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Health & Fitness

Of Politics & Pumpkins - Version 3.0

A high profile guest spoke at a political fundraiser just west of Waukee on Tuesday evening - possibly our nation's next "First Lady".

Chad Airhart, Dallas County (IA) Recorder for all of nine months held a fundraiser in rural Dallas County this past Tuesday that provided some invaluable photos opps for a future campaign brochure should Mitt Romney make it all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2012 (for those who don't use "snail mail" anymore - that is the physical address of the White House).

The event, which was attended by more than 60 people, was held at my home on an acreage west of Waukee in scenic Wildwood Valley. Our special guest was none other than Ann Romney, that would be Mrs. Mitt Romney, the mother of five boys, and who, according to some recent polling on her husband's candidacy, has a good chance to be our nation's next first lady.

There are many words I would use to describe Ann Romney after welcoming her to our home on a crisp fall evening in the midst of one the most colorful autumns Iowa has experienced in many years (attractive, classy, professional, driven all come to mind immediately after meeting her) but the word that popped out to me like the color on the Wildwood trees, is "BATTLER". You see, Ann Romney was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1998 and has battled the disease ever since (Mark Davis - the head of Iowa's MS Society was in attendance on Tuesday taking copious notes as Mrs. Romney spoke). She also has battled and has won a fight with early stage breast cancer (something my wife, Bev, a six-year breast cancer survivor- has in common with her and talked about).

A delightful evening, a big success for Airhart (who has won some battles himself after a hardscrabble upbringing), a nice chit for the Dallas County GOP (many Dallas County GOP activists were in attendance) and a fun night for political junkies like me. Special thanks to my wife, Bev, who spent the last week or so cleaning up the house so that the three national networks had somewhere to set up their "embeds" (cameras and equipment).

Find out what's happening in Waukeewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

(Note: the "3.0" in the Politics and Pumpkins references the third appearance of a noted politico at McLinden's home - then presidential candidate Steve Forbes in August of 1999 with his National Co-Chair Herman Cain, and presidential candidate Mitt Romney in October 2007)

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