It's The Best State Fair in the State

I didn’t make it to the Iowa State Fair.

I also missed a Buttigieg event that was less than 2 miles away- almost literally my backyard. 

I am slacking. 

I did drive by the Pete event and though it was a far cry from the masses gathered to see him in April, it still looked like he overfilled his chosen venue.

The State Fair is a must for a political junkie, and though, I didn’t go, I have a wide enough social network that I can still get some yardage out of it, and pass along some worthwhile and unique takes.

One friend of mine went on Saturday and caught five Presidential candidates (Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Tim Ryan, Jay Inslee, Cory Booker).

Both him and another went to see Elizabeth Warren on the Soapbox and people showed up in droves. Warren has gotten attention the last week in Politico and NBC News. Whatever the outcome, Warren’s Iowa ground game appears solid.

My friend saw the Harris entourage tour the fair, and another saw the Harris bus after the fair parked at Whole Foods.

One friend went to her West Des Moines campaign stop (almost all candidates had pre- or post-Fair events.) He said Harris had a good turnout and the theme of the night seemed to be “Dude Must Go”.

Prior to the big Saturday,a few candidates had already taken the stage. Iowa Dem power player Jeff Link was on local radio, and notably impressed by Andrew Yang. He was also excited to see four Democratic candidates lay out Agriculture plans and show that they care about rural areas. Something he said was missing from previous cut.

Sunday, a friend went to the Fair and saw 2 candidates- Bill DeBlasio at the Democratic Party tent and Tom Steyer on the Soapbox.

DeBlasio was in Cedar Rapids post-Fair and the New York papers piled on him for only drawing a crowd of 15.

Steyer’s recent run has been bolstered by a strong direct mail and tv campaign. He is also starting to draw around 2% (a huge number for candidates of his tier). Steyer is a liberal conundrum. He likely speaks for those who want to go fiercely at Trump. On the other hand, Steyer’s past reads like a Liberal nightmare. He is a hedge fund billionaire who worked at Goldman Sachs. He decries fossil fuel usage, but his investments were historically heavy into Australian coal, and his firm has also invested in for-profit prisons.

Getting back to the topic of the Fair, it is a big weekend. Kamala had local born international Opera Star Simon Estes sing America The Beautiful. Kirsten Gillibrand had retired Senator Tom Harkin attend her pre-Fair event.

There was also the traditional Fair fare. Tulsi Gabbard went to the Midway to play games. Cory Booker was on the Ferris Wheel. Gillibrand and Steve Bullock took their turn on the big slide (both appeared to have fun.  Unlike John Delaney, whose slide ride last year is still a meme).

Plenty of food-on-a-stick was devoured, like Andrew Yang (who had a Turkey Leg). This seemed like it might be a problem for vegan Cory Booker.

It wasn’t. Booker was able to enjoy a Fried PB&J on a stick.

Friends were abuzz about Warren and Harris but Bernie Sanders seemed to draw a crowd and get good press as well. Beto O’Rourke did not attend owing to the recent shooting in El Paso, leaving Wayne Messam and Trump himself as the only major candidates to miss the event.

(There are of course, other events besides the Fair.  A friend who is self-described as Conservative and Independent had the chance to meet John Delaney and was very impressed.  He didn't think he would vote for Delaney but wasn't ruling it out).

One of the funnest parts of the State Fair is the Corn Kernel Poll- which is literally that- Fairgoers drop a corn kernel in the jar of their preferred candidate.

Hardly scientific, yet fascinating.  Trump dwarves all,  Of course, he may be popular with Fairgoers, but also doesn't have to divide his support 24 different ways.  Pete Buttigieg surprisingly has jumped some more "perceived" favorites.

The results to date:

Biden 24%

Buttigieg 16%

Warren 15%

Harris 11%

Sanders 9%

Booker 4%

Enjoy some pics from the 2020 Fair!