Six official — and one soon-to-be — Republican presidential candidates attended Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Roast and Ride” fundraiser Saturday to munch on pork ribs, admire motorcycles and mingle with the key state’s voters.
Though Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has not yet announced his bid for the White House — he’s expected to do so in July — the Republican lawmaker notably stood out in his sweet Harley-Davidson leather biker jacket.
In fact, Walker along with Ernst led the 40-mile, 300-person motorcycle ride from Des Moines to the carnival-like event’s location in Boone, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The event entailed both larger addresses from the candidates in attendance as well as more personal one-on-one voter discussions.
Walker was joined at the fundraiser by official candidates Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Perry also led his own pack of motorcycle riders, cruising appropriately from Perry, Iowa, to the event to raise funds to benefit service dogs for military veterans.
Walker and Perry shared a high-five at the “Roast.”
And Rubio and Huckabee shared a laugh.
Fiorina, Graham and Carson all kept it classy in the country environment as they addressed voters.
Ernst spoke excitedly of the fundraiser, which was held to benefit her political action committee.
“In Iowa, it is extremely important to do this,” explained the junior senator. “Iowans want to meet their candidates, they want to reach out and shake their hands. They want to ask that question face-to-face.”
