Tom Beaumont, the Register's real political reporter, had an absolute must-read that the national sites picked up on yesterday while I was packing and driving back from vacation; several heavy hitters in Iowa seem to be lining up behind Obama `08. Of most interest locally:
Iowa City Democrat Dick Myers, the former minority leader in the Iowa House, has also agreed to serve as a caucus contact for Obama, should he decide to run, aides said.
That's a name that carries a huuuuuge amount of weight here in Johnson County. Dick Myers was a major figure for Gore in `99 and Dean in `03; in fact the first time I ever saw Dean was at Dick's house in the fall of `02.
On the other side:
The Iowa Republican Party has selected Aug. 11, 2007, as the date for the Ames straw poll - a signature event for GOP presidential candidates running in the state's leadoff nominating caucuses.
Signature event? Try de facto first Republican primary:
In August 1999, a record 25,000 Republicans turned out for the straw poll...
Candidates were actually up on TV to compete in a straw poll at a paid admission banquet. Several people - Dan Quayle, Elizabeth Dole, Lamar! Alexander - were squeezed out of the race by poor showings five months before any actual votes were cast, and Pat Buchanan bolter the GOP for the remnants of the Reform Party soon thereafter. It even had a ripple effect on the Democratic race, with both Bradley and Gore stepping up their appearances to cash in on the old media's need for Objective Balance. With this year's wide open field you could see some Dems packing their tents around August as well.
Office Space is allocated:
Braley will be in 1408 Longworth. Loebsack placed 15th in the lottery and grabbed 1513 Longworth, a corner office one floor above Braley's.
Both Braley and Loebsack will retain the telephone numbers that Iowans are accustomed to using to reach their district members.
For Braley, it will be (202) 225-2911, the current phone number for retiring Rep. Jim Nussle of the 1st District. For Loebsack, it will be (202) 225-6576, the current phone number for Rep. Jim Leach, whom Loebsack defeated in the 2nd District race. Hmm, might be some awkward moments there.
No word on whether Nussle and leach get to keep the red staplers.
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