O'Donnell Out, Sanders In

Balloon Pops: The Indianola Balloon Field is a popular spot for the next few weeks. Sarah Palin's coming to the Tea Party of America event there Saturday. So is Christine O'Donnell. Oh, wait, no, she's not. We heard this morning O'Donnell, the defeated Tea Party-backed, Republican U.S. Senate candidate who got beaten badly last year in Delaware, would also speak before the group's event. But that's all changed. Ken Crow, one of the founders of the Tea Party of America, said there's been a scheduling snafu and there's no room for O'Donnell on the speaking schedule. O'Donnell's in the middle of a national tour for her new book. But it's been plagued with some bad press. O'Donnell walked out of an interview during CNN's Piers Morgan.



So, as it sounds now, Palin should get most of the stage to herself at the event, where she's expected to make a "major announcement", according to Charlie Gruschow, another one of Tea Party of America's founders. For Palin fans, you have to hope her major announcement will not be the same type of major announcement we had here last week. Former New York Governor George Pataki was expected to make his major announcement at the Polk County Republicans summer picnic at the Iowa State Fairgrounds last Saturday. But the day before, he announced he wasn't running and he wasn't coming to the event. Hopefully, for Palin fans, Palin actually comes to the event Saturday instead of pre-announcing her news the day before.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, the Democrat, is quite familiar with the balloon field. He hosts his steak fry there every year. He just added to his guest list. He already booked Paul Begala, Bill Clinton's former adviser. Today, Harkin announced Vermont's Independent/Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders will also come to town that day. Here's Harkin's message to supporters about the addition:

I am sending you a quick note to share an exciting update about the upcoming Steak Fry.
I am thrilled to announce that my friend Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont will be joining us at the 34th Annual Harkin Steak Fry. Back in December, Bernie's epic eight-hour Senate oration against extending the Bush tax cuts went viral on the Internet - and soon became the New York Times bestselling book "The Speech: A Historic Filibuster on Corporate Greed and the Decline of Our Middle Class."
While, he won't have time to reprise The Speech - you can count on Bernie to fire things up in short order!
Get your ticket for the 34th Harkin Steak Fry today!
And as a reminder, the legendary Paul Begala will deliver the keynote address. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 18th at the Balloon Field in Indianola.
Don't miss out on this lineup of great speakers, to get tickets and learn more about the Harkin Steak Fry, visit www.tomharkin.com or call 515-277-9966
Thank you, and I hope to see you there!

United States Senator