Kim Norvell

knorvell@dmreg.com

Sen. Rand Paul rang in his 53rd birthday with several hundred supporters in one of his more raucous Iowa campaign events.

The Republican presidential hopeful spent Thursday campaigning in western Iowa before the birthday party at Buzzard Billy’s in downtown Des Moines. It was there his campaign announced it has 1,007 precinct captains committed for caucus night on Feb. 1.

The number of volunteers represents 60 percent of Iowa’s 1,681 precincts. Steve Grubbs, the campaign’s chief Iowa strategist, parted the crowd Thursday night with an “official Iowa Rand Paul scroll” representing the “1,007 precinct captains who are committed to winning the Iowa Caucuses in 24 days.”

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The gesture was followed by chants of “President Paul!” and “End the Fed!” by the more than 200 people who gathered to share a beer and cake with the Kentucky senator.

Paul stood on table to deliver a short, but loud speech devoid of policy to the “lovers of liberty in the house.”

“In about three weeks, we’re going to shock them. Just this crowd here tonight ought to show them what’s coming,” Paul said. “One thousand precinct chairs shows that we are a first-tier campaign that’s in it — not to mess around, not to get second, not to get third, not to get sixth — we’re in it to win it.”

Tim Sirianni, 40, of Des Moines said he appreciates a presidential candidate who will have a beer with supporters, which shows “he’s one of us.” (Paul drank a pint of Beaverdale Brick from Des Moines’ Confluence Brewing Company.) Sirianni said he will caucus for Paul because of his stances on cutting debt, auditing the Federal Reserve, and limiting government.

“The main reason is constitutionally, though,” he said. “He’s going to stand by the Constitution and that’s what our country is founded on.”

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AT THE EVENT

SETTING: Paul held a birthday party at Buzzard Billy's in downtown Des Moines.

CROWD: More than 200 people crowded into the back room, with supporters spilling out into the hall and the main restaurant.

REACTION: The crowd was rowdy, chanting and cheering for Paul before and after he spoke. They also sang "Happy Birthday" to the senator.

WHAT’S NEXT: Paul will be in central and eastern Iowa on Friday and will hold another birthday party at River Music Experience, 129 N. Main St., in Davenport.