2008 Still Heading to the Dem Debate in Iowa
posted by on August 18 at 11:45 AM
I’m laid over in the Salt Lake City airport, eating a sandwich on white bread, surrounded by some of the whitest of white-bread Americans, and listening, per a friend’s suggestion, to Jesus and Mary Chain (which I think qualifies as that darned Rock and/or Roll). Current song: Half Way to Crazy.
Which seems appropriate mid-way along a trip that will take me back into the traveling circus of the pre-primary presidential campaign.
I’ve successfully answered the question from the ABC gatekeeper and am now on the list to be credentialed for the debate tomorrow. And, reading the latest political news online, I’m becoming even more glad that I’ll be able to see Sunday’s debate in Iowa because it looks like these debates may become a bit rarer.
Barack Obama announced today that he’s had enough of this season’s fast-proliferating crop of debates and forums. He’s not going to be accepting any more invitations from organizations or interest groups (like the AFL-CIO, YearlyKos, and Logo, all of which hosted Democratic debates in recent weeks).
“Unfortunately, we simply cannot run the kind of campaign we want and need to, engaging with voters in the early states and February 5, if our schedule is dictated by dozens of forums and debates,” said David Plouffe, the Obama campaign manager. “Ultimately, the one group left out of the current schedule is the voters and they are the ones who ask the toughest questions and most deserve to have those questions answered face to face.”
It’ll be interesting to see if other Democratic candidates follow suit. It’ll also be interesting to see, in Iowa, whether the national press corps is welcoming the possibility of not having to travel to so many smaller debates in the next few months. (Obama says he will still attend debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee.)
Meanwhile, with all eyes back (or still) on Iowa, The Politico says to pay no attention to the polls: The state is still very much up for grabs.
you're so luck, you can enjoy 3% alcohol beers and get refused to be served a double (doubles are actually illegal there!)!
yes, i do spend all my time in the salt lake airport at the bars. i'm a recovering mormon and the place gives me the willies hardcore.
"Yes hello I would like two singles."
I fucking love the Jesus & Mary Chain!
"recovering mormon"
lol, I like that. It applies to me as well, 5th or 6th generation in my case. The missionaries were just here a couple of days ago encouraging me to come back, as if I would change my mind after 20 years of not going.
This whole Iowa thing kind of baffles me.
They're worth what, about 1.5 electoral college votes? And the state is almost entirely rural and entirely white. Its economy is almost entirely agricultural. Not exactly representative of the country as a whole. Yes, they hold the first primary, but how Iowa goes is indicative of absolutely nothing. I don't see why candidates focus so much of their energy (re: money) on Iowa. It really can't matter that much what happens in Iowa.
Tell that to Howard Dean....
First - Tradition, political lore which carries great weight
Second - It is a large sample poll, which we worship, that is polling of any kind
Third- Real people vote based on real touches with candidates. They spend days there working every venue in sight, in person, or high lever stand ins - Hilary should use both Bill and Chelsea
Forth - Heartland status - they, Iowa voters, are seen as a micro of all America
Fifth - Mega tons of media attention (Stranger is sucked in) magnifying the results
Sixth - Iowa is more diverse and mixed than you represent, lots of smaller cities, not towns, and light industry along with the farming
Predict big wins - Mitt and Hilary
And truly, aren't they doing the best job organizing by comparison to the others?
They are both very competitive and play to win, money, organization and moxie ... and they might both be in the ring in Nov. 2008
I wanna know, what was your answer?
xbrvyfl vrmwfyhgj serpzyxhu imjnwyvz mlnjsfz olqfk dglhrf
fmaswbc nvamw kmhigd vhrul jtvgqyps ixdtg smzcjvthn dxyg toyabq
Comments Closed
In order to combat spam, we are no longer accepting comments on this post (or any post more than 14 days old).