Without Trump, GOP cancels fundraiser

DES MOINES – The party's over for Iowa Republicans.

The Republican Party of Iowa's 2011 Lincoln Day Dinner, which was to have featured Donald Trump as keynote speaker, was cancelled this afternoon, by party Chairman Matt Strawn.

Earlier today the Iowa GOP was informed that Trump, who had explored a bid for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, will not attend the June 10 dinner. Citing Trump's unique appeal and the close proximity to the event, the Iowa GOP decided to cancel the 2011 Lincoln Dinner, according to a statement released by the party.

The Lincoln Day Dinner has been the Iowa GOP's largest annual fundraiser. Tickets to the June 10 dinner were selling for as much as $150, a party spokesperson said. “An Evening with Donald J. Trump” was being promoted heavily on www.iowagop.org, including a video of Strawn inviting Iowans to attend.

Strawn invited Trump even before “The Donald” said he was thinking about competing in the Iowa's precinct caucuses.

“Mr. Trump's speech at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Committee) earlier this year caught the attention of many political observers and as the ‘first-in-the-nation' caucus state, we extended an invite to allow Mr. Trump to introduce himself to Iowa Republicans,” Strawn said at the time. “We are excited to have Mr. Trump share his vision for a better America through his experiences as an individual who has made a career as an entrepreneur and job creator.”

Excitement turned to disappointment today.

“In Iowa, your word is your bond,” he said. “We are disappointed that Mr. Trump has chosen not to honor his commitment to Iowa Republicans.”

Some of that disappointment may have stemmed from ticket sales that put the 2011 Lincoln Day Dinner on track to exceed the 1,500 people Sarah Palin drew in September 2010, according to Casey Mills of the Iowa GOP.

Now the party's focus will be on the Ames Straw Poll Debate and Ames Straw Poll Aug. 11 and 13, respectively, Mills said.

The party will be in contact with each ticketholder as soon as possible, he added.

Trump also cancelled an appearance before the South Carolina Tea Party.

Trump, a billionaire businessman with real estate, casino and entertainment interests, did not visit Iowa during his brief flirtation with a campaign.

However, an employee and operative of a draft Trump movement, was in Iowa in early March to tout his boss' presidential qualities.

“We don't need more politicians saying the same thing over and over and over again,” Michael Cohen, executive vice president and special counsel to Donald Trump, told reporters in Des Moines. “What we actually need is a business person that can put this country back on where we belong and that is the path of prosperity. We've lost that.”

A Trump bid for the GOP nomination would be more than a vanity campaign, Cohen said, and he sought to dispel suggestions Trump would have a hard time being taken seriously as a candidate despite regularly being the butt of jokes by talk show hosts.

“As is President Obama, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, (Tim) Pawlenty, Sarah Palin,” he said. “I believe they have all been made fun of. That's what the press does. They like to have fun with anyone and everyone.”