Tag: RTWH2020

Today we had multiple opportunities to meet with Iowans who have been involved in the caucus process in different capacities. First, we went to a law firm in downtown Des Moines and talked to Tom Henderson, former Democratic Chair for Polk County. Working in the largest county in Iowa, Tom had great insights to share about having such an important political job. Among other things, Tom shared with us the qualities he believed Iowa voters care the most about in terms of selecting a presidential candidate.

After our meeting with Tom, we drove up to Ames and returned to Iowa State University, where we had attended the Buttigieg event a few days prior. There, we had a discussion with Political Science professor Mack Shelley who answered our questions and gave us his take on the importance of the Iowa caucus process. We also had lunch in Ames at a popular spot among Iowa State students.

We returned to the hotel, and after a few minutes of downtime, we listened to Drake University Political Science professor Dennis Goldford break down the history of the Iowa caucuses and why he considers himself a “caucus skeptic.” It was really inspiring to witness his depth of knowledge about Iowa’s premiere position in the presidential primary election. We finished the night at Smokey Row Coffee, a cute and cozy restaurant that warmed us up from the cold!

Overall, it was a great day to apply what we had been learning all of last semester and learn even more from renowned experts in their fields!

Tomorrow: We join a session with Project VoteSmart and attend a campaign event for Senator Elizabeth Warren in Newton.

Today was a very full first day! After an opportunity to sleep in a little bit (which we were all grateful for), the group left for Sunday service at the First Church of Christ, Scientist, West Des Moines. Most of us attended service, while a couple of us enjoyed interacting with the locals at Sunday School. 

After church, we had lunch at Jethro’s BBQ. We were joined by a few church members, so we used the opportunity to talk to them about how they’ve been interacting with the primary process here in Iowa. 

Once we were all sufficiently full, we drove 40 minutes west of Des Moines to a little town called Perry. There, we attended a campaign event for Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. We arrived about an hour early, which gave us plenty of time to chat with other attendees as well as camping staffers, photographers, and journalists. 

The venue was a relatively small conference room, and we all sat in the second and third rows, so we got an up-close view of Klobuchar. The senator spoke about her dedication to address problems that affect Iowans, especially Iowa farmers. She also articulated her positions on a variety of issues that pertain to all Americans, such as health care and education. As we left the event, we even ran into some correspondents from The Daily Show!

Later, we met with Rachel Caufield, a professor of Political Science of Drake University. She had a lot of insight to share regarding the primary process in Iowa, including some great candidate-interaction stories. The night ended with pizza at a local pizzeria and a final recap of the days events. 

Tomorrow: morning staff meeting with the Des Moines Register and a town hall with Pete Buttigieg!