Mrs. Forbes, the soft-spoken wife of multimillionaire publisher and Republican presidential hopeful Steve Forbes, said it was the first speech she'd ever made on his behalf.

"I'm happy this podium is here to hold me up," she said.

Her husband missed the Friday morning events to attend memorial services in Manchester, N.H., for Nackey S. Loeb, retired publisher of The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News.

The Union Leader endorsed Forbes for the New Hampshire primary.

Forbes rejoined the two-day bus tour at evening events in Oskaloosa and Pella. Mrs. Forbes apologized repeatedly for her husband's absence.

"Campaign or no campaign, friends come first," she said.

In her speech, she described her husband as a devoted family man who changed diapers for their five daughters and likes to bicycle or go to baseball games with them.

"Steve is not in this for an ego trip," she said. "Steve is in this because he has something to say and no one else is saying it."

Supporters said they were a little disappointed they couldn't meet Forbes in person, but understood the circumstances.

Harold Munson, 72, a retired farmer from Lockridge, said he's still undecided and would have liked to hear an explanation of the flat tax from Forbes.

Still, "if he gets elected, to say the first lady gave her first speech in Fairfield, Iowa," Munson said. "That would be something."