Earlier today, The Politico asked: Who’s the mystery man in Iowa?
A source who’s been briefed on what’s happening in the room where the Ames Straw Poll real-estate bidding is going on – where campaigns jockey for spots at the poll – informs POLITICO that there is “a mysterious person in the room who won’t identify himself or who he’s there for.”
Everyone else demanded that the person identify himself, the source says. He wouldn’t, although the party chairman is said to have indicated he knows who the person is representing.
At today’s Iowa Straw Poll land auction, participating campaigns were surprised by a mystery participant who would not state which campaign she was representing.
Kellie Paschke, a lobbyist whose clients include Iowans for Tax Relief, arrived at the scheduled Straw Poll auction intending to bid on a parcel of the Iowa State Center for an undisclosed candidate.
Before the meeting started, representatives of Michele Bachmann, Tim Pawlenty, and Rick Santorum were seen outside the building discussing the situation of the mystery bidder.
The representatives went inside and began the meeting, but a short time later, campaign representatives and party staff were seen outside the back door of the RPI headquarters, presumably discussing how to handle the situation.
All of these individuals then went back in the building, but soon came out yet again for more discussion. At this point all of the campaigns were ready to walk away from the auction. Pawlenty’s Iowa Campaign Manager, Erik Helland, then arrived to provide reinforcements for the Pawlenty staff already present. Eventually, everyone went inside again, and it was disclosed that Paschke was at the Straw Poll Auction to bid on a lot for Rep. Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan.
Read the rest at The IA Republican.
Folks, it looks like McCotter is in!
Here’s his speech at RightOnline, last Saturday, in case you missed it:
Linked by Michelle Malkin, in Buzzworthy, thanks!
Previously:
Why Not? McCotter For President
More McCotter For Prez Talk
Yep, McCotter Is Definitely Thinking About Running For President
Nice Deb 
When I was at CPAC I was talking to Bill Schutlz of Red Eye fame and he told me that McCotter had his sights on bigger things. He told me he was one of the most carefule and control guests that they had. Interesting.
LikeLike
Very interesting that there are so many “good” candidates from a section of the country that’s traditionally so “blue.”
I’m reminded of the picture of a rattlesnake in a den of cobras. The rattlesnake looks awfully tame in that den. At least until he/she slithers out where comparison can be made to the rest of the world.
That’s not to say I necessarily think all those candidates are vipers, but compared to the average person they are surrounded by in that region, they may look fairly conservative. I have to wonder, though, if it’s just who they’re being compared to, instead of being compared to true conservatives?
LikeLike
McCotter may be the most conservative one in the bunch, (with the exception of Bachmann).
He doesn’t have baggage. He’s not gaffe-prone at all, he’s got a “cool factor” (plays the guitar, appears on Red-Eye, has a very keen, dry sense of humor) and the Dems would be hard-presses to paint him as stupid, like they do most other Repubs. Check him out. What’s not to like?
LikeLike
I’m not saying there is necessarily anything to not like, ND. All I’m saying is that, with a few weeks and months of exposure we’re finding out our batch of “conservatives” may not be all that it’s been cracked up to be.
Personally, I’d like to see his “bona fides” and some position papers on some social and fiscal issues, especially AWG, abortion, gay “marriage”, the sanctity of life, education/indoctrination, government “takings” of private property, term limits for all congresspeople, the elimination of executive branch “czars” and taxation/spending/debt limit.
He may be pure gold, but I certainly don’t want to be disappointed to find out he’s an envirowhacko freak or something like Cristy.
LikeLike
Carlos, don’t forget term limits for the staff as well. We sure don’t need career staffers any more than we need career politicians. I got that from Heritage.org. because I pay attention.
LikeLike
Pingback: Quote of the Day… from Who? « Under The LobsterScope
Pingback: Shock: Thaddeus McCotter Resigns Congress « Nice Deb