Gov. Haley Barbour, R-Miss., said he didn't think South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's disappearance and extra-marital affair would have any effect at the polls, downplayed the prospect of running for president himself in 2012, and said he thinks Iowa's chances are good to elect a Republican governor next year.

"What happens in these races this year and next year will be what really matter to the party," Barbour said when asked about a 2012 run. "If after that it seems like a reasonable thing, I will consider it. I have no plan to run for president; I have no intention to run for president. But I've been around long enough to say, 'never say never.' And we'll just see where we are after '10. But I would be very surprised if I turned out to be a candidate for president."

Barbour outlined his strategy for rebuilding the Republican Party during his keynote address at the Republican Party of Iowa's "Night of the Rising Stars" night-time fundraiser at Hoyt Sherman Place.

• See more photos from the event
• Listen to audio of Barbour's speech
• Listen to audio of a Barbour press conference
• Listen to audio of a Barbour interview
• Listen to audio of RPI Chairman Matt Strawn's speech
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, Haley_Barbour, photos

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Saturday that Democratic successes in Congress are "driving the Republicans to distraction," and that is why many conservative politicians have focused on comments she recently made regarding the CIA and interrogation techniques.

"You want to be the leader? You have to be there to take whatever hit comes at you," Pelosi said. "So as speaker of the House I knew when I assumed this responsibility that those who did not agree with the new direction that we want to take the country in, the change that the American people asked for, would try to distract from the focus that we have. It is the arena that I have chosen to be in, and I understand what that is, but it will not take us off our course of action."

Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, were at Hiatt Middle School in Des Moines to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's impact on Iowa schools. Also in attendance were Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and several state senators and representatives.

• See more photos from the event
• Listen to audio of the event
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: audio, Nancy Pelosi, photos

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin acknowledged the often frustrating gap between popular sentiment and government action at an AARP event on Saturday, saying he has long supported a national single-payer health care system but has never "had the votes" to pass it in Washington.

"There are a lot of things the majority of Americans support that Congress won't do," Harkin said. "If I had my way, we'd have a single-payer system, but I'm not a dictator."

Harkin said he has supported a single-payer system since 1991 and hopes the call for one from voters has now reached "critical mass" and will compel other legislators to support such a plan.

Harkin joined other experts gathered in North Liberty on Saturday for an AARP-sponsored forum on health reform. They concluded that a major overhaul of the federal health care system is needed and this may finally be the year it happens.

• See more photos from the forum
• Listen to audio of the forum
• Listen to audio from a Q&A after the forum
• Read IowaPolitics.com coverage

Labels: Tom Harkin