Radio Iowa

Clinton, Obama management styles

BEFORE the Iowa Caucuses, I asked both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton -- in separate interviews -- about being the CEO of their respective campaigns and what had "trickled down" from them to their campaign staff.  Given the recent news of a change in Clinton's campaign staff and Mark Halperin's observation that one of Obama's strengths is the stability of his campaign team, I thought it time for a rewind to what the two said.

Obama said this during an interview with Radio Iowa on 12/22/07: "I'm very proud of the fact that you haven't seen a lot of drama or a lot of back-biting in our campaign.  I think everybody is focusing on doing their job. People generally left their egos at the door.  People take responsibility for their work and, you know, don't blame others when mistakes are made and people don't jump on people when mistakes are made.  We hold folks accountable, but there's a calm in our organization and a trust, I think, between people and I like to take a little bit of credit for that."

Clinton said this during an interview with Radio Iowa on 12/26/07: "That we want to run a campaign on the real issues facing America, that we want to talk about the positive changes I have brought in people's lives and the ones that I will bring as president and that we want to run a campaign that really reached to as many people as possible, answers their questions, provides them the support they need to make this important decision, but at the end of the day all of us are doing this for the same reason -- I, as the candidate, every staff member, every volunteer -- because we want our country back.  We want to be proud of it again.  We want to face the challenges and problems that beset us and we want to make history together."

Culver endorsing Obama

Sources confirm Governor Chet Culver will be endorsing Barack Obama at Obama's rally in Omaha, Nebraska this evening.  Culver's wife, Mari, endorsed Edwards prior to the Caucuses. 

UPDATE at 3:40 p.m.: Culver just called into the Radio Iowa newsroom.  Here's the transcript:

Henderson: Why Obama?

Culver: "I think it's clear that the American people are hungry for change.  They're looking for a president who can push back on the special interests. who has the courage of their convictions to do the right thing for ordinary Americans and Senator Obama has demonstrated for more than 20 years this unique ability to stand up for ordinary Americans, to bring people together.  I really believe that he can unite our party and his administration will unite the country and that's really what it boils down to is a decision that I made that will ultimately be in the best interests of the country right now.  We really need a leader with that unique set of qualifications."

Henderson: Did you feel this way prior to the Caucuses?

Culver: "I made up my mind last night and I have great admiration and respect for all the presidential candidates on both sides. I really do, but I really felt that this was the best time.  Iowans have spoken and I now, as one of the party leaders, feel compelled to speak out and share my personal decision with Iowans and also with fellow Midwesterners.  We will be competing in Nebraska and Wisconsin in the coming days.  I hope to make a contribution.  I hope to help Senator Obama. That's why I'm going to Nebraska tonight to announce my endorsement and I will be, in all likelihood, headed to Wisconsin in the very near future to campaign for him as well."

Henderson: You have some connection to the Kennedy family through your father.  Did Senator Ted Kennedy talk to you about this and influence your decision in any way?

Culver: "No, he did not and I arrived at this decision yesterday.  I did talk to Senator Obama last night and I just really think that Senator Obama's campaign is about what unites us as a nation.  It's about our enduring optimism, our strength, and energy as a people and I really am excited about being a part of this campaign and most importantly I am excited about a better day for America.  It's really going to be an exciting change in Washington, D.C.  Certainly a lot of work to do between now and November, but I felt it was important to share this with Iowans and with others in the Midwest and across the nation because there's a lot at stake here and most importantly I think that Senator Obama's candidacy will unite us as a Democratic Party and his administration will unite us as a country."

Harkin suggests Clinton campaign may be "running on fumes"

Senator Tom Harkin talked with Iowa reporters by phone this morning. Audio of his commentary (2 min MP3) on the Clinton campaign:

Here Harkin is transcribed:  "Well, I agree with our chairman Howard Dean.  I sure hope this gets settled before we go to convention. That'd be very late.  That'd be at the end of August.  We've never had anything that late before we've had a candidate.  So I don't know, I think, you know, looking at Super Tuesday, things came out pretty even.  Now, again, I'm not a real expert in this but just listening to the pundits and sort of reading what I can on it it looks as though the calendar for this month favors Obama.  The calendar next month may favor Clinton but I think the headline in the Washington Post this morning is very instructive.  I thought I had it there.  What did it say? It said, oh, 'Clinton lent her campaign $5 million' -- that's very interesting and that was before Super Tuesday.  That was before Super Tuesday, so you wonder if their campaign is just running on fumes.  You know, when staffs are working for no pay, you being to wonder about how much they have to continue, especially if you're talking about next month so I think there's some real dark clouds there on that.  Again, I don't know if they can get out and raise the money.  Someone pointed out to me this morning that's something on the wires or the blogs maybe that Obama has raised almost $7 million just since Tuesday --- $7 million on-line!  So, boy, uh, that, so I don't know.  I just think we're in for some, an interesting month in our party."

Harkin concludes with a brief discussion of the Republican race, then this sentence:  "This could be an interesting year."

Iowa's "Super" Delegates

It appears delegate counting is a new pastime in America these days.  Iowa Democrats, like their counterparts in other state parties, have a group of so-called "super" delegates to their party's national convention who get to cast their votes in Denver.  How will those 11 folks vote?

Governor Chet Culver is at the top of the list of super delegates from Iowa.  He confirmed during a recent appearance on Iowa Public Television that he was being lobbied by both the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama camps, but he is not ready to announce a preference. Culver's wife, Mari, endorsed John Edwards in December at a rally in Des Moines. UPDATE: Culver endorsed Obama on Thursday, February 7, 2008. (Follow the link to read a transcript of Culver talking about his decision.)

Senator Tom Harkin is a super delegate.  Harkin stayed out of the endorsement game before Iowa's 2008 Caucuses and has not indicated a preference between Clinton or Obama at this point. His wife, Ruth, endorsed Clinton in July, 2007. UPDATE:  On June 4, 2008 -- the day after Obama declared he had secured the number of delegates necessary to win the nomination -- Harkin issued a statement saying he would back Obama at the Democratic National Convention.

Iowa's three Democratic congressmen are super delegates. 

Congressman Leonard Boswell endorsed Clinton before the Caucuses. 

Congressman Dave Loebsack endorsed Obama before the Caucuses. 

Congressman Bruce Braley endorsed Edwards before the Caucuses. Edwards is now out of the race, but Braley has not indicated whether he'll vote for Clinton or Obama and I'm checking with his staff for a reading on Braley's intentions. UPDATE:  At 1:15 p.m. (central) spokesman for Braley emails that Braley "is uncommitted at this point and has not decided whether to make another endorsement." UPDATE:  Braley endorsed Obama on 4/30/08.

State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald is a super delegate.  Fitzgerald, along with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, very publicly endorsed Obama at a rally in Ames during Obama's first trip to Iowa in 2007.

State Senator Mike Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs, is a super delegate who has not announced a preference in the race.  His wife endorsed Clinton during a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, in December -- the rally where former Nebraska Governor/Senator Bob Kerrey publicly endorsed Clinton.  UPDATE:  A Gronstal staffer who earlier confirmed Gronstal was uncommitted called at 3:10 p.m. (central) to say Gronstal told aides today that he notified the Clinton camp a week ago that he would support her at the convention, but hadn't announced that shift publicly -- until now, of course.

Scott Brennan, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, is another super delegate.  He is "neutral" according to Carrie Giddins, the spokeswoman for the IDP. UPDATE on 5/20/08:  Brennan has endorsed Obama.

Sarah Swisher, vice chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, is a super delegate who supported Edwards.  I left a message on her cell phone this morning, asking her to call about this topic. UPDATE:  Thursday, February 14, 2008.  Swisher is in the statehouse for a lobbying event so I asked her if she had chosen a candidate to support.  Swisher is backing Clinton because Swisher likes the universal health care plan Clinton has advanced. Swisher apologized for not returning my call.  "Sometimes I'm not a good communicator," she said.  (UPDATE:  Swisher has told some folks she's supporting Obama because SEIU, her union, has endorsed Obama.)

Sandy Opstvedt, a member of the Iowa Democratic Party state central committee and the DNC, is a super delegate who endorsed Hillary Clinton in December before the Iowa Caucuses.

Richard Machacek of Winthrop, Iowa, a member of the Iowa Democratic Party's state central committee and the DNC, is a super delegate who endorsed John Edwards.  I left a message on his cell phone this morning, asking him to call about this topic.  UPDATE: "As of today I am completely and totally uncommitted," Machacek just told me at 11:30 a.m. (central). "...I think they're both great and I think it's a tough decision."  Machacek is waiting to get some sort of indication from Edwards.  "I worked for the guy for five years and I'm not going to just throw that away," Machacek said, suggesting an Edwards endorsement of Obama or Clinton would have "great impact" on his own decision-making. UPDATE:  Machacek has endorsed Obama.

For those of you counting at home, here's the tally (updated as of 6/4/08 at 12:30 p.m.. central):

Hillary Clinton -- two three two

Barack Obama -- two three five seven

Neutral/uncommitted -- four five six five four three one

Can't classify as they haven't responded to inquiry -- three two one

New Iowa Fed head

The Iowa Federation of Labor has a new leader.  It's Ken Sagar (pronounced SAY-ger).  We chatted by phone for a few minutes this morning and I wrote a story. 

At the conclusion of the interview, I asked this question:  “I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed a union leader who’s quite so soft-spoken.” 

Sagar said this in reply: “Many years ago when I was at my local union I realized that I can’t yell louder than 300 people in a room.  I found that if I talked quietly, everybody has to be quiet or they can’t hear the details of the contract and so calm and cool and collected, so to speak, has served me fairly well.  It does help in some of those tense situations if there is somebody who is just a little softer-spoken.”

Casual Chat with Culver

Governor Chet Culver was a guest on "The Exchange" on Iowa Public Radio this morning.  Afterwards, he walked through the statehouse rotunda on the second floor -- the public area between the House and Senate chambers.  A few lobbyists were standing in the area, so Culver walked over to chat.  Soon, the governor was standing in a circle with about 15 lobbyists.  There were a few rounds of laughter as stories were swapped, but no deals were cut.