Iowa Caucus Guy’s Presidential Election Blog

  We are 48 hours past the first debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Much will be written though I can’t imagine anyone will have changed their opinion. It takes me back to a year ago when I was scrutinizing the Democrats candidates as possible debate opponents for Donald Trump. While I don’t think anyone was able to dominate the debate stage- at various moments there were Pete Buttigieg always level- headed and unshaken, Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor and Marianne Williamson, a public speaker who focused on lifestyle not policy. Even more unlikely than Williamson, at various times, it seemed like some unorthodox candidates might emerge. In the early days of the campaign, Michael Avenatti seemed an alternative elixir for the “they go low, we go high”. Later, it was comedian Ben Glieb who surely had handled a heckler or two in his career. I can only propose what I would do in a debate with 45, but the point is moot, the nominee chosen. This isn’t the dirtiest campaign...

Is Iowa still a battleground state? I don’t know. It surely has been for 20 years, but Trump drubbed Clinton here 51-41. (Surely someone close to HRC should have advised her ‘it’s the economy, stupid’). The Des Moines Register poll released today shows a dead heat with Trump and Biden at 47% each. Four percent for “someone else”. Biden popular with women and independents. Scoring high on COVID response. Trump popular with men and scoring high on the economy. I can’t say I have a definite feel for Iowa. My yard sign poll puts Trump up 2 to 1 but is that a sign of fanatical devotion or numbers. The divide here is heated. I have heard of stories of stolen signs and egged houses. Perhaps it’s fall hijinx, the wind or a few bad apples. Still, it’s notable. The Annual Democratic Steak Fry was largely virtual with an actual event in Des Moines that resembled a drive in movie. Cars parked and honked their applause. Steaks were picked up. Organizers said 1200 tickets were sold- 450 cars came, 9...

  Recently, a headline read that Trump was temporarily halting his campaign spending in Michigan. But like Coke or Pepsi buying ads during the Super Bowl, is there anyone unfamiliar with Donald Trump and beyond that, have an opinion on him.  We are very familiar with President Trump, as we are his Democratic challenger Joe Biden. I enjoy writing about the Presidential primaries as we are often learning about the candidates. But this general election, there’s not much to excite me.  Those who have read my blog know I do like the unusual and the musical, and we recently saw two stories get headlines  One was about the music used at Donald Trump’s campaign rally.  Now, until recent years, I doubt anyone but me wrote a word about campaign music. But Trump has had several high profile news stories about musicians not liking the fact they are using his music, most famously The Rolling Stones and the estate of Prince.  Not surprisingly, The Stones (and music publ...

This blog has features music related election stories, so writing about the conventions is a no-brainer. But what to expect from the usual pomp and circumstance, when the pomp is virtual and the circumstances are so unusual.  Besides, music has always been an important part of rallying the base from Truman’s Missouri Waltz to Lee Atwater bringing the best blues men on stage.    There’s Sax-playing Rumours-loving Bill Clinton and a Obama extolling the virtues of Al Green, Etta James and Beyoncé, and lest we forget Frank Sinatra palling around with Reagan and JFK.  So what are we to do with the two least Musically inclined candidates of recent years.  It is likely little surprise that many of music’s biggest stars are backing Biden. The 2016 Democratic convention attracting some of the biggest names in pop music- Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz.    Perry had been a big part of Hillary’s campaign so got a prominent role. The list in...

What does an election year without campaigning look like?  The Des Moines Register covered this as a front page Sunday article, with the revelation that the Democrats were campaigning virtually and the Republicans using a hybrid of traditional in-person campaigning and digital campaigning.   Of note, Trump won Iowa fairly easily in 2016 by a 51-42, but polls put him in a tighter race with Biden 44-43. Also of note, there were 31 counties in the state (mostly Eastern Iowa) that had voted for Obama twice and voted for Trump. A big mistake for Hillary who more than anyone should have known “It’s the economy, stupid”.   Dems have played a virtual game. That has been my experience. Much of the pre-caucus ground game seems intact and the Register lists Rep Ruben Gallego (AZ), Sen Amy Klobuchar and former Gov Terry McAullife as some Dems who have been actively campaigning for Biden.  On the Republican side, it is hard not to look at what’s going on without a bit ...

This blog has taken on a lot of topics including time travel to the future , today we are headed back to the past.  I think every state has one, but in Iowa, the live action re-enactment museum is Living History Farms .    A place that recalls the state’s early history.  I would argue at this point, Living History Farms (and on site restaurant Machine Shed) is now a big part of Iowa history itself.  For example when Sarah Palin stopped for a Saturday dinner there six months before the 2012 caucus.  Then, of course Rick Santorum joining in on a game of 19th Century Baseball . Living History Farms isn’t the only place in the country that plays 19th Century rules baseball, but I suspect places that play it are a small list and it’s worth watching, at least once.  These are highlights on a long list of moments that occurred at Living History Farms and they   include nearly every major candidate of the last 20 years- Huckabee, Perry, Carson, Walke...

A major focus of this blog has been music and today, we feature Jo Jorgensen, Libertarian Nominee for President. Of the current crop of candidates for President, she is the only one I have seen speak in person, when she attended the Iowa Libertarian Party debate and convention. I was impressed right away with Jorgensen who more than held her own with some of the most charismatic and outspoken speakers in the country like activist Adam Kokesh and comedian Mark Whitney.  (I shared my thoughts on Jorgensen at the time here  and here .) Although I do spend enough time on Twitter where the Libertarian voice can often muddle its own message, I am struck by a few things about the Jorgensen campaign. One was that the Primary candidates all advised that they would  support whoever the nominee was. With a variety of candidates, many of them outspoken activists, coming to the party from various viewpoints, I had my doubts. Sure enough, these leaders have backed Jorgensen. Primary ca...