Radio Iowa

Obama Halloween Day rally in Des Moines

What follows is a live blog of Obama's midday rally.  A text version of Obama's speech is at the very end.

It's a few minutes before 11 o'clock, central time, and retired opera star Simon Estes -- a Centerville, Iowa, native -- is singing the National Anthem.  The crowd cheered at the end.  Estes starts repeating Obama's name over and over, without syncopation.  The crowd finally gets into the three-syllable rhythm on its own: "Oh, Bahm,  Uh."  Estes chuckles.

Sources inside the Obama campaign report the butter bust of Obama is "on the scene."  As you may know, the woman who carves the "Butter Cow" at the Iowa State Fair endorsed Obama -- and carved his likeness (at least the head and shoulders) out of butter in his honor.

Congressman Leonard Boswell was on stage a few moments ago, leading the crowd in the pledge.  At its conclusion, Boswell leaned into the microphone and simply said: "Obama."  The crowd cheered.

"Now, this is my idea of a surge," Senator Tom Harkin said to the crowd when he got to the microphone.  The setting for this event is a downtown park; the weather is incredible for the last day of October in Iowa -- sunny, warm.  "Yes, we can.  Yes, we will.  Yes, we must," Harkin declared.  The park is festooned with huge flags, suspended in the air on one side with cranes.  There's a  backdrop of city buildings, along with the words "Iowa" and "Obama" -- plus, the obligatory bales of hay are featured on stage for the camera shot.

A strong sun is shining down on the site, so much so that I have tossed by coat over the laptop and my head to create a curtain so that I can see my laptop screen.  Governor Chet Chulver, a Democrat who endorsed Obama shortly after the Caucuses, speaks next.  "Good morning, Iowa.  What a beautiful day....are we gonna win this thing November 4?" Culver said to begin.  "This started here in Iowa on a cold winter night and we are so honored that Barack Obama is going to join us here shortly."

The Des Moines Lincoln High School marching band is now performing for the crowd, something that sounds a bit familiar -- a movie theme, perhaps?  Their second number is a familiar pep band song. 

There'a a brief lull and then Obama is introduced to the crowd at 11:30 a.m.  A Bruce Springsteen song is playing.  "Hello, Iowa!" Obama says to open. "Thank you everybody.  It's good to be back in Iowa."

The crowd cheers. Obama notes the sunny, balmy day.  "I don't know if you saw me standing in the rain in 30 degree weather earlier this week.  I'm still thawing out," Obama said.

Obama speaks directly to those who supported him in the Caucuses:  "This campaign began here.  You helped launch this campaign, so the people of Iowa -- I will always be greatful to all of you."

"Iowa, I have just two words for ya:  four days," Obama said.  The campaign has provided a text of his remarks to follow.  I'll be back to post it.

Latest Iowa absentee ballot tally

Here are the figures on absentee balloting in Iowa as of 4 p.m. 10/30, from the Iowa Secretary of State's office:

Sent:  515,849

D -  241,580

R -  146,189

NP -  127,761

O -  319

Received:  424,380

D -  203,008

R -  122,119

NP -  98,988

O -  265

(Compare to yesterday.)

Palin & ethanol

Alaska Governor/GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin campaigned this past weekend in two Iowa cities.  In Sioux City, she did not mention corn-based ethanol fuel.  In Des Moines, Palin called ethanol one of the "domestic solutions" to the energy crisis.  "John & I will adopt the 'all of the above' approach," Palin said. "...That means harnessing alternative sources like the wind and the solar and the biomass and the geothermal and the ethanol and the clean-coal technology and we'll drill for the billions of barrels of oil that we have right now warehoused underground, including our resouces off shore.  We will drill here and drill now -- and now's when you chant, 'Drill baby, drill!' Yes. Yes. Drill baby, drill." 

Palin delivered a speech on the topic of energy independence yesterday in Ohio and Democrats in Iowa were quick to jump on what they saw as an omission:  ethanol was not mentioned. 

2008 Absentee ballot numbers in Iowa

Jarrett Schneider in the Iowa Secretary of State's office has been providing statistics, updated daily, of absentee voting in Iowa.  Here are the latest totals, as of 6:30 p.m. on 10/29:  

Sent: 500,816

Democrats - 235,348

Republicans  - 141,760

No Party  - 123,397

Other (Green, Libertarian, etc.) - 311

 

Received: 400,829

Democrats  - 193,590

Republicans  - 114,814

No Party  - 92,170

Other  - 255

Tina Fey, there's another Palin impersonator?!!?

A woman standing behind GOP presidential candidate John McCain at his rally in Cedar Falls Sunday got some airplay over the past few days, as the woman can be seen saying, "Thank you," when McCain praises his running mate, Sarah Palin.

Here's the video, referenced on The Rachel Maddow Show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkqa7IaF6rE

The following was reported by IowaPolitics.com in their daily email to subscribers (but I cannot find a link to this information on its website): An Iowa woman impersonating Sarah Palin apparently made her way on stage at Republican presidential candidate John McCain's rally in Cedar Falls on Sunday and stood right behind McCain as he gave his speech, reacting to the speech like she was the real Palin.    

The woman has been identified as Eva Andersen, a music major at the University of Northern Iowa and a former student at Center Point-Urbana High School who was featured in this summer's production of High School Musical by Theatre Cedar Rapids. 

UPDATE:  James Q. Lynch of The Cedar Rapids Gazette has the full story.

Fallon endorses Boswell

Ed Fallon, the Democrat from Des Moines who challenged Congressman Leonard Boswell in the Democratic primary this past June, sent an email to supporters today. It's copied below. There's no accompanying song, however.

Dear Friends,

When I first announced I would run for Congress last January, I promised to support Congressman Boswell should he win the primary.  He did.  Yet many people have told me they plan to write-in my name.  As promised, I plan to vote for Boswell when I go to the polls on Election Day....Thanks for everything you’ve done in this election, from the caucuses through the primary through the general.  Lynn and I will be doing our part on November 4th to help assure a great turnout, a victory for Obama, and the success of other progressive Democrats.

Ed Fallon

Oops! Hartsuch late to debate

KUNI/Iowa Public Radio is hosting a debate RIGHT NOW for the two major party candidates in Iowa's first congressional district.  Congressman Bruce Braley, the incument Democrat in the district, delivered his opening remarks shortly after noon.  Forum host Katherine Perkins then explained that State Senator David Hartsuch, a Republican from Bettendorf who is challenging Braley, had not arrived.  Hartsuch arrived by about 12:05 p.m. and he's talking right now about the bailout.

"I've really enjoyed the tenor of this whole campaign," Hartsuch said when offered at 12:07 p.m. to make an opening statement.

McCain hires Chicago crew to canvas in Iowa

This is an interesting story (hat tip to Ben Smith of The Politico for finding this).  It ran in The Times (of London, not New York).  The author ran into two black women from Chicago outside the McCain campaign's Midwest office in Urbandale.  The women work for a temp agency and were hired -- at $10 an hour -- to walk door-to-door, asking Iowans to vote for McCain.

Palin in Des Moines, Iowa

Below is a "live blog" of Palin's rally in Des Moines on Saturday, October 25, 2008.

Some familiar rally songs were played as the large crowd filed in, with the song "Hip to be Square" thrown in the mix. Dave Roederer, Iowa chairman of McCain's Iowa campaign, was first to the microphone and first to mention the name of "Joe the Plumber." 

Aaron Tippin, a country music artist, was introduced to the crowd. "God bless you for comin' out today," Tippin said, adding McCain/Palin are the team "to straighten some things out" in DC. Holding a guitar, Tippin began singing "You've Got To Stand for Something."  When he got to the chorus a third time, the crowd began clapping in time to the music.

"I wasn't one of those guys born with a silver spoon in my mouth," Tippin told the crowd, adding that's why he remembers what the "real people" are doing out in America.  "There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio" is his second song.  

I got here before the singing began, in time to chat with the folks who are leaned up against the metal rail that divides the crowd from the media holding pen. I ran into a man and wife who "agree to disagree" as she's a McCain supporter and he caucused for Joe Biden back on January 3rd.  Nearby were two elderly women from Ames, Iowa -- neighbors who caucused for Hillary Clinton in January.  They've already voted:  for Obama/Biden Genni Ricke explained why they are here:  "Curiosity.  To take her picture."

US Senate debate: Harkin v Reed

The two 2008 major party candidates for Iowa's US Senate seat -- Democrat incumbent Tom Harkin and Republican challenger Christopher Reed -- are going to be on your TV screen tonight at 7 p.m., if you have it tuned to IPTV.  They taped a "conversation" with David Yepsen of The Des Moines Register this afternoon at IPTV studios. (UPDATE:  scroll to the end -- Reed accused Harkin of being anti-American and a traitor to his country.)  

After a taped introduction featuring music that was "regal" according to one wag, the first question: "Senator Harkin...why should voters give you another term?"

Harkin began with a thank you to DMR, IPTV and to Iowans.  "During these very tough, turbulent times what we need in the senate is a steady, effective hand," Harkin said, before recounting his roots in the town of Cumming through the celebration of his 40th wedding anniversary.  "We're kind of your neighbors here in Iowa.".

Yepsen, to Reed, "Mr. Reed, why should you replace Senator Harkin."

"I want to go to Washington because I believe Washington is broken," Reed began, quickly referencing the fact Harkin is seeking a fifth term.  "I was playing with Tonka trucks when he was a rookie," Reed said, referencing Harkin's start in congress in 1974.