Rand Paul planning Iowa college blitz, rolls out more than 100 endorsements

Sen. Rand Paul signs autographs at a meet up outside Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday. 

Alex Hanson

Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul is planning to ramp up campaigning in Iowa after rolling out more than 100 endorsements statewide Monday and announcing 11 visits to colleges around the state between Oct. 12 and 14.

Paul, the junior senator from Kentucky, has seen a slump in polling recently, and despite reports he would be the next candidate to drop out of the race, Paul has said he will continue.

Paul echoed an interview mid-September with The Daily in comments made recently, saying he is “all in” for a long campaign past early voting states.

His 11-college tour does not include a visit to Iowa State, but Paul did speak at the Memorial Union on Sept. 11 as a part of the Presidential Caucus Series. He also campaigned at the annual Cy-Hawk football game.

Specifics for the visits have yet to be announced, but the colleges he will visit each day are listed below:

Monday, Oct. 12:

  • Coe College, Cedar Rapids: 2 p.m.
  • Cornell College, Mt. Vernon: 4 p.m.
  • University of Iowa, Iowa City: 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 13:

  • St. Ambrose University, Davenport: 9 a.m.
  • Loras College, Dubuque: 11:30 a.m.
  • Upper Iowa University, Fayette: 2:30 p.m.
  • Wartburg College, Waverly: 5 p.m.
  • University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls: 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 14:

  • Morningside College, Sioux City: 9 a.m.
  • Buena Vista University, Storm Lake: 11:30 a.m.
  • Drake University, Des Moines: 3 p.m.

The Paul campaign released a long list of endorsements in the state Monday morning, including three co-chairs statewide, co-chairs in each House district and at least one co-chair for each of Iowa’s 99 counties.

A full list of endorsements is below:

“The Rand Paul for President Iowa Leadership team is active and growing,” said Chief Iowa Strategist Steve Grubbs in a statement. “With the help of co-chairs representing 99 counties, we are on track to have most precinct captains in place by caucus night.”