” Pawlenty serves as one of Governor Mitt Romney’s national co-chairs, and speaking of Romney said, “Mitt’s gonna be the nominee, and it is time to pull together now as a team.”

Michele Bachmann Campaign Blowing Up YouTube Before the Caucus

Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann is using a popular social media tool this week to reach out to voters in Tuesday's Iowa Caucus.

Posted today, Bachmann's camp is running a video on YouTube telling potential voters how to caucus on Jan. 3. It also features an introduction recorded from her stop at the Waukee Pizza Ranch on Dec. 28.

Politics and Pizza: GOP Candidates Make Pizza Ranch a Common Stop

In Iowa in the last six months of the caucus campaign, there were more than 35 Pizza Ranch stops by presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum.

Bachmann is the most frequent Pizza Ranch visitor tallying more than 21 stops herself, sometimes two to three different locations a day.

According to PizzaRanch.com, the restaurant's vision is "to glorify God by positively impacting the world we live in." It's mission, "to establish every Pizza Ranch as a business ministry opportunity." Pizza Ranch corporate officials declined to comment for the story.

But it would make sense that some of the biggest conservatives would make Pizza Ranch their stumping grounds, wouldn't it? Not so says Eric Woolson, Michele Bachmann's Iowa campaign manager.

"They have a meeting room that fits most folks, it's easy to book and is the right size for most events," Woolson said. "That's really the appeal. Again, it's the right size and it's a place most folks recognize."

Other Election Stories:

UPDATE: Bachmann Ends Presidential Campaign After Iowa Loss

Other 2012 in Review Stories:

Former Waukee Cub Scout Leader Sent to Prison in Child Porn Case: 2012 in Review

Waukee Man Gives Back After Transplant: 2012 in Review 

Brad Tofteland Remembered With Scholarship and Wrestling Tournament: 2012 in Review

Ward Pushes Back Challenge From Evangelical Pastor Jeff Mullen in Senate District 22: 2012 in Review

Waukee Deals With Two Attempted Abductions: 2012 in Review

Head Lice Reported at Eason Elementary in Waukee: 2012 in Review

Owner Says Schade Creek Winery May Never Open to the Public: 2012 in Review