he is introduced by carol hunter. good morning, everyone and welcome to the des moines register soapbox. >> good to be here. >> good morning, everyone and welcome to the des moines register soapbox. i'm carol hunter, the politics editor and we are glad to welcome our first soapboxes the speaker of the affair. it is and mitt romney, a former governor of massachusetts. [applause] mr. romney is speak -- seeking the republican nomination for a presidency. let's give him in iowa or welcome. [applause] >> thank you, carole. thank you for the work of the desk moines register, one of the grape pickers in america the kids our democracy free and open. i appreciate the free press and the work you do. it is good to have so many friends here today. what a great day. this is fabulous. last and i was here four years ago, i will speak louder -- does that work better? there is brian kennedy. it looks like he stacked the crowd with a couple of old friends. i appreciate your help. this is a challenging time. i wish i could start off wit

i'm carol hunter, the politics editor and we are glad to welcome our first soapboxes the speaker of the affair. it is and mitt romney, a former governor of massachusetts. [applause] mr. romney is speak -- seeking the republican nomination for a presidency. let's give him in iowa or welcome. [applause] >> thank you, carole. thank you for the work of the desk moines register, one of the grape pickers in america the kids our democracy free and open. i appreciate the free press and the work you do. it is good to have so many friends here today. what a great day. this is fabulous. last and i was here four years ago, i will speak louder -- does that work better? there is brian kennedy. it looks like he stacked the crowd with a couple of old friends. i appreciate your help. this is a challenging time. i wish i could start off with terrific news about how the country is doing and what bright prospects people fill in their hearts but right now, people are concerned about the country and recognize that america is in crisis. that is because we have 25 million people out of work or have stopped loo

he is introduced by carol hunter. >> thank you. >> good morning. welcome to the des moines register soap box. we are welcome -- proud to welcome our first speaker, the former governor of massachusetts, mitt romney. he is seeking the republican nomination for the presidency. let's give him and i will welcome. >> thank you -- and iowa welcome. >> thank you for the work. it keeps our democracy free and open. i appreciate the free press and the work you do. what a great day. this is fabulous. i will speak louder. it does this work to? there is brian kennedy. i appreciate the fact that i'm here with folks have no for some years. we have 25 million people out of work are doing jobs been made their skills. we have kids coming out of college that cannot get jobs. we have people wonder if manufacturing will lead our country and go elsewhere. iowa leads our nation and agricultural products and is a leading state in manufacturing. this is an extraordinary stage with a diversified economy. i what is fair in better -- fairing better than the nation as a whole.

[applause] >> i am carol hunter, politics editor at the des moines register. our next speaker is representative ron paul, the congressman from texas. he is seeking the republican nomination for the presidency. representative paul. >> thank you very much. [applause] thank you very much. i am glad you are out this morning. i was just wondering, how many will be in ames tomorrow? that was good. maybe we can get a few more of you to come as well. most people no white candidates are in iowa this week and what is going on tomorrow. it is delightful to be here and attending the fair. enjoying the weather as well having come from texas just recently. it is great to be here, but of course, the real thing that motivates me is the issues i think have been messed up in our country and that we have to change our way. we have to change our direction. the american people are pretty tired of what they are getting. they know there are serious problems. there is a lot of anger and frustration going on. a lot of unemployment. somebody ought to come up with some answers. well, a

i'm carol hunter, the politics editor and we are glad to welcome our first soapboxes the speaker of the affair. it is and mitt romney, a former governor of massachusetts. [applause] mr. romney is speak -- seeking the republican nomination for a presidency. let's give him in iowa or welcome. [applause] >> thank you, carole. thank you for the work of the desk moines register, one of the grape pickers in america the kids our democracy free and open. i appreciate the free press and the work you do. it is good to have so many friends here today. what a great day. this is fabulous. last and i was here four years ago, i will speak louder -- does that work better? there is brian kennedy. it looks like he stacked the crowd with a couple of old friends. i appreciate your help. this is a challenging time. i wish i could start off with terrific news about how the country is doing and what bright prospects people fill in their hearts but right now, people are concerned about the country and recognize that america is in crisis. that is because we have 25 million people out of work or have stopped loo