Looking in at Iowa

From AP video, during a campaign stop Friday at Independence, Iowa. It plays twice in the clip, giving an instant-replay feel.

Hopefully a doctor wasn’t required at the scene.

Here is a link to the video. The CNN graphic shows her name as “STUFFY.” Surely the Iowa woman is Norma “Duffy” Lyon of Toledo, Iowa - aka The Butter Lady.

CNN Description:

An Iowa woman created a bust of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama using 23 pounds of butter.

More from New York Times:

TOLEDO, Iowa – He’s like buttah. …

Tonight, Mr. Obama pointed her out in the crowd and called her an “important dignitary.”

“I hope you didn’t make my ears too big,” he said.

She didn’t.

From Congressional Quarterly Today:

When did Iowa hold its only presidential primary?

a) 1916

b) 1932

c) 1948

d) 1964

[DETAILED ANSWER HERE]

From Dec. 30 New York Times:

She persevered after her husband, Bill, died of a heart attack on Thanksgiving in 1992, and less than five months later guided Iowa to the Final Four.

So by the time Imus denigrated her Rutgers players on the air the day after they lost to Tennessee in the national championship game, it was possible that Stringer felt as if she had been here before. …

See also April Gazette article: Turbulent 3 weeks for Stringer.

Strategic Vision 12/28 poll:

1. If the 2008 Republican presidential caucus were held today between Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Duncan Hunter, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Fred Thompson, for whom would you vote? (Republicans Only; Names Rotated)
Mike Huckabee 29%
Mitt Romney 27%
Fred Thompson 15%
John McCain 14% …

5. If the 2008 Democratic presidential caucus were held today between, Joseph Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson, for whom would you vote? (Democrats Only; Names Rotated)
Barack Obama 30%
Hillary Clinton 29%
John Edwards 28% …

(Candidates in single digits not listed here. See also Strategic Vision Iowa poll results from one week earlier. Noteworthy: Huckabee’s lead has narrowed.)

From CBS Evening News video clip:

REYNOLDS: At Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, junior Hank Brand sees nothing wrong with caucusing in Iowa even though he’s from Wisconsin.

Mr. HANK BRAND: We are residents in Iowa nine months of the year. …

REYNOLDS: Because the caucuses are January 3rd, the earliest ever, most students will be on winter break, out of staters will be, well, out of state. No problem. The Obama campaign will drive them back if need be.

Mr. BRAND: They’re helping me organize a ride to come back to campus. …

RELATED: Gazette article with Hank Brand in photo.

All Things Considered (NPR): ‘Checking In with Iowa’s Voters’

Mary Sharp, Iowa editor of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, and Bret Hayworth, political editor at the Sioux City Journal, talk with Melissa Block about how their respective regions of Iowa are taking to the presidential candidates less than a week before the caucus on Jan. 3.

Cedar Rapids is traditionally a more left-leaning area, while Sioux City usually leans Republican — though this year, Democrats have been paying far more attention than normal. [LISTEN to segment (5:45)]

From today’s Wall Street Journal:

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack organized and attended receptions around the country for Iowa college grads who moved away.The reach of these programs is limited. But states and companies that participate say they are worth the modest investment, and are often cheaper than hiring a headhunter. States figure it is a lot easier to persuade former residents to come home than it is to get strangers to move to a place they have never been to. Iowa officials say efforts to lure former residents have brought about 2,200 of them back to the state. …

From this CQ page:

In what place did Michael Dukakis finish in the 1988 Iowa Democratic caucuses?

a) First

b) Second

c) Third

d) Fourth

[For answer, click here.]

While on the topic, here are two photos from The Gazette’s 1988 Iowa caucuses gallery.

In Chicago Sun-Times today:

Cook County Judge Joan Powell and her husband, political strategist Phil Krone, are big fans of White House hopeful Barack Obama. So they’ve rented out the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a tribute Sunday to Obama. They’ll debut a new piece of music written by composer Phillip Ramey that puts John F. Kennedy’s best quotes from his speeches to music. …

Event listed on Paramount Theatre page.