But your Gaggler would be remiss in not revealing what Ames is really all about: It’s a huge party, period. There is a Ferris wheel, courtesy of a tax reform group. Only in Ames could you have spotted a presidential hopeful (Mike Huckabee) rocking bass on “Johnny B. Goode” with an Elvis impersonator singing lead vocals. Even stranger, the Elvis was actually on site to support Duncan Hunter. (Hunter’s wife was also on stage with Huckabee’s band, singing backup.) “If only all campaigns got along as well as ours,” Huckabee said afterwards, hugging Hunter’s wife.
Indeed, today’s contest may not come down to just politics, but which candidate provided the most fun for straw poll voters. In that respect, it’s a big showdown between Romney and Sam Brownback, both of whom have erected what can only be described as tiny carnivals here at Iowa State University. In that spirit, here’s the breakdown on Ames by the numbers:
1: Rock Climbing Wall, courtesy Romney 3: Moon Bounces, courtesy Romney 4: Moon Bounces, courtesy Brownback 1: Dunk Tank, courtesy Brownback 1: Air Conditioned Tent, courtesy Brownback 2: 150 pound watermelons, courtesy Huckabee 2: Snow Cone booths, courtesy Brownback 1: B-list actor in Stephen Baldwin, who unexpectedly showed up to support Brownback.
