Edwards Energizes Union Supporters on Morning of Caucus

Edwards supporters have been using the Des Moines United Steel Workers Union Hall as a campaign call center, and Edwards stopped there this morning for a quick “thank you.” A standard mix of Springsteen, CCR, Tom Petty, and The Rolling Stones played while campaign volunteers waited for the candidate. When he got there, you could tell he finally slept—his 36 hour tour ended last night at his John Mellencamp rally.

Iowa First Lady Mari Culver quickly introduced the candidate, and he gave a short speech outlining basic differences between himself and his Democratic competitors. “Two other campaigns believe that their money will make them inevitable,” he said before explaining that his relationship with overlooked citizens is more powerful than Clinton and Obama’s campaign finances. “We see you, we hear you, we embrace you, and we’re going to lift you up.”

He used familiar language, paused for raucous campaign chants, and even asked his supporters to go with him to New Hampshire after he wins here in Iowa. The rowdy gathering that packed the small room seemed ready to get back to work immediately after Edwards left. Labor’s support for Edwards—the crowd chanted “John loves labor, labor loves John” before he got off the bus—coupled with faithful supporters from 2004 and disenchanted Obama/Clinton Democrats are what keeps him competitive in this race. The latest polls are so close that when results come in tonight, Iowans may deliver him a surprise first or second place that will build momentum for his New Hampshire campaign. Some may even follow him there.

Iowa Democratic Veterans' Caucus Endorses Obama on Eve of Caucus

Supporters braved the now famous early January Iowa cold to fill the gymnasium at Hoover High School in Des Moines, Iowa tonight. The event began at 10 p.m. with a caucus trivia session which quizzed rally goers on caucus terms and rules. They also provided them with the information that they needed to get to their precinct caucus tomorrow evening. Since Obama is relying so heavily on first time caucus goers, his staff is doing all that it can to educate as many uninformed potentials as possible.

After the informational session, an Obama staffer introduced Kent Sovern, the Iowa Democratic Veterans' Caucus organizer. He announced that his organization has switched its endorsement from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, because they believe he has a better chance to win the national election in November. Michelle Obama then took the stage to introduce her husband.

A visibly fatigued Barack Obama walked onto the stage and encouraged his caucus virgin supporters to prove the pundits wrong and brave the cold tomorrow to caucus in support of their candidate. He said nothing new and stuck to safely repeating his message of hope about the future. He hoarsely led his campaign chant, "Fired up, ready to go!"

Obama understands the key to winning is making sure these first timers get to the caucus, and he's doing all that he can to make that happen.

. . . And Mike Huckabee, Too!

At Mike Huckabee's "Huck and Chuck" rally today in Des Moines, Iowa, the former Arkansas governor spoke as the friendly neighborhood preacher. Start with a joke, put in some business, throw in another joke, more business, and close with a joke. He followed a painfully self-loving three piece classic rock cover band and briefly outlined his platform. Fair tax, the sanctity of marriage, and beefing up defense spending so that we'll be so strong no one will want to mess with us (seriously).


Huck's speech was the low point of the night. He joked about his supporters disabling Romney supporters' cars on Thursday (caucus day), then introduced the main event. "A great American hero," Chuck Norris!

Chuck took the stage to wild applause. With his wife by his side, he mentioned that supporting Mike Huckabee was so important to them that they left their six year old twins in California to be with the Huck. He then explained every detail of the commercial that he shot with the governor, just in case we missed it.


Chuck Norris has a gripe with the media. Evidently, it is unfair that Huckabee is referred to as a Baptist minister. It should be Governor Huckabee. We don't call Mitt Romney Businessman Romney. I was not aware that "Baptist minister" was a derogatory term.

Someone asked Chuck Norris if he was tougher than Mike Huckabee. He answered, "I work out on the Total Gym, but I'm not as tough." The crowd went wild.

After Chuck, Janet Huckabee took the stage and announced, "I can't wait to be your first lady, because it is going to be too cool." To show how cool a Huckabee White House would be, Mike retook the stage with the bass guitar that was conspicuously missing from the opening band. He announced a special guest on the rhythm guitar--MSNBC pundit Joe Scarborough(I'm not making this up)--and they launched into an excited version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." And no, Watergate does not bother them.

After a couple of songs, Chuck Norris related the evidently hilarious story about how he choked out a Marine while taking a picture with him during a USO trip. All the other Marines in Iraq heard about it and also thought it was hilarious. Then Chuck shared his favorite Chuck Norris Fact. "They were going to put Chuck Norris's face on Mount Rushmore, but the granite was not tough enough for his beard," said Mr. Norris through an ecstatic grin. Where is Bruce Lee when you need him?

Mike Huckabee's new spokesman is wildly popular and seemingly loyal, but his speech is disorganized, his vibe narcissistic, and his presence distracting. Then again, when a campaign event is more about the candidate's bass solo during "Roll Over Beethoven" than the candidate's message, he fits right in.