cross-posted @ One Million Strong
My second trip to the wonderful state of Iowa.
The prior trip things were moving and progressing. The staff was confident and upbeat about many things happening.
This time, extremely upbeat, extremely confident, and touts the JJ Dinner for the turning point.
A lot is happening, check it out over the fold.
I had the chance to read TomP's great diary on his adventure in Iowa this past weekend with clarkent. And I concur, the weather totally sucked. It was rough being out there. Hazardous to your feet!!! The ice storm was that, icey.
The canvassing was cancelled in the Cedar Rapids area and it should have been. The ice was so thick, that I almost fell over twice. So, we were re-routed to the Cedar Rapid Office to phone bank.
This was interesting for me, speaking to many directly on the phone. It is not the same as face-to-face, but still effective.
Outreach at this point is critical for any campaign. Why? You need to know where your support, leaners and undecides are, that is why.
When I got to the office, I started drinking a hot cup of coffee and delved into phone banking. Then I started to ask questions. The first one, Oprah. Do you think it will make a difference or matter? The field staff said, "I don't know. But many want to see her and Barack, together." Again, I am not into endorsements, but Oprah Winfrey is her own enigma. Yes, she is celebrity, but the only celebrity I can probably relate to that is genuine and real. Do people listen or follow her? Yes. People do not go on her show to peddle their goods for nothing. People respond. So, this is a wait and see, for me. Oh, by the way, the phone was ringing off the hook for Oprah/Obama tickets. Again, we will see. I will add this, for us to think or believe that Oprah means nothing. Think again. She and Barack sold out Columbia, SC, 18K in 2 days, and moving to an 80K stadium. So, something is going on.
I was encouraged with the caucus training that this team was doing. Even in the bad weather, many still came to training. From my understanding, this is happening all over the state at the Obama Offices. The group I saw was older women. Yes, encouraging.
I asked about the email Muslim smear going on. And the Field Officers indicated that the campaign has put out statements, repeatedly, about this. Well, now forming information is coming that Clinton Staffers are pushing this despicable meme. Is it Clinton? No. But it is her name. Anyway, the campaign believes that people will rise above this and believe in the goodness of the folk from Iowa. I believe that, too.
Tidbits about the caucus. One, you can walk in affiliated to any party, switch parties and caucus for your candidate across the aisle, turn around and join your original party again, after you have caucused. Yes. That is cool. Also, the caucus starts at 6:30P prompt. Late. No can do. Meaning, you won't get in. So, leave early. And never caucused period? As, long as you will be 18 by November 2008 for the general election, you can register and caucus that night. Yes. That is why Obama has Barack Stars in High Schools, all over the state.
The lists given are for everyone, even across the aisle. Yes, we called Republicans, Independents, too. The enigma of the Republicans for Obama is real. I think many will be surprised at this. As we know, what Republicans have come out for Hillary? Which makes me question that poll Mark Penn was touting about 25% of Republican women would vote for Hillary Clinton. I was nosy and I asked many volunteers at this office this question. Most laughed in my face and asked me, "Where did you get that information from?" In fact spoke to another precinct captain there phone banking and he told me, the Republicans he know are caucusing for Obama or another Republican. That Republicans will vote for Hillary is a fantasy. Now that came from a male Iowa precinct captain. So, draw your own conclusions.
Many of my calls, and I checked from my previous time in Cedar Rapids, is that the undecideds have shrunk. I would say high end, 30% and low end 20%. Many of the calls have made their mind up. Most will not tell you, but some will. Edwards has firm support in Iowa. They are not swaying. If he lost any of his soft support, I would throw in the undecided pile. I noticed that of the undecideds they told me that it was between Obama and Clinton. I was surprised at that, but hey, who knows. I did not take a call where an undecided was with Edwards. And what does that mean?
If Clinton thought that the planting questions incident all over Iowa was not a distraction, think again. I heard people on the phone complaining about her. But most felt she thought they were dumb or something. So, can we politely say that she insulted some intelligence here? Yes. The perennial second choice candidate is splitting between Edwards and Obama. As far as for Clinton, you either like her or not. I did not take one call that had her for second choice. Not one call, only for Obama and Edwards. So, if you think the second choice will play on caucus night, keep that yes, in the back of your mind. Lastly, the Kyl-Lieberman vote has hurt her tremendously here. Again, that Iraq vote is the number one issue in Iowa. Iowa has sent their beloved to Iraq in heavy multitudes; some have come back in a casket, others serious PTSD, and many with limbs missing. These good folk are pissed and angry. They have every right to be. For Clinton that K/L vote, coupled with the AUMF for Iraq, is the one reason that she may not win Iowa.
Overall, I loved the Cedar Rapids staff. They were knowledgeable, friendly, accessible and confident in Barack. This is a staff committed to this campaign. Just like many of his advocates and supporters in the blogosphere. And yes, looks like over 30K Iowans will see Barack and Oprah on Saturday.
Folks, not only is it time to turn the page, but America time to write a new book.
I will be in Iowa from Dec. 27-Jan. 4, it is the least I can do.
icebergslim1047@hotmail.com
This Week With Barack Obama