Just arrived in Davenport to a rally that's about to begin with Senator Harkin and Gov Dean. I tend to agree with kos that endorsements don't count for much--people make up their own mind. With one caveat, and that's the level of organizational support which comes with the endorsement.
Harkin is traveling all over the state and going flat out for Dean. He's not only got people that have worked for his Senate campaigns integrated into the Dean field operations and going around with Dean to stump, he's giving out solo speeches to hundreds, and orders for caucus night to the precinct-level workers. If it's going to come down to a ground war, that counts for more then the regular endorsement.
It's expected that Kerry (and to some extent, Edwards) are planning a caucus-night strategy, rather than an organizational one. Their field training that has gone on is less focused on organizational forces such as canvassers knocking on doors, and GOTV on caucus night, and more on getting establishment Democrats to back them, and hopefully, to be ready to argue on their behalf in the caucus. That is, after candidates fail to get 15 percent, they are likely to go someplace... Toward that end, Dean supporters on caucus night have Harkin standing on their side, which might turn out a pretty powerful counterforce.
I got a great wireless connection here in the gym (thanks Reid DeWolfe), Gov Dean is about to arrive, and after that, everyone drives quick up to Cedar Rapids, and then into Iowa city. I heard that Joan Jett is going to be performing, don't know if that's a rumor or not, as the Gov comes up to speak turning into the day of the caucus. I'll try and file an early morning report... btw, I visited the Field of Dreams this morning, more on that tomorrow.