Trump, Clinton, others take on Iowa StateFair
Sanders, Santorum also visit state fair on campaign trail.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and other candidates attract droves of fairgoers and sample fair food,
IOWA— As DES MOINES, Hillary Rodham Clinton walked among the booths of funnel cakes and corn dogs at the Iowa State Fair, trailed by a massive pack of media and onlookers, Donald Trump’s helicopter circled the fairgrounds in the air above.
That’s as close as Clinton and Trump’s massive entourages came at the state fair, a rite of passage for any presidential candidate. The respective Democratic and Republican front-runners each drew large crowds of gawkers as Clinton sampled a pork chop on a stick and Trump gave rides to children on his helicopter emblazoned with his famous last name.
“Nice to be here!” Clinton said as she started an hourlong stroll across the fairgrounds. Former Iowa Sen. TomHarkin, who endorsed her this week and wore a straw hat to shade him from the blazing sun, accompanied her. Everywhere Clinton walked, large crowds followed her to get a photograph, a handshake or a quick hello.
Trump latermade a grand entrance, landing his helicopter in athletic fields about a mile away and offering rides to children before he came onto the grounds. Almost immediately, Trump was greeted by massive crowds seeking photos, handshakes and yelling encouragement. The pandemonium followed him around for roughly an hour — and during a stop for a pork chop on a stick.
“This is beyond what I expected. This is amazing,” Trump said. “It’s been a day of love.”
Both Trump and Clinton avoided getting up on The DesMoines Register’s “soapbox,” a place where candidates can deliver remarks and take questions from fairgoers.
A candidate can be cheered or jeered, depending on the mood of the crowd and whether supporters or opponents are on hand. In 2011, Republican candidate Mitt Romney declared from the soapbox that “corporations are people, my friend,” a line that dogged the former private equity executive.
The front-runners weren’t the only ones seeking Iowans’ support. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has become Clinton’s chief rival and has drawn tens of thousands to his rallies, pitched his policies to counter economic inequality fromthe soapbox. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum donned a red embroidered apron to flip pork burgers over sizzling grills.
The state fair typically draws around 90,000 people daily during its 11-day run every summer, giving presidential candidates the perfect opportunity to meet potential supporters for Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.