June Odds and Sods
I took a week off but it feels like I missed the busiest week of the year.
My intention of this blog isn’t to cover everything but here are a few things that happened that were in my newspaper and online when I returned that are mostly in my wheelhouse of the odd and humorous.
For starters, Marianne Williamson moved to Des Moines. Williamson has spent a lot of time in the area, but actually is moving here full time until the Caucus. As unique as it sounds, she is not the first. Chris Dodd tried this in 2007, though the result was less than 1% of the vote.
Capital City Pride Fest occurred. 10 Presidential candidates attended. The Register covered Pete Buttigieg- who wants to be the first openly gay President, Bernie Sanders who has marched in Pride parades since the 80s and Kirsten Gillibrand who introduced a bill to overturn “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”.
Mayor Pete joked to CNN that there were so many candidates that they should carpool, but when his husband and Kirsten Gillibrand went shopping together, it almost seems like a reality show.
Gillibrand also tended the bar at Blazing Saddles, the local gay bar and in a light moment, someone asked her for her favorite drink, and she handed over her cup, which was straight whiskey(!).
Buttigieg was also in the news about Student Loan Debt. With loans owed of $130k, he is one of 43 million Americans (including 7.8 million people over the age of 50). Buttigieg would be the first President with student loan debt.
I also missed the Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame Dinner in Cedar Rapids where 19 candidates spoke. First, who was missing? It’s like a parlor game.
(Spoiler: Biden. Andrew Yang says “Guess he doesn’t like to travel”. Meanwhile Biden went to attend his granddaughter’s high school graduation, so who’s to blame him).
Politico crowned Booker and Warren the night’s winners (with a nice mention of Klobuchar), but didn’t answer the real question- when you have a dinner with 18 speakers- do you go Downton Abbey 10 course meal? Or do you limit everyone to three minute bursts twitter style?
(The answer I found was that they got 5 minute speeches with Oscar style playoff music)
Ironically, Buzzfeed probably had my favorite coverage - their tidbits included Tim Ryan comparing the event to speed dating, Swalwell comparing the field to the Avengers (and the 2016 GOP was the Hunger Games. Hey-oh!), John Delaney with a bagpiper, and Beto O’Rourke giving free tacos to other candidates’ staff members.
Of course, the big news of the last couple of weeks was the latest Des Moines Register Poll
The current poll shows Joe Biden with a comfortable lead (though slipping according to the Register)
Biden 24%
Sanders 16%
Warren 15%
Buttigieg 14%
Harris 7%
Klobuchar, O'Rourke 2%
Bennett, Booker, Castro, Delaney, Gabbard, Inslee, Yang 1%
Since Caucus votes depend on viability, second choices are also pertinent. Adding first and second choice (to equal 200%), it looks something like this:
Biden 36%
Warren 29%
Sanders 27%
Buttigieg 24%
Harris 20%
Booker 7%
O’Rourke 6%
Klobuchar 3%
Delaney, Gabbard, Yang 2%
Bennett, Bullock, Castro, Gillibrand, Hickenlooper, Swalwell 1%
To me what stands out is that the media is playing this as Biden vs Bernie. However, Elizabeth Warren should be part of that conversation. Also, given the nature of the caucus, if things go sideways with Bernie and Joe, then the dynamic between Warren and Biden becomes very interesting. It would not be unheard of to see Caucus voters shift to give one or the other an edge, just to beat Biden.
My other observations are nothing I haven’t said before but I will reiterate. Amy Klobuchar may have low numbers but she is doing better than most. Is there possible momentum there?
Also, no one expects Tulsi Gabbard to win, but there is a certain synergy she has with Bernie voters. Is she the heir to Bernie? Surely, Rep Ro Khanna who has spent much time campaigning in Iowa on Sanders behalf, as well as Andrew Yang and Jeff Merkley are in the conversation, but a certain dedication to Gabbard surely means something for the future.
Then the Register takes it to the next level by asking an open ‘Who are you actively considering’ question. This uncovers a hidden dimension where Booker, Beto, Harris and Warren still have potential to move. A better question may be ‘why they haven’t closed the sale?’ or ‘what needs to happen for them to move that needle’
In the Register’s ‘actively considering’ question, it now becomes a toss up between Biden and Warren, and Kamala Harris is solidly in the upper tier discussion.
Here’s your leader board
Biden, Warren 61%
Sanders 56%
Buttigieg, Harris 52%
Booker 43%
O’Rourke 39%
Klobuchar 32%
Castro, Gillibrand 21%
Delaney 18%
Yang 15%
Gabbard 14%
Swalwell 13%
Hickenlooper, Inslee 11%
Bullock 10%
Lastly, if you haven't had your fill of 2020, Nikki Haley was here for Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride fundraiser. 2024 starts now (if Trump doesn't run)!
My intention of this blog isn’t to cover everything but here are a few things that happened that were in my newspaper and online when I returned that are mostly in my wheelhouse of the odd and humorous.
For starters, Marianne Williamson moved to Des Moines. Williamson has spent a lot of time in the area, but actually is moving here full time until the Caucus. As unique as it sounds, she is not the first. Chris Dodd tried this in 2007, though the result was less than 1% of the vote.
Capital City Pride Fest occurred. 10 Presidential candidates attended. The Register covered Pete Buttigieg- who wants to be the first openly gay President, Bernie Sanders who has marched in Pride parades since the 80s and Kirsten Gillibrand who introduced a bill to overturn “Don’t ask, Don’t tell”.
Mayor Pete joked to CNN that there were so many candidates that they should carpool, but when his husband and Kirsten Gillibrand went shopping together, it almost seems like a reality show.
Gillibrand also tended the bar at Blazing Saddles, the local gay bar and in a light moment, someone asked her for her favorite drink, and she handed over her cup, which was straight whiskey(!).
Buttigieg was also in the news about Student Loan Debt. With loans owed of $130k, he is one of 43 million Americans (including 7.8 million people over the age of 50). Buttigieg would be the first President with student loan debt.
I also missed the Iowa Democratic Hall of Fame Dinner in Cedar Rapids where 19 candidates spoke. First, who was missing? It’s like a parlor game.
(Spoiler: Biden. Andrew Yang says “Guess he doesn’t like to travel”. Meanwhile Biden went to attend his granddaughter’s high school graduation, so who’s to blame him).
Politico crowned Booker and Warren the night’s winners (with a nice mention of Klobuchar), but didn’t answer the real question- when you have a dinner with 18 speakers- do you go Downton Abbey 10 course meal? Or do you limit everyone to three minute bursts twitter style?
(The answer I found was that they got 5 minute speeches with Oscar style playoff music)
Ironically, Buzzfeed probably had my favorite coverage - their tidbits included Tim Ryan comparing the event to speed dating, Swalwell comparing the field to the Avengers (and the 2016 GOP was the Hunger Games. Hey-oh!), John Delaney with a bagpiper, and Beto O’Rourke giving free tacos to other candidates’ staff members.
Of course, the big news of the last couple of weeks was the latest Des Moines Register Poll
The current poll shows Joe Biden with a comfortable lead (though slipping according to the Register)
Biden 24%
Sanders 16%
Warren 15%
Buttigieg 14%
Harris 7%
Klobuchar, O'Rourke 2%
Bennett, Booker, Castro, Delaney, Gabbard, Inslee, Yang 1%
Since Caucus votes depend on viability, second choices are also pertinent. Adding first and second choice (to equal 200%), it looks something like this:
Biden 36%
Warren 29%
Sanders 27%
Buttigieg 24%
Harris 20%
Booker 7%
O’Rourke 6%
Klobuchar 3%
Delaney, Gabbard, Yang 2%
Bennett, Bullock, Castro, Gillibrand, Hickenlooper, Swalwell 1%
To me what stands out is that the media is playing this as Biden vs Bernie. However, Elizabeth Warren should be part of that conversation. Also, given the nature of the caucus, if things go sideways with Bernie and Joe, then the dynamic between Warren and Biden becomes very interesting. It would not be unheard of to see Caucus voters shift to give one or the other an edge, just to beat Biden.
My other observations are nothing I haven’t said before but I will reiterate. Amy Klobuchar may have low numbers but she is doing better than most. Is there possible momentum there?
Also, no one expects Tulsi Gabbard to win, but there is a certain synergy she has with Bernie voters. Is she the heir to Bernie? Surely, Rep Ro Khanna who has spent much time campaigning in Iowa on Sanders behalf, as well as Andrew Yang and Jeff Merkley are in the conversation, but a certain dedication to Gabbard surely means something for the future.
Then the Register takes it to the next level by asking an open ‘Who are you actively considering’ question. This uncovers a hidden dimension where Booker, Beto, Harris and Warren still have potential to move. A better question may be ‘why they haven’t closed the sale?’ or ‘what needs to happen for them to move that needle’
In the Register’s ‘actively considering’ question, it now becomes a toss up between Biden and Warren, and Kamala Harris is solidly in the upper tier discussion.
Here’s your leader board
Biden, Warren 61%
Sanders 56%
Buttigieg, Harris 52%
Booker 43%
O’Rourke 39%
Klobuchar 32%
Castro, Gillibrand 21%
Delaney 18%
Yang 15%
Gabbard 14%
Swalwell 13%
Hickenlooper, Inslee 11%
Bullock 10%
Lastly, if you haven't had your fill of 2020, Nikki Haley was here for Joni Ernst's Roast and Ride fundraiser. 2024 starts now (if Trump doesn't run)!
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