Ramaswamy, Haley blaze busy campaign trails in bid for Republican vote

NEWS AND OPINION:

Two Republican presidential hopefuls are still marching down the traditional campaign trail with great zeal, even as the year-end holidays approach.

“2024 Republican presidential candidate and political outsider Vivek Ramaswamy will hold events in 29 of Iowa’s 99 counties as he draws closer to making history as the first presidential candidate in U.S. history to complete the ‘Full Grassley’ twice over,” Mr. Ramaswamy’s campaign said in a written statement to the Beltway.

The aforementioned ‘Grassley” reference refers to Sen. Chuck Grassley. The Iowa Republican made it his standard practice to campaign in all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State back in the day.

Mr. Ramaswamy hopes to build upon that idea — and indeed will host 29 town halls across the state. He begins his big push on Tuesday morning in the Olsen Room of the Northwood Public Library in the town of Northwood. He will end it at Misty’s Malt Shop, located on Main Street in Keosauqua.

His campaign has not yet revealed the exact current tally of the candidate’s visits, and whether he’ll complete his goal of doubling the “Full Grassley.”

But wait. Let us not overlook Nikki Haley, who is also proving to be resolute on the campaign trail in New Hampshire — specifically on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Nikki Haley will return to the Granite State for back-to-back town halls in Manchester, Newport, Keene, and Atkinson,” her campaign advises the Beltway.

She will visit a ski lodge, recreation center, and a ballroom associated with Tempesta’s Restaurant — located in Keene. The eatery boasts a Maple Smokehouse Tomahawk Pork Chop and Ham & Beans with cole slaw — verbatim from the menu.

Ms. Haley will appear Wednesday “in the Grand Ballroom,” according to the restaurant’s calendar.

Destinations of choice

Fox News recently interviewed “unidentified males” in Lukeville, Arizona, who were also undocumented migrants. They were asked where they hoped to go in the U.S. — and their ideal choices for a new place to settle included Detroit, New York City, Miami, Omaha, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

The short clip revealed an emerging trend in the border crisis itself, perhaps.

“Fox News Sunday” guest anchor Gillian Turner was curious about the greater implications of those answers.

“It’s really not just a crisis for U.S. border states anymore, is it?” Ms. Turner asked Rep. Nancy Mace during a segment of the show.

“No, and look — this is literally evidence and documentation that every town is now a border town in this country,” the South Carolina Republican replied.

“I’m from South Carolina, I represent some small towns. But just two years ago, we were arresting people from the MS-13 gang. And this is happening all across the country, and it is a major issue for every American whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat,” Ms. Mace said.

“It doesn’t seem like anyone on the left wants to have a resolution. The minute we bring up border security in Ukraine, everyone is like — no, you can’t do that at all. And it’s insane to me that we want to give more money and more resources, assets and support to other countries’ borders, but not to our own border,” she advised.

Presents of mind

Still puzzling about Christmas and holiday presents for family, friends and everyone else?

Here’s another source for this challenge. That would be the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which watches over sites around the nation that are indeed historically significant

“Let your gifts transcend the ordinary and become a force for change. At the National Trust for Historic Preservation, we’re not just preserving historic sites; we’re safeguarding the threads of America’s narrative to ensure that all Americans see their history in the places that surround us,” the organization says.

“Explore our curated gift guide selected from our historic sites’ gift shops, where every purchase is a pledge to save the past and tell the complete American story,” it advises.

There are selections of jewelry, scarves, cufflinks, ties, jellies, toys, Christmas ornaments, coffee mugs, pottery and more from these unique shops from around the nation. Find the gift guide at SavingPlaces.org.

The big hat sale

Meanwhile, here’s news from TrumpstoreAmerica.com — an online purveyor of items devoted to — and inspired by — Donald Trump, of course. The store is wishing everyone a “Merry MAGA Christmas” — and also offering 30% off on a selection of hats, yard signs, lapel buttons, Trump-themed Christmas ornaments and other assorted Trump-inspired items.

The site itself — TrumpstoreAmerica.com — is managed by Spalding Group — described as “facilitators of conservative free speech for 40 years,” according to the website. Campaign items are a specialty.

“We’ve been a principal supplier for eight Republican presidential campaigns including Bush Cheney 2000, Inc. and Bush Cheney ‘04, Inc. Spalding Group created and managed the successful George W. Bush Online Store. Spalding Group created the iconic “W the President” logo, which was featured on many of the store’s product lines,” the organization said in a statement at the aforementioned site.

Poll du jour

27% of U.S. adults say inflation is the most important problem facing the nation today; 34% of Republicans, 29% of independents and 21% of Democrats agree.

20% say immigration and U.S. border issues are the most important problem; 35% of Republicans, 22% of independents and 6% of Democrats agree.

16% say the state of democracy is the most important problem; 9% of Republicans, 17% of independents and 22% of Democrats agree.

12% say gun violence is the most important problem; 6% of Republicans, 10% of independents and 19% of Democrats agree.

7% say crime is the most important problem; 4% of Republicans, 6% of independents and 8% of Democrats agree.

7% say health care; 4% of Republicans, 7% of independents and 9% of Democrats agree.

4% say the war between Israel and Hamas; 2% of Republicans, 2% of independents and 6% of Democrats agree.

2% say the war between Ukraine and Russia; 1% of Republicans, 2% of independents and 3% of Democrats agree.

Source: A CBS News Poll of 2,144 U.S. adults conducted Dec. 6-8.

Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washingtontimes.com.