Iowa08: Archives

AGNES PIETRYKA-MASNIK writes:
When asked how I plan to spend my holiday vacation, my reply is: I'm going to report on the Iowa caucus as a student of Columbia College's graduate journalism program.

Now this might not be the most exciting experience to average Americans. However, I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Journalists and people in the political arena keep a close eye on Iowa's caucuses because they know it sets the stage for the rest of the country.

Iowa is the only state that chooses its presidential candidates by political-party caucus. This year's presidential process is unusual because other states moved up their primaries in efforts to have a greater stake in the decision-making process. Iowa moved up its primary, too, and is still Number One.

With almost three million residents, Iowa is still small enough for the democratic process to be observed; it's like having the election held in a bubble. All the presidential candidates try to identify their voters, and the key is to have them turn out for caucuses in support of their candidate.

It's grassroots politics at its finest!

Presidential candidates campaign for months in Iowa, possibly visiting every county, attending events, and of course walking door to door.

Next door in Illinois, presidential candidates might stop by for a quick visit or hold a fundraiser and meet with political stakeholders. They may be lucky enough to grab a day of headlines in the local newspaper. In Illinois, studies show that most voters make their decisions based off of television commercials and media reporting.

I hope to witness how Iowans choose their candidates for president. I want to see what it is like to be infiltrated with campaigns trying to educate the constituency.

Maybe there's a little part of me that wants to see that people actually care about who is selected to lead our country.

Agnes Pietryka-Masnik is a graduate student in journalism from the Chicago area.

AGNES PIETRYKA-MASNIK writes:
One Bettendorf resident received more than 16 mail pieces from Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign for president. I don't think any Iowa residents are complaining about of lack information about presidential hopefuls. I couldn't even imagine all the other campaign literature Iowans receive. It may be that the Clinton campaign, with a reported $100 million raised, had the resources to run a stellar campaign, but lacked the homegrown volunteer support and passion possessed by other candidates.

Senator Barack Obama, the first black candidate to win the Iowa caucus, surged Thursday evening with 38 percent of support of caucus-goers. Senator John Edwards came in second, just barely ahead of Hillary Clinton; each had about 29 percent.

As a first-time caucus observer, I had the opportunity to spend caucus day at Clinton's Davenport office with the campaign. Like most elections, caucus day is about making sure all your pledged support turns out. Clinton even flexed her campaign muscle by bringing in Retired Army General Wesley Clark to make phone calls to the undecided likely caucus-goers.

I spent part of the day canvasing a precinct in Davenport with two out-of-state Clinton volunteers, watching them knock on about 30 doors of mostly senior women. I was surprised that the Davenport office was stocked with volunteers, and even more surprised that I didn't even meet anyone from Iowa. One Michigan volunteer mentioned that she spent New Year's Day walking door-to-door in support for Clinton. An Arizona supporter made up her mind at the last minute to fly to Iowa to work for Clinton when watching the close poll numbers reported over the Christmas holiday.

At Bettendorf Middle School, where the gym was packed, Obama's candidacy had overwhelming support in the three precincts gathered there. Obama awakened a new demographic of young and independent supporters. At the caucus, one union political-affairs representative from California even raised a concern of possibly losing some support to other candidates because there weren't enough chairs for elderly Clinton supporters.

P.S. If you asked me for one bit of advice when making your first trip to Iowa, it would be this: Bring warm boots ... it's freezing out here!

Agnes Pietryka-Masnik is a graduate student in journalism from the Chicago area.

AGNES PIETRYKA-MASNIK writes:
While returning from Bettendorf, Iowa, covering Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign for president, I kept thinking of a joke my dad saw on Oprah that he has repeated a few times as we would ride the train together to downtown Chicago discussing politics this past semester.

Not to call my dad out...you have to understand his sense of humor.

On Oprah, former President Bill Clinton joked that should Hillary Clinton be elected president of the United States, then his Scottish friends say he should be called "First Laddie."

My dad would crack-up saying "First Laddie."

If Hillary Clinton were elected, that would mean four more years of Clintons in the White House. For some, it's a concern; for others, they believe it's time for a woman to be elected president.

Breanne Kaminski, a 19-year-old college student at Scott Community College and first-time caucus-goer said, "I am voting for Hillary. I like the fact that she is a woman. This first time I vote, I want to be able to say I voted for the first female president."

Kaminski maintained her support for Clinton even though her father caucused for Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who won with 38 percent over Clinton's third-place finish of 29 percent. Former Senator John Edwards was second, just slightly ahead of Clinton.

"We need her experience and wisdom; we need someone to land in the White House running," said Priscilla Cavanagh, a 79- year-old, lifelong resident of Davenport, who had planned to caucus for Clinton.

"I want to be the first one in the family that votes in a female president," said Cavanagh. "I know that she will win the nomination."

Becky Cook, a 56-year-old Bettendorf resident, thinks Clinton will do the right thing for the country: "My mom is 85 years old, and during her lifetime, women have gotten the right to vote...It's time we have a woman president." (The 19th Amendment was ratified in 1920, giving women the right to vote).

"I really want to see what a woman can do in the White House," said Matthew Henderson, a 28-year-old from Bettendorf who caucused with his mother, Susan Henderson.

Susan Henderson said, "If she does as good of job as her husband does, she will be a great president." Henderson said Clinton's stance on health care and insurance for the unemployed is most important.

On Wednesday, at Clinton's last stop in Scott County before the January 3 caucuses, Randy Trevarthen, a DeWitt union laborer, said Clinton has a lot of good ideas of bringing jobs back to the United States and preventing them from moving out of the country. "She's an amazing woman," said Trevarthen.

America will have to wait and see who will be this year's Democratic nominee for president.

In the meantime, I will have to come up with a good joke for my dad.

Agnes Pietryka-Masnik is a graduate student in journalism from the Chicago area.