Quick Hits: Bye-Bye, Iowa

1 year ago

Bidding farewell to the 2012 Iowa caucuses with a few bizarre items

Voting in Iowa has finished; and now the "willing" candidates rush on to New Hampshire primary. There are debates this Saturday and Sunday. Important stuff, we hope.

Here’s a few not as important tidbits from the closing campaigning days in Iowa:

Gingrich continues whining about SCOTUS decision on PACs

A few days ago, we mentioned former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s sharp fall in the Iowa state polling. He’s been the target of super PAC TV ads that decisively knocked him from frontrunner status. The catch: Gingrich supported the Supreme Court's decision to open the floodgates for special interests in campaigning. Gingrich flatly accused Mitt Romney of lying about his knowledge of who’s responsible for the staggering Iowa ad buy.

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Glitter-bombed Santorum feels ‘sorry’ for gay activist

Newt isn’t alone anymore; Santorum is the latest Republican presidential candidate to be glitter-bombed by a marriage equality activist.

Santorum told conservative Iowa radio host Ian Mickelson that he’d pray for him.

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American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson Endorses Ron Paul

I was scratching my head about this one, until I learned that Kelly Clarkson is from Texas. I didn’t know that and couldn’t name her last hit song if I tried. (Neither could Ron Paul.) Clarkson’s record sales shot up after tweeting her endorsement of Paul.

Here’s a clip of the Texas congressman acknowledging the singer’s support (in the first 30 seconds):

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Perry: “You got a name?”

The viral video hits just keep on coming for Texas governor Rick Perry. Here he “owns” Politico reporter Mike Allen, who is no match for the governor’s quick draw response to a flimsy-sourced report about his (ending) campaign.

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Atlantic writer trends a GOP Twitter rap battle

Writer and editor Ta-Nahisi Coates of The Atlantic kept political junkies entertained for most of Iowa Caucus day with an impromptu Twitter rap battle aimed at the GOP. “#raptheGOP” was still trending Wednesday morning.

Here’s one gem, referencing a ‘Tribe’ classic: