Many have asked how our campaign performed at the Ames Straw Poll.  The answer is better than the Iowa GOP would like to admit.  We have delayed reporting our results in hopes that the Iowa Republican Party would release the write-in numbers from Ames.  At this stage, it appears that they will not do so.  Typically, protecting the party establishment is of greater value than allowing the voters of Iowa to support their preferred candidate.  We are confident that we surpassed the vote count of two well known and well funded candidates at Ames.  While the party establishment may view this as a threat to the system, we believe that this represents the best of our system at work.  Many of our supporters drove for several hours and spent their own hard-earned money to support our campaign.  Others rearranged schedules around family events and even a wedding just to make sure that they could cast their vote for Jared Blankenship.  That type of support speaks far louder than the free bus, the purchased ticket to vote, and the free food and entertainment provided by other campaigns.  While our total numbers may appear small to the big winners at Ames, we were successful.  We proved that it can be done.  Despite all of the roadblocks, we competed at Ames.  Despite the cynics, we have built an organization of serious and committed supporters.  Despite the current lack of coverage, we bested the efforts of current office holders and nationally know figures.  We did so with a clear straightforward message and a finite budget.  Is not that the message that we would like Washington to see?  We are continuing to build our support and finances and will be planning our future strategy.  With your continued support, our message will be heard across our nation.

We are running strong across the state of Iowa in preparation for the Ames Straw Poll just a few short days away.  We have spent time in Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Madrid, Ames, and Dillon where we have been received with great enthusiasm.  Wednesday, I will be speaking at the Jefferson Church of Christ at 7:00 pm.  I will speak at the Iowa State Fair on Friday at 1:00 pm.  We will be posting on the website the meeting place and time for those attending the straw poll on Saturday.  I know that each of you appreciate the unique opportunity which we have before us.  I ask you to invite your neighbors, your families, and your church families to participate in our efforts.  If we each bring one more, we double our numbers.  As in many aspects of life, we are only limited by our own faith and efforts.  Thank you for your support.

Jared

jaredblankenship.com

Our return from Iowa brings home strong commitment for the Ames Straw Poll.  We found a very receptive audience for our conservative, common-sense message.  We left the state with 60+ strong commitments and a very active and enthusiastic base who are adding daily to that number.  We found Iowans to be ready and willing to reclaim their nation against the tide of convention.  Our straightforward message simply makes sense to these hard working Americans.  They are seeking substance over style and reason over rhetoric.  As we organize our return trip in August, they are looking to the rest of the nation for others who are willing to stand with them and demand accountability and reason in our leadership.  These Iowans understand all too well what career politics has done to our nation and our future.  They are looking for the qualities of leadership which thrive in the real world in our businesses and families.  They have determined to stand upon well grounded principle rather than misguided convention.  I am looking forward to my return to Iowa and these American citizens who still believe in a government of the people and for the people.  The promise of America will not be handed back freely.  It must be reclaimed by those who are willing to stand and exert the effort to preserve our liberty and our future.

We are actively campaigning across the state of Iowa.  We are targeting over a dozen Iowa towns throughout the week.  Our reception has been wonderful.  We are daily receiving commitments to attend the Ames Straw Poll on August 13th on our behalf.  We are well on our way to success in our goal to capture 3% of the vote at Ames.  Iowans understand the true nature of conservatism and the impact of our presence in the political process.  More importantly, they have proven that they are willing to stand up for their core beliefs and convictions despite the constant pressures to maintain the status quo.  May we always remember that if the pathway is easy we are probably going with the flow.  The future of our nation and our families is bleak if we simply go with the flow.

November, 2010, conservatives were ready to change the course of our nation.  Today we hear that nothing substantive will occur until after the 2012 election.  Once again, the American people are left holding the bag.  While the White House and Congress talk of shared sacrifice, it is absolutely clear the the only sacrifice made will be that of the citizens of this nation.  While our elected officials call for leadership, the only leadership evident is that toward individual or partisan agenda.  It is time for fundamental change in our political system, our leadership and the course of our nation.  It is time to return to our Constitutional roots and reclaim the nation which was purchased not with political contributions but rather with the blood of our forefathers.  The liberty of our children is at stake.

As the Ames Straw Poll moves ever closer, we are daily meeting with groups of concerned citizens and voters to build support for our cause.  We are preparing our first mailing into Iowa targeting those families whose concerns and beliefs closely mirror our own.  We are not alone in this struggle.  Many others also hold dearly our love of God, family and nation.  Now is the time to unite and bring about a restoration of our freedoms and core beliefs.  We need each of you to actively go to work recruiting support for our cause.  We need you to make others believe that we can in fact make a difference as honest, hardworking taxpayers and citizens.  We still need financial support to complete our steps into Iowa.  The small sacrifice of those who love this nation can do unlimited good when we join in one voice.  Please consider financially supporting this campaign at whatever level you are able.  The time is now to make a difference in the future of our national conversation, our political process, and the very future of our nation.  Tomorrow may very well be too late.

We will be in Bovina, Texas on Thursday, June 16th at 7:00 pm to explain to supporters our objectives and gameplan.  Anyone in the area is invited to join us at the office of Scandia Wind Southwest in Bovina.  The address is 1000 8th street.  Join us to see how we can reclaim America.

With your help, we have the chance to make history.  What began as a campaign based upon faith and hope, now has the very real opportunity to grow into a national movement to reclaim America.  With our new campaign team on board and new-found support, we are pushing into Iowa.  With your help, we can make a difference in our future.  The Ames Straw Poll is in August and with your continued support, we will be there.  Our goal is to capture at least 3% of the vote in Ames, not only making history, but also taking this campaign from unknown to nationally recognized.  Doing so means your voice will be heard across our nation.  We have set a goal of raising $300,000 to compete in the Ames Iowa Straw Poll.  While this may sound trivial to the big-spenders on the campaign trail, we believe that doing so provides the opportunity for your voice to be unmistakable.  Many believe that only large contributions matter.  This is a grassroots effort and your support of $25, $50, or $100 does make a difference.  The push is on.  Please go to www.jaredblankenship.com and sign up for our campaign newsletter.  Consider financially supporting your role in history.  Like us on Facebook and tell your own friends exactly what kind of opportunity we the people have before us.  The moment is now to start reclaiming America.  Politicians have jeopardized our tomorrow.  How many can we recruit for the cause today?

Last November we were excited about progress in dealing with unemployment and our nation’s economic mess.  Today, seven months later, we are still listening to the same political rhetoric and the same accusations.  We are no closer today to resolution.  Yet another credit rating agency has expressed concern over America’s lack of leadership.  Like you, they have little expectation of real progress.  What is the solution?  True conservative leadership is the only remedy to our problems.  We need leadership that thinks in terms of economic capital rather than political capital.  We need a leader who understands the fundamental reasons why a business exists, hires employees, and grows.  We need a leader who can recognize government as the problem rather than the solution.  In other words, we need a true conservative and not a “conservative” politician. 

JaredBlankenship.com

As we initiated this campaign we knew we would require a break somewhere.  That door has opened, as we now have a conservative political group which has agreed to manage and back our campaign.  With a campaign manager and his team on board we now have access to the tools and resources to make our voice heard across our nation.  We are diligently working toward setting up a team in Iowa to participate in the Ames Straw Poll in August.  We have taken one large step toward our goal, however, much work is left to do.  We still need your help as we attempt to reclaim America.