McCotter Determined to Stay in Race, Despite Apparent Lack of Popularity

By Hannah Hess
IowaPolitics.com

DAVENPORT — Michigan U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter flies so far below the radar as a presidential candidate that he’s off the map in most national polling, but Friday he told IowaPolitics.com that he is content with where he stands.

“I wouldn’t trade places with anyone right now, because I believe that as our message gets out, we still have room to grow,” said McCotter, who attended a Republican luncheon here at the halfway point of his six-day swing through Iowa. “A lot of the other ones whose message has been out seem to have stagnated in the polling, or dropped altogether.”

A Gallup Poll released Wednesday showed Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the newest entry, leading the pack nationally with 29 percent of support among 1,040 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, while McCotter was not even included as one of the nine options.

The poll was conducted Aug. 17-21, more than six weeks after McCotter declared his candidacy on July 2. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

When asked by IowaPolitics.com if he felt pressured by the chatter that he’d be the next presidential candidate to bow out of the race after former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty dropped out Aug. 14, McCotter said, “No.”

“I can’t control what other people do,” he said, with a slight laugh. “My job is to get the message out — however I can do it.”

McCotter finished last at the Aug. 13 Ames Straw Poll. He received 35 of the 16,892 votes, despite being one of six candidates to spend the necessary $15,000 to secure tent space at the Republican Party of Iowa fundraiser.

On Friday, he brushed aside the last-place finish, saying it was not a loss but an “introduction” to voters.

Picking up his campaign activity

As statewide activity by other presidential campaigns has hit a late-summer lull following the Ames Straw Poll, McCotter has used his time away from Capitol Hill to play catch-up and schedule more face time with voters.

He makes three to six stops each day, said Mary Earnhardt, who handles communications for the campaign. At his side at most stops is former Iowa House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, his top Iowa adviser.

McCotter doesn’t appear to be deterred by front-runners like Perry, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

“They get media attention, and that’s the media’s right under the First Amendment,” he said. “I am going right to the voters, and they’re the ones that will ultimately decide this.”

Minutes before lunch began Friday at a golden ballroom in Davenport’s Outing Club, representatives from the campaign fanned out glossy, two-panel brochures on the tables to familiarize the 60 diners with the Detroit native and his positions.

“His name is not a household name, but he’s been a real leader in Congress,” said former Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Brian Kennedy, of Bettendorf, who called the keynote speaker to the podium for a 10-minute speech, followed by a 30-minute, question-and-answer session.

Some turned their heads or chairs to watch, while others dug into the raspberry sorbet served for dessert as McCotter detailed his platform. He professed his love for former presidents Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln and talked about his long career in public service, which includes city, county and state-level politics, in addition to five terms in congress.

He also outlined four fundamental challenges for America. These ranging from globalization and war in Afghanistan to the threats of Chinese Communism and moral relativism, he said.

Quad-City businessman: McCotter’s involvement is good

Undecided Republican voter Brian Delaney, 52, of Bettendorf, said McCotter sounded “very intelligent.” But Delaney showed reluctance when asked if he considered McCotter, whom he dined alongside during lunch, a viable candidate.

“Even a person who may not have the greatest chance to win can still have a big impact on the debate and influence things a certain way, so I think it’s good he’s involved,” said Delaney, CEO of Consumer Credit of the Quad Cities.

Judging by the disappearance of pamphlets that were once spread on the white tablecloths for each of the room’s seven tables, many listeners in the room Friday took home a printout of the candidate’s core principles. When the room cleared, the stacks had slimmed significantly and disappeared from three tables.

McCotter said he is encouraged by the fact that Iowans take their politics seriously, and predicted he could gain momentum from the grassroots political culture. He said he is not discouraged by a slow start, or limited funds.

“If your message isn’t going to resonate, all the money in the world won’t save you — nor should it,” McCotter said.