Since last night’s Democratic debate (I wrote my analysis here), I have been in a thinking mood. I had a really interesting discussion (some might say “argument”) with Taylor Marsh on her show this afternoon, and I have been watching the political coverage online and on TV, but mostly I have been trying to [...]

Two weeks ago, it was Iran. Sen. Barack Obama and former Sen. John Edwards started attacking Sen. Hillary Clinton very directly on her vote in favor of a resolution classifying Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group. The Clinton campaign, perhaps sensing that the attacks were catching on, sent an uncharacteristically defensive mailing [...]

University of Iowa Professor, pollster, and caucuses guru David Redlawsk released the results of his latest Hawkeye Poll today, eliciting mixed reactions from the national media. Every blog entry I have read that covers the poll has linked to Pollster.com’s analysis of the Hawkeye Poll and their explanation of why its results are not [...]

The conference call just ended. This is the quick results post, which I’ve crossposted from Iowa Independent:
The Iowa Democratic Party’s State Central Committee has finished its conference call and voted to accept Chair Scott Brennan’s recommendation of a January 3, 2008, date for its precinct caucuses, sources tell Iowa Independent.
“This date maintains the important [...]

When Sen. Hillary Clinton announced her presidential bid, she did so by “beginning a conversation” with voters. “So let’s talk. Let’s have a chat. Let’s start a dialogue,” she said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be very interesting.”
And she was right. This year’s primary season has been very [...]

From Lynda Waddington’s article on Huckabee from last week, on Iowa Independent:
“One of the things that’s getting lots of attention and that we’re real happy about is the endorsement of Chuck Norris,” Huckabee said. “That just happened — it was something that came out of the clear blue. I’ve not had a chance to visit [...]

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn penned an opinion piece for the Politico today on the chaotic primary calendar. South Carolina, Nevada, and Iowa have set their dates, leaving New Hampshire, “which has approached setting its primary date as if it were as inconsequential as the date of a high school [...]

One part of presidential politics that fascinates me is how certain national news stories permeate campaign narratives in Iowa and others do not. Generally, I think the Iowa press does a good job filtering out the real stories from the dumb stuff. Former Sen. John Edwards’s $400 haircut did not make nearly the [...]

Because sometimes in Iowa things happen that don’t have to do with the Caucus date, here are some other stories to check out:
Gordon Fischer wants Facebook friends.
Cyclone Conservatives is getting more publicity than any blogs that I am involved with.
The wetness of this year’s harvest season is frustrating farmers.
Slate’s analysis of Iowa City’s 21-bars referendum [...]

I wrote this morning that the Iowa Democratic State Central Committee is likely to accept the recommendation of party leadership to hold its Caucuses on January 3, 2008. I have solicited comments from all of the Democratic presidential campaigns with significant presences in Iowa, and so far the responses I have received have been [...]