{"id":1964404,"date":"2023-07-05T09:33:01","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T13:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record-2\/"},"modified":"2023-07-05T09:34:30","modified_gmt":"2023-07-05T13:34:30","slug":"iowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowans welcoming yet doubtful of Pence&#8217;s economic record."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fiowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record-2%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1964404&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"post_content\">\n<div class=\"aplayer_app\" data-source=\"https:\/\/vs1.youmaker.com\/assets\/2023\/0705\/f75654bf-ce37-4392-8138-9a836e87f856\/audio.mp3?length=5455629&#038;duration=455\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p>URBANDALE, Iowa\u2014Urbandale, population 46,000, is a slice of Americana nestled against the west side of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa. Despite being part of a metropolitan area of 700,000, Urbandale retains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record-2\/\" title=\"Iowans welcoming yet doubtful of Pence's economic record.\">small-town atmosphere<\/a>. The city has suburbanized without becoming bougie, lending it a charm reminiscent of earlier days.<\/p>\n<p>That America-then feel combined with what locals proclaim is the largest July 4th parade in the region is perhaps what drew former Vice President Mike Pence to make Urbandale the first stop on a three-day, seven-event swing through the Hawkeye state.<\/p>\n<p>The Urbandale parade is a staple of the region\u2019s social calendar, attended by families for generations. Crowds line the two-mile route with lawn awnings, blankets, and camp chairs, sometimes three or four deep.<\/p>\n<p>Iowans, ever-obliging and inured to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowans-hospitable-skeptical-as-pence-stumps-economic-record\/\" title=\"Iowans welcoming yet doubtful of Pence's economic record.\">fanfare surrounding presidential candidates<\/a>, were entirely welcoming of the former vice president. Whether the candidate, also known for his personal warmth and inviting demeanor, was able to make a dent in his 45-point deficit in the polls is less certain.<\/p>\n<p>Either way, Pence, accompanied by his wife, Karen Pence, brought his folksy charm and call for a return to true conservatism to a pair of July 4 campaign events in central Iowa, winning good feelings if not caucus-goers.<\/p>\n<h2>Parade Reception<\/h2>\n<p>News of Pence\u2019s appearance at the Urbandale parade drew reactions ranging from disinterest to disdain among attendees who spoke with The Epoch Times.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m for [former President Donald] Trump,\u201d Jodi Anderson told The Epoch Times. The Urbandale native, who had been unaware that Pence would be in attendance, returns from her home in Omaha, Nebraska, each year for the parade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like it that he is a businessman, not a politician,\u201d Anderson said. \u201cHe just wants to do what\u2019s right for America.\u201d Anderson admitted she hasn\u2019t given Pence much thought.<\/p>\n<p>Many paradegoers were unaware that Pence would participate and professed indifference to his presence. More than one attendee expressed a lack of interest in politics, especially this far from the 2024 election.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5374559\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/07\/05\/id5374559-IMG_4919.jpeg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    A color guard marches in the 4th of July parade in Urbandale, Iowa, 2023. (Lawrence Wilson\/The Epoch Times)<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s exhausting,\u201d one Iowan told The Epoch Times, referring to the frequent political ads that will be featured on television for more than a year.<\/p>\n<p>Laura Lien-Schwartz of Urbandale was aware that Pence would attend. \u201cThat might have had something to do with our attire,\u201d she told The Epoch Times. Lien-Schwartz and a handful of companions wore rainbow T-shirts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy top concern is ensuring that people have basic human rights, the right to live authentically, and to be safe in this country and in this state,\u201d she said, who believes those issues are having an economic impact on Iowa.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to live in this state to work in the state,\u201d Lien-Schwartz said. \u201cSo I can work for a company that\u2019s in the state and live in a state that\u2019s inclusive and supportive of people\u2019s rights to live the way that they want to live. Why would I live in a state where they aren\u2019t safe?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 64-year-old Pence walked the entire two-mile parade route in 85-degree heat, dashing from one side of the four-lane avenue to the other to greet attendees, winning smiles and handshakes with his considerable interpersonal charm.<\/p>\n<h2>Rural Priority: The Economy<\/h2>\n<p>The Pence campaign moved on from Urbandale to make an afternoon stop at the Midland Power Cooperative in the farming community of Boone, Iowa, some 35 miles north.<\/p>\n<p>Pence spoke for about 10 minutes after a glowing introduction from utility executives and Boone County Republican leaders. The candidate then fielded questions from the audience for the better part of an hour.<\/p>\n<p>Utility and economic issues were the prime concern in this rural community, as attendees posed questions on the use of natural resources, the nation\u2019s supply chain, regulatory affairs, and interstate commerce.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5374563\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/img.theepochtimes.com\/assets\/uploads\/2023\/07\/05\/id5374563-IMG_4987.jpeg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><\/noscript><\/figcaption><\/a><br \/>\n    Former Vice President Mike Pence (background) listens to a question at Midland Power Cooperative in Boone, Iowa, on July 4, 2023. (Lawrence Wilson\/The Epoch Times)<br \/>\n  <\/figure>\n<p>Pence relied on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/soft-food-or-starbucks-mccarthy-and-biden-exchange-jabs-amid-debt-ceiling-standoff\/\" title=\"Soft Food or Starbucks: McCarthy and Biden Exchange Jabs Amid Debt Ceiling Standoff\">familiar talking points<\/a> from his stump speech, saying that he intended to hang a Made in America sign on the White House, unleash American energy production, and ensure that laws are made in the legislature and not by regulatory agencies.<\/p>\n<p>Touting the achievements of what he refers to as the Trump-Pence administration, Pence said, \u201cWe came in, we cut taxes, rolled back regulation, unleashed American energy, secured the border, and took three steps back \u2026 and America boomed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou just throw a little bit of freedom, a little bit of limited government in there, and America\u2019s going to come roaring back faster than you can possibly imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The crowd of about 75 attendees warmly engaged Pence with frequent applause and laughter at his well-delivered quips and one-liners.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s uncertain w<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>the convenience of a larger city makes Urbandale a unique and desirable place to live. With its population of 46,000, this slice of Americana maintains a small-town atmosphere despite being located near the bustling capital of Iowa. It has successfully suburbanized without losing its charm, creating a nostalgic ambiance that appeals to residents and visitors alike.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1793,"featured_media":1964405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1964404","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1964404","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1793"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1964404"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1964404\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1964405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1964404"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1964404"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1964404"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}