The reviews are in on President Obama's grassroots swing across Iowa. The President crossed the state talking about the importance of Iowa's wind industry and building an economy from the middle out instead of the top down.
"From the military wife, to the middle school science teacher, to the union representative, to the family self-sufficiency coach, to the other 2,900 in attendance -- one and all took their own piece of inspiration from President Barack Obama's campaign speech Wednesday at the Alliant Energy Amphitheater in the Port of Dubuque," writes the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. The Denison Bulletin & Review pens the trip "provided an opportunity that few Americans are afforded - the chance to meet a president in person." The Marshalltown Times-Republican cites that a "historic moment was made Tuesday" when President Obama became the first sitting President since Franklin D. Roosevelt to visit Marshalltown. Here's a full rundown on what Iowa newspapers are saying about the President's trip:
Obama champions middle class in Oskaloosa speech (Oskaloosa Herald, 8/14). President Barack Obama told the audience at his campaign stop in Oskaloosa Tuesday that they have a critical choice to make at the polls this November. "It is a choice between two fundamentally different visions of how America became great and how it's going to stay great," Obama said to 852-person audience gathered underneath shade trees at Nelson Pioneer Farm just outside Oskaloosa. http://oskaloosa.com/local/
Obama rallies supporters in Boone (Webster City Freeman Journal, 8/14). President Barack Obama said it was good to be back in Boone County for a campaign stop yesterday afternoon at Herman Park. Crowds packed the park pavilion, chanting "four more years" in support of the President. He began his speech by stressing the importance of the coming election. "It is not just a choice between two candidates or two political parties, but more than any election in recent memory, this is a choice between two fundamentally different visions about how we move this country forward," Obama said. http://www.freemanjournal.net/
Obama: Election choice will impact generations (Des Moines Register, 8/14). President Barack Obama kicked off his three-day Iowa tour with a clarion call to view this election as a stark choice about America's future ? and ended the day in the Bud Tent at the Iowa State Fair. Before he got to his Bud Light and pork chop, there was plenty of red meat politics, and lots of idyllic Iowa scenes. He stopped at a farm to talk about the drought and rode by scores of wind towers, hundreds of people waving American flags, and thousands of acres of drought-shriveled corn. http://www.desmoinesregister.
Obama: 'We've been very good for the farm economy' (Carroll Daily Times, 8/14). President Barack Obama Monday announced a raft of agricultural initiatives aimed at stemming the fallout from the worst drought in a generation. At the same time, while the full effect of Mother Nature's stinginess with rain in much of the nation unfolds, the president told a reporters' roundtable in Boone that his administration deserved some credit for the generally favorable farm economy over the past four years. http://www.carrollspaper.com/
Obama's message to voters: This one counts (Nonpareil, 8/13). For the first time on an overcast morning, the sun came out as President Barack Obama took the stage at Bayliss Park Monday. It was an electric atmosphere as an estimated 4,300 packed the park to catch a glimpse of the president as he kicked off three days of campaign activities across Iowa in Council Bluffs. Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder songs blared through the public address system as an anxious crowd waited for the commander and chief, but it was U2's "Beautiful Day" that blasted forth as Obama mounted the stairs. http://www.southwestiowanews.
A presidential visit in Denison (Denison Bulletin & Review, 8/14). The combination of President Barack Obama's schedule and Denison's location along the route of two campaign stops on Monday - Council Bluffs and Boone - provided an opportunity that few Americans are afforded - the chance to meet a president in person. President Obama's motorcade traveled Highway 30 from Missouri Valley to Boone Monday afternoon and stopped at around 3 p.m. at Summer Magic tropical sno for one of Obama's favorite treats - shaved ice. http://www.southwestiowanews.
Obama says Romney doesn't understand importance of wind energy (Radio Iowa, 8/14). President Obama touted "home grown" wind energy today during a midday speech in Oskaloosa and criticized Republican rival Mitt Romney for opposing extension of the wind production tax credit. "He said that new sources of energy, like wind, are imaginary. His running mate calls them a fad," Obama said. http://www.radioiowa.com/2012/
Obama: Clear differences between candidates (Ottumwa Courier, 8/14). President Barack Obama spent much of a half-hour speech in Oskaloosa drawing distinctions between himself and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. "It is a choice between two fundamentally different visions on the path we need to take for our kids and our grandkids," Obama said. http://ottumwacourier.com/
An historic hail to the chief (Marshalltown Times-Republican, 8/15). As President Barack Obama walked across the Miller Middle School gym floor arriving at the podium and saying "Hello Marshalltown," an historic moment was made Tuesday. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Marshalltown since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940. http://www.timesrepublican.
Obama attacks Romney's economic plan during stop in Waterloo (WCF Courier, 8/15). President Barack Obama stressed an economic message Tuesday night in Waterloo, saying electing Mitt Romney would mean a return to trickle-down economics. Speaking before a crowd of 1,800 at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre, Obama criticized Romney's economic plans, saying the idea of giving more tax breaks to wealthy Americans won't help the middle class and won't stimulate the economy. http://wcfcourier.com/news/
Estimated crowd of 3,000 hears Obama speak in East Davenport (Quad City Times, 8/15). President Barack Obama criticized Republican rival Mitt Romney and running mate, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, telling thousands of people at two rallies Wednesday in eastern Iowa that he has protected Medicare, but the Republican ticket would turn it into a voucher system and end the program "as we know it." The argument over the health insurance program for seniors could be crucial, particularly in Iowa, a swing state with a large number of elderly. http://qctimes.com/news/local/
Obamas woo Dubuque (Telegraph Herald, 8/16). From the military wife, to the middle school science teacher, to the union representative, to the family self-sufficiency coach, to the other 2,900 in attendance -- one and all took their own piece of inspiration from President Barack Obama's campaign speech Wednesday at the Alliant Energy Amphitheater in the Port of Dubuque. http://www.thonline.com/news/
