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Thursday, January 3, 2008

Who Will She Vote For?

posted by on January 3 at 11:33 AM

Former Stranger news intern Sarah Mirk is caucusing in Iowa today. Here’s her initial report:

Before my alarm could even go off this morning, my college roommate called from Maine to tell me I should caucus for Barack. I was bleary-eyed and frog-voiced, but I still managed to grumble the mantra that’s been sustaining my indecision since September, “But Edwards’ health care plan is stronger.” “You only like Edward’s because of that t-shirt you have!” my roommate shouted, referencing the “John Edwards is a Hottie” shirt I proudly wore during the 2004 election.

But times are different now. I am a more mature political thinker who is very policy-focused and rational when it comes to choosing a leader who can fix our Bush-fucked infrastructure. And besides, now I’m in love with Obama. It’s only noon here in Iowa, but all morning things have been looking up for Barack.

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Everyone in Grinnell, from the suspenders and John Deere-hat crowd to the gender-queer religious studies majors, gathers at Saint’s Rest coffee shop downtown. Entering such a warm and crowded place from the miserable, biting Iowa cold caused my glasses to fog over and so I stumbled straight past the Obama campaign table right inside the door without noticing it. I rubbed off my glasses while talking to Hannah and Susan, two Grinnell College students who are also Saint’s Rest baristas. Hannah, from Tennessee, drove up to caucus for Edwards. I asked her if she felt like a carpetbagger, since I drove caucus-bound across the border yesterday, too, with a Minnesotan and a student from Wyoming in back. [Ed. note: Sarah doesn’t have to be back at school until later in the month, so she and other nerdy students came back early to caucus. The NYT actually did an article on this yesterday and interviewed one guy who was driving down from Minneapolis to caucus. Mirk was in the car with him.] Susan, a native Iowan, took over to tell me she doesn’t care who comes in for the caucus.

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Yesterday Edwards stopped by the coffeeshop and filled the place with 168 voters and journalists who, Susan noted, were very friendly and, most importantly, tipped well. Personally, she’s voting for Obama. “I know it’s cliché, but hearing him speak really got me excited,” she said, “His speech as about global warming, Darfur, Guantanamo, and I was like, ‘These are all the issues that I care about!’ Hilary Clinton only talked about healthcare.”

Two of Iowa’s many undecided voters sat talking in low tones over their cups of coffee at a table near the counter. They were late-30s women wearing baggy sweatshirts and I interrupted their conversation with impertinent questions about who they would caucus for. Both women, were waiting for candidates’ caucus workers to convince them. Issues, experience, policy… these things didn’t matter too much, they said. Instead, both were looking for “Whosoever is the least sleazy of a politician.”

“As a woman, we go on intuition more,” explained one of the undecided, college employee Megan Perry, as I gritted my feminist teeth a little. “I’m going to go with my gut on whoever will do the least damage.”

From there I get wrapped up talking to the Obama campaigners who set up camp near the coffeesshop door. The workers are a younger woman covered in “Women for Obama” buttons and an older woman wearing puffy suspendered snowpants and a single button. I ask them both why they’re excited about Obama and the younger woman replies with a lot of wonky policy stuff. The snowpants woman gets me more, though. She says she read Obama’s first book and looking at me very seriously, she tells me how wise Obama seems for such a young man.

Behind the Obama people, I noticed my friend John Bell leaning over his laptop in the corner, agonizing not over his election choice but what to order off Netflix. John’s a quiet-minded art major who I figured wouldn’t do things like vote, but when I ask he nods and says, “I feel like I have a moral obligation to use the system.” John’s caucusing based on gut response. “Obama’s the only one I trust. I read his book, the one about him doing drugs, and it wasn’t the most gripping read. But it was at least sincere.”

What about Edwards, I ask. “More than anything,” says John, selecting an Ingrid Bergman film, “he’s a suit.” Oh God, I can’t vote for a suit, can I?

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RSS icon Comments

1

Josh, if you're really now a "more mature political thinker," then why all these insipid conversations with college kids? I mean, who are these people you've just quoted-- the Valley Girl Caucus?

Posted by drewvsea | January 3, 2008 12:15 PM
2

College kids and voting....two words: Ralph Nader

Posted by redux | January 3, 2008 12:19 PM
3

I'm so reassured about the future of our democracy knowing that some Iowans are deciding to vote for a candidate because he sincerely did drugs.

Posted by lorax | January 3, 2008 12:33 PM
4


“As a woman, we go on intuition more,” explained one of the undecided, college employee Megan Perry, as I gritted my feminist teeth a little. “I’m going to go with my gut..."

“More than anything,” says John... “he’s a suit.” Oh God, I can’t vote for a suit, can I?

Like it or not, this is a fairly accurate picture of how most American voters think.

P.S. We're doomed.

Posted by Original Andrew | January 3, 2008 12:38 PM
5

I worked Iowa last round. Caucuses ain't for pussies. To those college women in Iowa: F*ing grow up, stay in your candidate's f*ing corner, and don't let the bastards sway you from who you think is the right candidate. And whatever you do, DON'T leave 'till the caucus is OVER.

PS Get there early.

Posted by Sarah | January 3, 2008 1:02 PM
6

You spelled Hillary wrong. I'm sure you can make it up to her with your vote.

Posted by it's ME | January 3, 2008 1:15 PM
7

Bareback Osama is a giant QUEEFING DOUCHE BAG!

Anyone who runs soley on the color of their skin (endorsed by people like Oprah because of the color of his skin) is sending the wrong message.

He will never win the presidency Nig-Nog lovers! A vote for him = Four more years of Republicans!

Posted by aeryaery | January 3, 2008 1:39 PM
8

Come on drewvsea, I know reading is hard, but try it again.

Posted by PdxRitchie | January 3, 2008 1:43 PM
9

Bareback Osama is a giant QUEEFING DOUCHE BAG!

Anyone who runs soley on the color of their skin (endorsed by people like Oprah because of the color of his skin) is sending the wrong message.

He will never win the presidency Nig-Nog lovers! A vote for him = Four more years of Republicans!

Posted by gdhzdhzdh | January 3, 2008 1:45 PM
10

I wish I had a tee shirt that said "Sarah Mirk is a hottie."

Posted by oh man | January 3, 2008 1:45 PM
11

I don't really see any problem with college students in Iowa voting and caucusing. If you're living there for four years you have every right to vote. No one would object if they lived in Iowa for four years for any other reason.

Posted by Joshtown | January 3, 2008 1:59 PM
12

@11,
Additionally, even when they leave after four years, there's another one to take their place for four years...and again and again and again..

So, college student X is a legit Iowa voter because college student X is always there.

Posted by Josh Feit | January 3, 2008 2:04 PM
13

Insightful reporting. I'm glad someone is actually taking the time to think before they vote. The stranger should totally hire Sarah Mirk as a full time staffer.

Posted by too hot to hoot | January 3, 2008 2:05 PM
14

Oh no, John Edwards is "a suit"! Horrors! Never mind you align with him on the issues. Christ, college kids can be so lame sometimes.

Posted by laterite | January 3, 2008 2:51 PM
15

John Edwards is a hottie? Hmmm. To me he resembles a younger Jon Andelson w/a suit (and a far more expensive haircut).

Thanks for the most excellent reportage.

Posted by a grinnellian | January 3, 2008 3:40 PM
16

Actually, Edwards is a suit. Seriously.

It's time to wake up and get a real president. Not a suit.

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 3, 2008 4:20 PM
17

You gotta wear a suit to win the game. duh! This has nothing to do with whether he's a 'suit'. Geesh! Have you all never compromised wearing your hippest clothes to wear the clothes that will impress others? We all do it. Presidential candidates have to do it. Cut the guy a break.
Besides, I'm sure he looks at least 10 years younger in jeans and a hoodie.

Posted by call me a snot | January 3, 2008 4:56 PM
18

Have u met him? I have. Edwards is a suit. Sen Clinton isn't, but she's not exciting the way Sen Obama is. Sen Dodd is fun, in a way that's hard to describe, and Sen Biden is somehow harsh.

That's my personal impressions of the ones I've met.

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 3, 2008 6:01 PM

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