Dems Brace for Iowa Debate Showdown Tonight
The following piece was produced by HuffPost's OffTheBus.
Des Moines, Iowa---Sleet, snow, and ½ an inch of ice blanket the streets of Des Moines, but tonight's Brown and Black Presidential Forum, featuring all eight Democratic presidential hopefuls, will go on as scheduled - and so will the candidates' ice spit ball throwing contest, including charges that the organizers of the event are stacking it with Clinton supporters.
Senator Hillary Clinton canceled one campaign event this afternoon in Norwalk, Iowa, and participated in the Heartland Presidential Forum via telephone at 1:30 P.M. at the Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines. She hasn't yet arrived in Des Moines.
"We're monitoring the weather situation closely," said Mark Daley, Clinton's Iowa press spokesman.
Clinton was in New Hampshire late last night and planned on flying into Iowa early today, but after two planes skidded off the runway, the Des Moines Airport shut down and is not expected to open until mid-afternoon. With a backload of planes waiting in Chicago to reach Des Moines, any presidential candidate not in Des Moines now is at risk of missing the important event scheduled for 7 P.M.
As the Clinton Iowa campaign staff sit nervously in their Des Moines office, no doubt, putting together a back-up plan just in case HRC can't make the forum, several press releases hit my email; one calling on Senator Obama to "take down his incorrect statement on Clinton's health care plan from his website."
In cyberspace, skies are clear and all lanes open for the tour de force mud slinging that is ratcheting up in these final days before the January 3 caucuses in this tight race between Senators Clinton, Obama, and former Senator John Edwards.
Obama and Clinton have been mixing it up for weeks now, including charges and countercharges of how experienced or inexperienced the other candidate is on foreign policy:
"If she wants to tout her experience of having visited countries, that's fine," the Illinois Senator said. "I don't think that Madeleine Albright would think Hillary Clinton was the face of foreign policy during the Clinton administration. But maybe she'll disagree with that."
In fact, Albright, a Clinton supporter, did disagree with Obama.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg which now seems to be roiling over the Hawkeye State in the form of a snow and ice storm that has shut down streets and caused numerous accidents on the freeway. and most residents fear a power outage with all that ice hanging heavy on utility lines.
All voters here are hoping for a thaw between the dueling the Dems though no one expects it anytime soon. The stakes are just too high.
Senator Obama will be attending the forum. He arrived here last night after first rejecting the Ex One Airport in the suburban of Ankeny because "the runway was too short for his private jet."
"Senator Edwards is just wrapping up an event at Drake University," said Iowa press spokesman Mark McCullough on a cell phone call this morning. "He'll be at the Brown Black Forum tonight."
Sharing the top three spots in the Iowa polls, Edwards, a wealthy trial lawyer, keeps his guns blazing against Clinton and Obama.
Just two days ago, he encouraged voters to require their presidential choice to sign a pledge "promising not to accept PAC or lobbyist money" and claiming that he's the only candidate on the field that "hasn't accepted PAC or lobbyist donations."
Obama's campaign was quick to clarify the record.
"That is incorrect. The Obama campaign doesn't accept PAC donations or money from lobbyists," said Bill Burton, National Press Spokesman for Obama, to OffTheBus in a short but succinct email.
Keith Dinesmore, Biden's communication director in Iowa, says, "I expect him to be in Des Moines for the Brown and Black Forum. I haven't been outside the apartment yet, what's it looking like out there?"
Answer: Like hell frozen over.
Senator Joe Biden continues to keep a tight lid on his propensity to open mouth, insert foot. He was home in Delaware last night and boarded a commercial flight to Des Moines hoping to arrive here before the 7 P.M. bewitching hour tonight.
Senator Chris Dodd is in Des Moines and already held an early morning meeting with firefighters. But come on, Dodd doesn't need the private jets used by the Clinton, Edwards, and Obama campaigns.
He moved his family here a few weeks ago, and lives just outside the downtown loop in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in town referred to as "South of Grand." But that hasn't stopped Dodd from a few jabs and email lobs to the press.
His latest was an email accusing Obama's campaign with "scheming to evade either the spirit or the letter of the rules" of the Iowa caucuses, after the Obama campaign sent a brochure encouraging college students who attend universities here to return from their home states during their winter break so they can attend the Iowa caucuses.
Tommy Vietor, Iowa press spokesman said, "Totally untrue. These are students who live in Iowa for 9 months of the year and according to the Iowa Secretary of State, they can participate in the caucuses and we're encouraging them to do it."
"Senator Dodd came to my poor neighborhood and spoke to a big group of Latinos and he spoke in perfect Spanish. He was very impressive," said Mary Campos, one of the forum organizers, has just turned 78 and known around town as the "Latina Queen" for her lifelong work with the growing Hispanic community.
Founders and organizers of the forum since 1984, Mary Campos and Wayne Ford denied in late Friday night interviews with OffTheBus that they are biased toward any candidate or giving preferential treatment.
Wayne Ford, an activist in the African American community and state representative with close ties to the Clintons from years past, said, "As you know, I not committed to any candidate before the forum. After the forum tomorrow - and not until 24 hours after the forum - I can make a decision. We want to keep the forum free from politics from the organizers. We want the forum to focus on the issues that most concern Black and Brown communities in our state."
Iowa is the 5th whitest state in the union. But, according to Ford, "We have 80,000 Blacks and about 80,000 Latinos in the state and this is a chance for all the candidates to speak to our issues."
The fastest growing demographic in Iowa is compromised almost entirely by Hispanics and Campos says immigration and education are the issues that most affect her community. There are Hispanic radio and television stations and newspapers now in Iowa.
"Columbus Junction (a small town on in Eastern Iowa) now has a majority of Hispanics there. They are keeping that town alive," says Campos.
"I haven't endorsed any candidate. We gave each candidate 50 tickets; 40 general seating tickets and 10 VIP tickets and the rest of the tickets have gone to the general public." said Mary Campos.
"The tickets are all gone and we're expecting a record breaking crowd of around 1200. The North High School Auditorium will be packed."
Of course, both Campos and Ford have their own stash of 'private VIP tickets' that they can give to whomever they choose and that's where the questions of preference for Senator Clinton started, but has not been confirmed.
Rumors are rife in this campaign and take on a life of their own, whether they're true or not.
"I'm thrilled with our Democratic candidates. I have great respect for all them. Bill Richardson is the first Latino presidential candidate" says Campos. She has known Richardson since his days in the Clinton Administration.
Despite his rising poll numbers in Iowa, Governor Richardson hasn't yet arrived in Des Moines for an event promised to be jammed with Latinos.
He was out raising money in other states for the last few days, trying hard to fund a race where all the oxygen - and jingle jangle - has been sucked out by the bright lights of the Obama and Clinton celebrity campaigns.
Tom Reynolds, spokesman for Richardson told OffTheBus today, "Governor Richardson is in Iowa right now. He attended a 9:30 A.M. meeting at Mercy Park Apartments with Democratic activists who braved the weather."
"Iowans are like the post office when it comes to politics. Neither rain, nor hail, nor sleet, nor snow, nor gloom of night will stay the couriers from their appointed rounds."
And with all that sleet and snow, the mudslinging has turned to ice spit balls which are sure to be flying around the North High School gym, whose mascot couldn't be more apt for tonight's big event: the Polar Bear.
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I agree that Joe Biden needs more exposure on Huffington Post. His knowledge on foreign policy issues is second to none.
Let's hope they get the message.
"Despite his rising poll numbers in Iowa, Governor Richardson hasn't yet arrived in Des Moines for an event promised to be jammed with Latinos."
Latinos pick our corn. They will decide Iowa.
I predict a Richardson upset. They are only polling Anglo farmers for Hillary. The guys out in the field picking the corn don't have phones. That throws off the polls.
If Richardson can get all the corn pickers registered he has it won.
"Senator Joe Biden continues to keep a tight lid on his propensity to open mouth, insert foot. He was home in Delaware last night and boarded a commercial flight to Des Moines hoping to arrive here before the 7 P.M. bewitching hour tonight."
Typical poke at Biden, who's done nothing but kick butt in every debate so far.
If anyone actually cared about a candidate's credentials and position, Joe Biden would be leading this race, rather than getting hamstrung by second-rate hacks.
Supposedly with debates - there is equal time for everyone - so far that hasn't happened - certain candidates get all the time and questions.
I just hit the search button on Huffington Post and got the following:
# times names mentioned in articles posted.
Biden 2,587
Obama 11362
Clinton 51140
I have been saying repeatedly there is a media black out on Joe Biden - it starts here with Huffington Post.
How can you compare the following and justify silencing the 2nd most powerful Senator in Congress - the Senator with the 4th longest career - the senator who has passed more legislation affecting women in US history when compared to two Clinton's 8 years in the Senate and Obama's 2 years in the Senate and Joe Biden's 35 years in the Senate. Joe Biden is Chairman of the Foreign relationship committee and Obama is a member and hasn't shown up for the votes in over a year.
Joe Biden has the 2nd lowest net worth in Congress - he is a poor man by the standards of Congress. He has accepted public financing of his campaign and he only has 10% of the money to run for office as these other two candidates who have accepted wealth from the 500 largest corporations and individuals in the US, not to mention the world.
Huffington Post must answer to the American People when it had a chance to give the country the best of the best and a balanced source of information, and it has chosens to be biased in favor of the candidates supported by wealthy corporations - as opposed to an honest, hardworking, but not corrupted congressman with 10 times the experience of Obama and 5 times the experience of Clinton.
When lack of experience comes back to haunt the voters - Adiana is going to have to look at herself in the mirror and know, she made a decision to intentionally leave out intelligence commentary on the other candidates running who had the experience to be president.
My Question to Democrats:
Why don't you have the BALLS to impeach the criminals Bush and Cheney for their crimes?
None of this matters, there are problems with the economy coming to light that will dwarf other issues.
Does anyone know where I can watch the rerun of the debate?
my following comment is in response to "go Obama"
go where? Strait into the awaiting swiftboating repubican machine.
While he is a great guy, he's another Jimmy Carter.
If he is the candidate (or Hillary or Edwards) we will have another republican in the whitehouse for sure.
The middle right will run screaming from these 3 candidates
Where can you watch this debate? or is this the radio debate? in that case, where can I listen to this debate?
Nice photo. I didn;t know there were only three candidates.
Jeebus - these first three comments are representative of the problem with mainstream/national press of small state/local campaign events. The CCI forum, the "Heartland Forum", is sponsored by a community advocacy group that is strong in Iowa about Iowan issues, thus - "farm and healthcare." They chose questions based on what their members wanted the candidates to discuss.
Campaign Contributions As of 9/30/07
Hillary Clinton $90,935,788
Barak Obama $80,256,427
John Edwards $30,329,152
Bill Richardson $18,699,937
Senator Dodd $13,598,152
Joe Biden $8,215,739
Dennis Kucinich $2,130,200
Romney, Mitt $62,829,069
Giuliani, Rudy $47,253,521
McCain, John $32,124,785
Thompson, Fred $12,828,111
Paul, Ron $8,268,453
Brownback, Sam $4,235,333
Tancredo, Tom $3,538,244
Huckabee, Mike $2,345,798
Hunter, Duncan $1,890,873
Keyes, Alan $22,768
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp
Why are we looking at the pictures of only the three candidates who have accumulated the largest donations from Corporate America? What does money buy?
I truly hope the voters of Iowa, New Hampshire, and other primaries will vote in their own self-interst for the candidate who will be the best for President for America.
Hillary wants the duct tape and road flare debate
so she can avoid talking about her true health plan and her true stand on expanding the War.
War with not only Iran, but Burma as well. McCain
has already hinted at an invasion of Burma [Myanmar].
We must stop the Empire
artsandminds, the 'white forum' has been for the last 200+ years
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