It was more than 90 degrees at the Iowa State Fair on Saturday. Luckily for the presidential candidates stumping at the Des Moines Register's Soapbox in long-sleeved dress shirts, there was also a slight breeze.
The first speaker of the day was former Sen. Rick Santorum. The Pennsylvania Republican told a crowd of roughly 150-200 people that he was the only presidential candidate who was on the Islamic State's enemy list.
"There's nobody else in this race who has been on that list, and certainly unfortunately neither has the president of the United States or Hillary Clinton," said Santorum. "I will make sure that ISIS isn't spending their money on new weapons, they're spending their money on body bags."
Santorum also vowed to take "a blowtorch" to the Internal Revenue Service code by instating a 20-percent flat tax on both personal and corporate income.
Democrat Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island's former governor, drew a crowd of about 150 people. He highlighted that he's the only candidate in the race with experience in local, state, and federal office.
Chafee acknowledged he has a smaller war chest than many of his rivals. But told the audience that his "low-budget campaign" allows voters to test whether elections are truly all about money.
"Are we going to look at somebody like Lincoln Chafee who has the record, has the character, has the vision, but might not necessarily have the money?" said Chafee. "I ask you voters to do your homework and sift through all the issues, and you decide is it all about the money?"
Last to stump was Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who is also running in the Democratic field. At least 500 people, some chanting "Feel the Bern," turned out to hear his speech, during which Sanders called for a political revolution.
"We need millions of people to stand up and make it clear to the billion class that they cannot have it all," said Sanders. "But to make all that happen we need a strong grass roots movement."
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and real estate mogul Donald Trump also attended the fair, though neither candidate stumped at the soapbox. However while Sanders spoke a helicopter did fly over head.
"There's Donald Trump, what can we do?" quipped Sanders. "You know I apologize, we left the helicopter at home. It's in the garage."
