The politician's visit to Iowa is the standard sign of a budding candidacy for President. So when Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse – a longtime critic of President Donald Trump – journeyed to Iowa, people quickly speculated about a potential primary bid.
Since Iowa won, the senator had to go to Iowa, wear Iowa Hawkeyes gear and drive an Uber for a night. And Johnson was there to capture it on video.
"I'm a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and I lost a bet," he sheepishly tells his first passengers. Later he poses for photographs with the two women, and speaks on the phone with the husband of one. "He's a serious gunner, and he wanted to make sure I'm firm on the Second Amendment, which I am," Sasse tells the camera.
But, as it turn out, Sasse wasn't only in Iowa to settle the bet. That weekend he also spoke at the annual Story County Republican Party fundraiser dinner, a more traditional Iowa appearance for presidential aspirants. That fact was not mentioned in the video.
Towards the end of the video, Sasse stops at a food truck. Another customer praises Sasse for his Hawkeye gear: "that's showing some love out there." Maybe Sasse made some Iowa friends whom he might get back in touch with come 2020.
Sen. Basse Loses a Football Bet, Drives an Uber in Iowa
Sasse shot the speculation down. "I lost a bet" he told CNN on the winner of last year's Nebraska-Iowa college football game. The bet was with Independent Review Journal's Benny Johnson, the controversial provocateur behind many of site's viral videos (Johnson was demoted at IJR after reports of verbally abusing staff.)Since Iowa won, the senator had to go to Iowa, wear Iowa Hawkeyes gear and drive an Uber for a night. And Johnson was there to capture it on video.
"I'm a U.S. Senator from Nebraska, and I lost a bet," he sheepishly tells his first passengers. Later he poses for photographs with the two women, and speaks on the phone with the husband of one. "He's a serious gunner, and he wanted to make sure I'm firm on the Second Amendment, which I am," Sasse tells the camera.
Is Sen. Sasse Thinking About 2020?
His next passengers were big Hawkeyes fans all too happy to rub it in. Sasse recounts, in a strong indication he really isn't trying to impress Iowa Republican caucus voters, "They immediate started chanted [the score] 40-10, 40-10, like, nothing kind, nothing neighborly." (Sasse also gives a kid shoulder ride, who then asks Sasse if he's running for president. Sasse replies, "No I'm not. I work in the Senate."But, as it turn out, Sasse wasn't only in Iowa to settle the bet. That weekend he also spoke at the annual Story County Republican Party fundraiser dinner, a more traditional Iowa appearance for presidential aspirants. That fact was not mentioned in the video.
Towards the end of the video, Sasse stops at a food truck. Another customer praises Sasse for his Hawkeye gear: "that's showing some love out there." Maybe Sasse made some Iowa friends whom he might get back in touch with come 2020.