Des Moines Southside Politics

Writing for the Huffington Post, Bev Davis breaks up the neighborhoods of Des Moines and predicts which candidates they will support.

The surprising prediction was for the Southside:

Obama takes it. Edwards comes in second. Hillary Clinton rides in third, unless Biden isn’t viable and then his supporters will actually decide the final outcome.

Mostly middle-class and white, but with more than their share of professionals and active Dems, there is also a new heavy influx of Mexican immigrants, who have yet to assert themselves into a powerful voting block. These voters want tax relief for the middle class, affordable higher education and health care, and an end to the war in Iraq.

Known as our “Little Italy,” this is a bastion of Democratic voters for as long as I can remember. At age five, I vividly recall the sparks flying after my grandmother once lost Grandpa’s entire weekly check from the Colonial Bakery by playing Bingo in the basement of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.

Most of the original Italian families here have morphed into successful professionals and savvy politicians that weld enormous power within city, county, and state government.

When Jimmy Sarcone, the elected Polk County District Attorney, introduced Barack Obama last night at Weeks Middle School on the Southside - he drew 1,000 voters on a Sunday night with temperatures dipping down to 21 degrees - and I knew it was a good sign for Obama.

Sarcone hails from a family of politicians. The Sarcones have long memories, know where the bodies are buried, and they play political hardball.

After six years of campaigning in Iowa, Edwards has his devoted fans on the Southside, and they are experienced caucus-goers. They can expertly cut deals and trade votes when tempers start to fly and viability is at stake.

However, much of his support comes from union endorsements and while union membership is not small on the Southside, they don’t own the political machine. The elected officials are the kingmakers.

If an Iowa voter hasn’t already chosen HRC, it is unlikely they are going to give her their second vote. She has a fine organization throughout the state with 450 staffers on the ground and more volunteers, so she earns one of the three top spots for the Southside, but not the winning one.

Admittedly, I’m not yet an expert in Des Moines politics, having lived in rural Iowa for much longer than I have lived here in the capital.

But Sen. Hillary Clinton isn’t likely to lose the Southside neighborhood by a lot if our rubric is support from the political machine there. A week or so ago, Clinton was endorsed by Secretary of State and former Polk County Auditor Michael Mauro. Mauro’s name is at least as powerful as Sarcone’s on the Southside — probably more powerful. If Mauro fails to deliver at least a second-place showing for his candidate on caucus night, it could be seen as a major coup.