Obama, Romney hunt for Iowa sportsmen’s votes

Sportsmen took their place among the ranks of President Obama's supporters Tuesday, joining educators, Catholics, Jews, Latinos and Asian-Americans.

They're not unanimous in their support, however. Republican Mitt Romney's campaign also boasts support from those voting blocs, and both campaigns claim support from veterans, women, rural Americans and farmers and ranchers, and young Americans.

Tuesday, the Obama campaign arranged a conference call with three Democratic sportsmen who support Obama. Outdoor-related issues – gun rights, government purchases of wildlife habitat, environmental issues and recreation – will play a “critical role” as sportsmen decide who to vote for, said State Sen. Dick Dearden, D-Des Moines.

Berkley Bedell, a six-term Democratic congressman from Spirit Lake, said revenues matter and government doesn't make progress by cutting back. Republicans, however, have pledged not to raise revenues and Romney is campaigning on a program to cut back spending on a variety of programs, including those that protect the environment, said Bedell, who founded Bedell Fly Co., a fishing tackle manufacturer.

Despite that need for revenue, Democratic Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Romney is no friend of sportsmen because he raised fees on people who hunt, fish and boat while governor of Massachusetts.

Obama is a friend of sportsmen and gun owners, he said, because he signed a bill about credit card consumer protections that included a measure continuing a Bush administration rule allowing people to carry concealed guns in national parks.

That's not good enough for Sportsmen for Romney. The group recently called on Iowa sportsmen and sportswomen “who value their 2

^nd

Amendment rights” to support the Republican challenger.

“Our sportsmen are increasingly concerned about what the future will hold for them and their families with a souring Obama economy and continual challenges to the 2

^nd

Amendment,” according to Sportsmen for Romney Chairman Dave Funk.

The presidential race is a choice between “two very different visions for America,” he said. Obama's vision is one of a “government-centered society, where government grows bigger and more active. For Romney, “America is an opportunity society, where free people and free enterprise thrive.”

For more on the sportsmen's groups, visit

www.mittromney.com or

http://www.barackobama.com/sportsmen.