The five Republican candidates who’ve filed the federal paperwork to run for the U.S. Senate gathered in Greenfield last night (Sunday), with barbs aimed at Bruce Braley and other Democrats as well as “bystanders” within the G-O-P.  Sam  Clovis, a former talk show host in Sioux City, was first to speak to the crowd of Adair County Republicans and he had a message for those who’ve been critical of this crop of candidates. “I am sick and tired of people standing on the sidelines and barking and chirping and chipping about this race. Get in or shut up, one or the other. Get in this race and become part of this mix, become part of this community or stay out of it. Lead — or get out of the way.”

Joni Ernst, a state senator who revealed last week that she carries a concealed weapon about 90 percent of the time, was second to speak in Greenfield. She blasted Democrats for suggesting she was pushing the boundaries of safety. “If a 22-year military veteran who has served in a combat zone and carried a 9 milimeter and an M16 with her everyday is unsafe, I don’t know what they consider safe,” Ernst said. Scott Schaben of Ames, the newest candidate in the race, presented himself as a more moderate candidate who could appeal to independent voters.

“We are the Republican Party and the Republican Party is the party of fun. The younger generation doesn’t get that,” Schaben said. “When you talk about personal freedom — you want to go out, you want to hit the buffet, you want to eat too much — that’s a Republican value. That’s less government. The Democrats are the ones that want to tell you how much you can eat and where you can eat it. The Democrats are the ones that want to take your guns away. The Democrats are the ones that want to take away your fun.” Matt Whitaker, a former U.S. Attorney, told the crowd it’s important for the G-O-P to pick a conservative as its nominee.

“We need a fiscal conservative,” Whitaker said. “We also need a social conservative…that will not just go to Washington, D.C. and not just vote with the leadership, but be part of the new movement to stand up what’s for the best interest of America.” Whitaker has signed a pledge of support for rookie Republican Senators who trying to stop “ObamaCare” by threatening a government shut-down. Clovis has signed the pledge, too. David Young, the final candidate to speak, repeatedly mentioned his work as Senator Grassley’s chief of staff.

I’ve seen Washington, D.C. and the beast of Washington up close and you know what? It’s as ugly there as it is here. You’ve got the right perspective,” Young said. “Sometimes it looks like one awful reality show when you watch the news.” The five candidates had a private huddle after the event to talk about this Saturday’s Republican State Central Committee decision to push the date of the 2014 state convention back a month, from June 14th to July 12th.

If none of the senate candidates wins at least 35 percent in the June Primary, delegates to the state convention will choose the party’s nominee. Critics say the delay will give Bruce Braley, the only Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, another month to campaign without a direct G-O-P challenger. Iowa G-O-P chairman A.J. Spiker says it is his hope the “timing doesn’t matter” and a senate nominee is chosen in the primary. But Spiker says by state law, the “window” to conduct the official canvas of primary votes is 27 days and if none of the candidates crosses that 35 percent threshold, a June 14th state convention might be too early.

Spiker says it’d cost tens of thousands of dollars more to hold a second state convention to nominate a senate candidate, plus some of the four-thousand eligible delegates and alternate delegates might skip one of the two conventions. The party’s state central committee voted unanimously on Saturday to move the date of the state convention to July 12th, and the group voted to hold the convention in the central location of Polk County.

(Radio Iowa)