She Wanted Dressing. A Presidential Hopeful Was in Her Way

Iowa interaction between 'Ranch Girl' Hanna Kinney and Kirsten Gillibrand goes viral
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 20, 2019 9:25 AM CST
She Wanted Dressing. A Presidential Hopeful Was in Her Way
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, speaks during a meet-and-greet with local residents on Monday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.   (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

When Hanna Kinney tells you "I am dedicated to this ranch," believe her. The 22-year-old University of Iowa student admits she's overly fond of the condiment, which she often makes an extra run for at the Iowa City restaurant she heads to each Monday for Bible study. But as the Washington Post reports, this week's ranch run was interrupted by a campaign event by presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand—though that didn't stop Kinney from her "mission." A 17-second clip on Twitter shows what happened as Kinney tried to get to the kitchen by pushing through the crowd and past Gillibrand, who was speaking to a crowd and perhaps thought Kinney was a rapt listener trying to get a closer spot as she squeezed behind the New York senator.

Then came Kinney's apology: "Sorry, I'm just trying to get some ranch." The crowd, and Gillibrand, erupted in laughter, and the video soon went viral, earning Kinney the nickname "Ranch Girl" online (a moniker she's now incorporated into her Twitter handle). The Post notes that some are trying to turn the incident into something political—was Kinney trying to make an anti-Democratic statement?—but Kinney pooh-poohs that. "The only political comment I will make at this time is that @TheAirlinerBar's ranch is amazing," she tweeted. Kinney is also trying to make this publicity work for her. After the Airliner offered her a free cup of ranch on her next visit, Kinney noted, "What are the odds you make it a year's supply?" (More Kirsten Gillibrand stories.)

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