Before the watch party began at the Linn County Republican Headquarters in Marion there was a hope that McCain would take advantage of the final presidential debate to draw clear distinctions between himself and Democratic opponent Sen. Barack Obama.

“I want to see McCain really stress the difference between himself and Obama,” Cedar Rapids resident Bill Dahlsten said. “Obama is just a raging liberal, there’s no two ways about it. After $700 billion on this bailout, I don’t know where the money is going to come from for all this warm and fuzziness that I keep hearing about from [Obama].”

Dahlsten added that he wasn’t hoping for McCain to attack Obama, but to conduct the debate in such manner that viewers could see clear-cut differences between the two candidates and their proposed policies.

Carlin Stover, an undecided 22-year-old from Cedar Rapids, said he has been unable to watch much of the earlier debates and that he was looking forward to listening as the two candidates met for the final time.

“I don’t really necessarily have any specific hopes for tonight,” Stover said pre-debate. “I just want to know what the people who want to run our country have to say and what they want to do for us. I’ve heard mixed reviews about what Obama has said and what McCain has said. What I hope will happen tonight is that I will become closer to my final decision.”

By the end of the night, Stover’s decision was not finalized, but he was leaning closer to McCain.

“[McCain] just seemed more honest,” Stover said. “I’m not necessarily saying that I know everything that he supports and is against, but he seemed very honest and very citizen-based. I thought he presented himself as very concerned about the American people — the individuals, not a group of people — and stressed that everyone has to make a difference.”

Stover plans to vote on Election Day and said that he “still has a couple of days to figure it out.” He plans to now go to the Internet and complete further research on the candidates.

Dahlsten and Marion resident Robert Vonk said that McCain did what he needed to do, especially on the issue of fiscal conservatism.

“I was impressed,” Vonk said. “I liked what McCain had to say, especially when he was talking about Fannie [Mae] and Freddie [Mac] and the tax cut issue. McCain made it clear that under Obama’s plan the top 5 percent of Americans will have their taxes raised. Those are the people who are providing jobs in this country. … [President Ronald] Reagan understood that you cut taxes on those providing jobs and that spurs the economy.”

Dahlsten, who describes himself as a fiscal conservative, said he would have liked to have heard the candidates discuss how government has become more centralized.

“One of the things that got us into this mortgage mess was government-directed policy on risky loans,” he said. “Jim Leach was screaming 15 years ago about the pushing of these loans. There was just no fiscal sense in any of it. Greed, profits, self-interest — call it what you want — they are good, but not when they divorce themselves from reality. You tend to get that a lot of times with centralized political decision-making. There’s a sense of euphoria that wipes out reality, and now we’re paying for it.”

McCain received the biggest applause line of the night when he told Obama that if he wanted to campaign against President George W. Bush he should have run four years ago.

“That was definitely the line that I enjoyed the most,” Vonk said, while Dahlsten nodded his agreement.

Marion resident Joni Scotter, who said that she just wanted to see McCain show up and give the American people a real glimpse into his personality, said that was the part of the debate that had her clapping the loudest.

“Every time Obama brings up the subject of Bush, I think, ‘Uhh, you are running against McCain,’” Scotter said after the debate. “And [McCain] isn’t anything like Bush. He isn’t. McCain is a warrior. McCain is independent. McCain rocks the boat.”

Scotter, who says her favorite president of all time is Bush, believes that Bush has not done a good job of standing up for himself.

“He does the Bible verse,” she said and then turned her head to the right and smacked her own cheek before turning her head the opposite way and smacking the other cheek. “[Bush] doesn’t have it in his heart to say, ‘Hey, wait a minute here,’ but I wish he did. So, he’s going down with four years of real slamming, but will go down in history as one of the greatest presidents in the world because he has kept the United States terror-free since 9-11.”

She’s also convinced that McCain will be the type of person who will stand up for himself. That, she says, is one of the big differences between the two men. Scotter thought McCain did well by looking more aggressive in the final debate, but admits that she would have liked for him to go even further.

“McCain has come out and stated the differences between the two candidates,” Vonk said. “It’s up to the voters now.”

“Someone want to go up there and draw a mustache on him,” a man in the back of the dark room joked. Amid the subsequent giggles another male voice was heard: “Or a target.” The first man responded back that “that’d be good too.”

Almost immediately a female voice rang out with the authority of an admonishing mother, commanding the men to “stop it.”

The female voice belonged to Joni Scotter, who is supporter and volunteer for Sen. John McCain, but said that she just couldn’t keep her mouth shut.

“I’m not an Obama person, but I don’t believe in anyone doing anything like that to a candidate — ever,” Scotter said after the watch party. “It’s simply not called for.”

Scotter feels so strongly about respect being given to the people running for our nation’s highest office that her admonishment contradicted her own deep-set fears about a possible Obama presidency.

“I’m very frightened,” she admitted. “I’m frightened because I can’t believe a word Obama says — not even a teenie-weenie word. I do think he is a Socialist. He ran for the Senate, but yet he’s never been there because he’s been running for president. He has no experiece and when he votes, he votes ‘present.’ All of that, all of that scares me. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t a candidate for the United States of America.”

Media coverage of people who have made crass and sometimes violent remarks at campaign events isn’t difficult to find, but Scotter believes what’s missing from that discussion is people like her: People who don’t support Obama’s candidacy, but also do not tolerate such comments.

“Candidates run because they believe in what they are all about,” Scotter said. “They run because they want to be president and believe they have a vision. I may not like [Obama's] policies or his vision, but he is a person.”

It’s the same principle that she applies to volunteers who phone bank and canvass on behalf of candidates or specific issues.

“I was in New York and walking down the street with a reporter,” she said. “Some lady handed me a brochure that was radical as can be. I told the lady, ‘Thank you so much,’ and put the brochure in my purse. The reporter looked at me like I lost my mind and later asked me why I did that.

“Well, I’ve gone door-to-door so many times. All you have to do is be polite and let [the volunteer] have a happy day. Why would you hurt somebody? The volunteers are doing these things because they believe in it. They are out there doing it because they care.”

Democrat Becky Greenwald and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Latham.

Greenwald, a seasoned behind-the-scenes politico who has spent little time in front of a microphone as a candidate, was graceful but tough.  She had lines of attack on her opponent ready, and she delivered them with clarity.  She knew how to let them hang in the air, avoiding the repetitiveness characteristic of a novice debater.

Latham, who has experience in Congress but has faced few truly close reelection campaigns, handled questions just as well, and with the deeper understanding of policy minutiae that incumbents always exhibit.

But Latham revealed his level of anxiety by going on the offense early and often, attacking Greenwald on taxes, health care, immigration and partisanship.  Rather than remain above the fray, Latham engaged his opponent as an equal.

That’s not something incumbents usually do if they have a comfortable lead.

On the issues

If the topics of debate are any indication of what 4th district voters are thinking, the economy, energy, health care, taxes, and the elusive notion of “bipartisanship” will decide the election.  Based on my notes, those are the five subjects that the candidates talked about the most.

The economy: The candidates have staked out positions on opposite sides of the $700 billion “rescue plan” (or “bailout”).  Greenwald supports it, and Latham voted against it.  Both candidates seem to see their positions as politically expedient, but political experts still aren’t sure how the bill will ultimately play with middle-class voters.

What we do know is that when the economy is the most important issue of a campaign, voters tend to gravitate toward the Democrat.  Advantage Greenwald.

Energy: Through 90 minutes of debating, neither candidate found a renewable energy idea worth opposing. Both candidates support an “all of the above approach” to energy, which means investing in a laundry list of technologies plus offshore oil drilling. Each seemed competent on the subject of energy, and both candidates tied renewable energy development to economic development.

But Latham also got to work in examples of federal funding he has secured for renewable energy projects here, even if that was never the focus of discussion.  Slight advantage Latham.

Health care: Greenwald and a sympathetic phone questioner both seemed to want to force Latham to pledge his support to Sen. John McCain’s health care plan, and they almost got their wish. But before Democrats could fire up the presses for a “Tom Latham wants to tax your employer-provided health care benefits” mailing, the incumbent hedged, saying he only supported the “principles” of McCain’s plan but that he couldn’t commit to anything.

Without McCain’s full plan, the only proposal to cut health care costs that Latham could name was a simple tax credit. Voters are pretty sure that health care reform is more complicated than that.

Greenwald, meanwhile, grabbed hold of Obama’s health care proposal, which is being featured in very moderate-sounding Obama campaign ads right now.  Democrats usually win on health care anyway, but in this debate, the differences between the two candidates were very clear.  Greenwald brought a more detailed proposal to the table, and she knew how to explain it.  Latham did not have the vocabulary to talk about the issue with the depth voters want.  Advantage Greenwald.

Taxes: Debates about tax policy are always more about accusations than they are about an individual candidate’s actual proposals. Latham and more than one phone questioner each asked Greenwald, roughly, “Why do you want to raise taxes?” Greenwald dealt with their questions with improved clarity each time.  By the end of the debate, she was able to make clear that she supports Obama’s tax plan, which only increases taxes on families earning over $250,000 per year.

But what Greenwald said about taxes will not matter, because any voter for whom taxes are the top issue is going to vote Republican. Advantage Latham.

Bipartisanship: There was a lot of talk of “partisanship” in Monday’s debate. Latham said he has a record of bipartisanship, and he accused Greenwald of negative campaigning. Greenwald said she would be bipartisan in Congress and accused Latham of voting with George W. Bush’s policies 95 percent of the time.

Latham’s rejoinder was that voting with George W. Bush 95 percent of the time is actually pretty good, and that Iowa’s Democratic congressmen vote with their party even more often than that. I’m not sure that holds water with voters. “Latham” and “Bush” in the same sentence always benefits Greenwald, no matter what the actual record is. Advantage Greenwald.

The final tally

Greenwald wins on points, largely because the policies she’s selling are more popular with voters than her opponent’s are these days.

But the bigger story is that it even came to this.  Latham and Greenwald engaged each other and debated as relative equals. We might just have a real race on our hands.

And one last thought to ponder: Latham is at odds with his party’s presidential nominee on the $700 billion “rescue plan,” on health care reform, on biofuels, and (presumably) on earmarks, given his seat on the Appropriations Committee. Meanwhile, Greenwald has embraced Obama’s proposals with open arms. That might tell us something about which presidential candidate has stronger coattails in the 4th district this year.

At 9 a.m. Monday, McCain’s shares were trading for 32 cents on the IEM’s Winner Take All presidential market, meaning traders give the McCain-Palin ticket only 32 percent chance of winning. On Friday, before the debate, McCain was trading at 37 cents.

Shares for the Democratic Obama-Biden ticket were at 67 cents Monday, up from 62 cents Friday. The Winner Take All market pays a dollar per winning share and nothing for a losing share.

The University of Iowa College of Business project, in which traders use real money to measure candidates’ chances, has had a strong predictive track record since it started in 1988.

In the Vote Share market, which pays a penny per percentage point, McCain was selling for 47.3 cents this morning, which means investors believe he will receive 47.3 percent of the two-party popular vote in November. Obama was selling for 53.8 cents on the Vote Share market. Shares in the Vote Share market pay in proportion to the percentage.

Sen. Barack Obama made a change of direction — getting out of Iraq more quickly than McCain and focusing on Afghanistan and other incubators of terror — sound safe in his hands.

Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama shake hands before the first debate of the 2008 general election (Photo: Flickr - David Katz/Obama for America)

In the end, McCain was like a Buick salesman who did a better job pitching his car than the Toyota guy. Great on points, but we know who gets the sale.

“Obviously our foreign policy over the last eight years has not worked,” Obama said.

The Illinois Democrat showed a presidential command of foreign policy issues and went after his rival in a strong, respectful manner — a more Midwestern approach, if you will.

McCain flexed large foreign policy muscles, but he detracted from that with personal attacks on Obama, calling him naive and inexperienced. At times, the presidential debate at the University of Mississippi seemed like a contest between confidence in the form of Obama and arrogance itself with McCain.

It is a subtety not lost on Midwesterners.

Both candidates successfully articulated highly nuanced foreign policy positions, effortlessly getting the challenging names of world leaders correct (mostly), and weaving through complexities with no hiccups. No one lost the debate tonight as Obama, 47, showed the bearing for the Oval Office and McCain, 72, demonstrated sufficient vigor.

How will it play in the Iowa?

For those in Iowa looking for specific personal financial reasons to pick a candidate, McCain may be the only one who has provided us one — and it is not good for him in this state.  McCain made it clear one of the casualties of the potential Wall Street bailout should be ethanol.

Supporting ethanol might be debatable on a national level, but it is N.I.M.B.Y. around here.

“I’d eliminate ethanol subsidies,” McCain said flatly. “I oppose ethanol subsidies.”

Those are likely deal-killing words for farmers and others in rural America who have made investments and business decisions based on ethanol.

Iowa’s ethanol industry has resulted in more than 47,000 new jobs in Iowa.  Production of ethanol puts $1.7 billion into Iowa consumers’ pockets each year, according to the Iowa Corn Growers Association.

In neighboring Nebraska, ethanol is big business, too, and because the Cornhusker State bases three of its five electoral votes on how presidential candidates do in individual congressional districts, McCain’s ethanol blast only serves to help Obama’s already aggressive efforts in Omaha.

Candidates on offense

McCain had his strongest moments of the night in challenging Obama’s long-stated and controversial declaration that he’d meet with certain world leaders without preconditions.

Actually using the word “Holocaust,” McCain attempted to paint a picture of Obama sitting down with Hitler-like figures bent on Israel’s destruction. A mere meeting, McCain argues, confers legitimacy on thug rulers.

“It doesn’t mean we invite them over for tea,” Obama shot back.

Obama generally found success when he sought to connect McCain with George W. Bush, leaving the Arizona Republican with little but ridiculous deflectors. McCain went so far as to give himself different nicknames in the debate. First he said some people call him “sheriff” because of his alleged efforts to attack waste, fraud and abuse. I wonder what Charles Keating called McCain back in the 1980s? Sheriff — of Mayberry, maybe.

McCain then called himself a “maverick” as if plucking that word from his first life would save him in a second as he faced a withering assault on the links to Bush.

The Arizonan never adequately answered the charge that 90 percent of his political DNA comes from W.

“It’s well known I have not been elected Miss Congenialty,” McCain repeated.

From a McCain campaign press release emailed 10-15 minutes after the debate ended, quoting analysis of two Iowa McCain supporters:

DES MOINES, IA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today released the following statements from Dave Roederer, Iowa State Chair for McCain and Stewart Iverson, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa on tonight’s first presidential debate.

Dave Roederer, McCain Iowa State Chair: “John McCain’s debate performance tonight demonstrated the qualities that our country needs in the next president — leadership and experience. John McCain has been to war and understands what our military needs. He has established relationships with foreign leaders, and John McCain has the track record of getting things done. America needs him as our commander in chief.”

Stewart Iverson, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa: “Tonight voters across Iowa and the country got to see John McCain the leader and our next commander in chief. Even Obama’s gift for gab couldn’t hide the fact that he lacks the experience our next president will need to keep American families safe from threats abroad and at home. John McCain knows the horrors of war, was humbled by them, and has proven that he’ll always put country above politics and party. Tonight he cut through Obama’s rhetoric with straight talk and real solutions to break our reliance on foreign oil, build lasting partnerships with our allies, and finish the fight against terrorism.”

(If I receive an Obama campaign press release, I will paste it here.)

UPDATE: Highest-profile Obama campaign spin came from Sen. Joe Biden, the vice presidential nominee:

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The last Democratic debate prior to the Jan. 3 Iowa caucus has come to a close. The full liveblog of the event from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s headquarters in Cedar Rapids is located below the fold.

“I think Clinton was inspirational,” said supporter Susan Bremer. “I think she far out-shone the other Democrats on the stage. She answered the questions and addressed the issues — she told us not only what she was going to do but how she would do it.”

Judy Brown added that she “thought they were all straight-forward and hit their strongest points.”

“Despite that, Clinton was the clear winner,” she said. “She is never without a comeback. She always knows where the others are and is able to express her point of view.”

There is roughly 10 minutes before the start of The Des Moines Register Democratic Debate. I’m sitting in Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Cedar Rapids headquarters where staff have allowed me to liveblog with gathered supporters and former Vice President Walter Mondale. In addition to Mondale, Iowa Sen. Rob Hogg is in attendance.

There are currently about 20 supporters in the room and everyone is grabbing some snacks and finding a seat.

1:00 p.m. — The debate is beginning, but everyone in the room hasn’t caught on yet. People continue to talk as the credits roll.

Carolyn Washburn of The Des Moines Register is serving as moderator again today — for this last debate before the Iowa caucuses.

The audience here was quiet throughout the introductions until their candidate — Sen. Clinton — was introduced. At that point there was a smattering of applause and a few whoops of joy.

First topic — Would it be a priority of your administration to balance the federal budget every year?

Obama first — “What we’ve seen is a budget that is out of balance…What I want to do is get the long-term fundamentals right.” He said that we cannot “dig ourselves out of this hole in one or two years.”

Richardson — “As governor I have to balance budgets. I balance mine.” He added that he would advocate for a line-item veto for the president. He wants to eliminate congressional earmarks. “Most importantly, I believe balancing the budget should be viewed as an opportunity to have new growth.”

Biden — “It’s pretty straightforward,” he said. He added that it doesn’t have to be a choice. He says that it is about priorities.

The folks here in Cedar Rapids are extremely stoic while the other candidates answer the question — little to no facial expressions and definitely no outward notices of their thoughts.

Dodd — “I’ve been the author of pay-as-you-go budgets during the Reagan administration. What we need to do is grow our economy,” he said. “We need to have an economy that’s driving growth.”

Edwards — “We need to grow and strengthen the middle class — need a president that’s willing to take on Washington.”

Clinton — “Fiscal responsibility is a high priority for me — TV blackout! — The economy will grow again when we force the government to be fiscally responsible.”

The audience reacted when the television blacked out in the middle of Clinton’s response, but otherwise no one is being very verbal today. Former Vice President Mondale has what looks to be the only truly comfortable chair in the audience. Most of us are on wooden folding chairs, but he has a larger leather office chair.

1:11 p.m. — Richardson and Edwards are adding to their response at the request of the moderator. More or less they are expanding on what they’ve already said.

Clinton says people in America “feel like they are standing on a trap door.” She wants to keep middle-class tax cuts. “We can get back to fiscal responsibility and economic growth again.”

There was a small audience reaction — one or two people clapping — after that final statement.

Biden is to explain how he will pay for his new initiatives if the war in Iraq doesn’t end. Biden says we don’t need to rely on Republican rhetoric. “What are your priorities?” He says he will change the existing Republican priorities.

Same question to Obama who says that we have too many tax loopholes. “If we close loopholes, that helps me to offset the cost of the initiatives.” It requires leadership from the White House, he said.

Richardson, same question, he says he detailed $57 million dollars in old weapon systems. He also said that we need to realize that Iraq has drained our military.

Dodd, same question, “I try to frame this in terms of what’s fair, what’s responsible and what’s pro-growth.” He highlights the people in our nation living in poverty and says this is something he has worked on as a member of Congress. Growing the economy, he said, should be a priority, not just raising taxes.

Question to Richardson about China — How do we manage our relationship with China?

Richardson — “Should have a relationship that recognizes that China is a competitor… I’d be tougher on China when it comes to human rights.”

Dodd — “My colleagues talk about China being a competitor… but they don’t compete by the same rules.” He adds that China is not playing fair. “Americans are tired of this conversation that it is business as usual, it is not. We don’t have the same access to their shelves.”

1:19 p.m. — Question to Clinton: Is too much of the federal government going to entitlements?

“Yes, entitlements are a problem,” she said. “It is especially a problem with Medicare — because costs are going up so quickly… We need to rein in payments to the HMOs. We need health care like the plan I’ve proposed.”

Clinton says again that she wants to convene a bi-partisan commission to deal with the problems with Social Security. Again, no audience reaction here in Cedar Rapids.

Biden, same question, and he responds that it is a combination of issues and that entitlements can become a problem if we don’t act. “This is all about action.”

Obama, same question: “We need to emphasize prevention,” he said. “We are not going to make some of these changes unless we change how business is done in Washington.” Obama seems to be stuttering a bit today, like he might be having a difficult time forming his thoughts — or maybe compressing them into 30-second sound bites.

Richardson, same question: “We need an elimination of junk food in schools — like I did in New Mexico.” He also hits on medical research.

Free open statement — Obama: “Forty years ago, Dr. King challenged America to act on the fierce urgency of now. I feel that urgency today…. I am confident that we can meet these challenges… that we can restore our standing in the world. We can only do it, however, if we have the courage to change… if we level with the American people… caucus for me.”

Edwards — “So much at stake for America… corporate power and corporate greed in Washington, D.C. and we have to take it on…. I’ve been fighting these people and winning my entire life. If we rise up together we can make sure that we leave it better than we had it.” Edwards messed up that last statement which caused the audience here and in Des Moines to titter with laughter.

1:29 p.m. — We’re having some Internet and cable issues here at the debate watch party. I missed the past few moments of the debate.

Question to Clinton: “Should NAFTA be scrapped or changed?”

“It should be changed,” she said. “We need to make it clear to the rest of the world that we don’t want to be the trade patsies.”

Obama — “No doubt that NAFTA needs to be amended.” He said he would contact other countries to ensure that environmental concerns are being followed.

Dodd hops in without being called… “Good news — Senate passed his legislation on Darfur last night.”

Biden — “This is about action and pragmatic solutions and that’s what I’ve done my entire career … Leadership is knowing about who you are, what you believe and what you’ll do… It’s time to raise this country up. The American people are ready to do that.”

Richardson uses his 30 seconds to thank the people of Iowa for putting all of the candidates through this process. “We are losing sight that [the war in Iraq] is the fundamental issue that is affecting our entire country.” He adds that 38 Americans died in November — thousands coming back injured to a VA system that is not responding.

Next topic — energy independence: How to make your initiative into a boon for the economy.

Biden just smacked corn ethanol, saying, “It’s not going to take us the whole way. Bottom line is the president has to make this a moral crusade for the American people.”

Richardson — “I like to think that I made my state a clean energy state… I think fuel efficiency standards in this country should be 50 MPG and not 35. I think that’s pathetic.”

Interestingly enough, there were some groans from the audience here at the debate party when Richardson began speaking — as well as a couple of times during his 30-second response.

1:37 p.m. — Dodd: “You’ve started here. Vilsack began, Culver has continued with the Iowa Power Fund… We are not going to wish ourselves out of this problem… I’m the only candidate on this stage that is advocating a corporate carbon tax… Bill Bradley and Al Gore have called our plan the boldest of any.”

Clinton — “It is imperative that we address this issue. Will it affect the average American? Yes it will.”

“We’ve got to enlist the American people, the way we did in a previous generation with the Apollo project,” she added.

Obama — “This is a moral imperative… I want to make sure the planet is as beautiful for [my daughters] as it was for me… In order for this to happen, we need to be courageous enough to talk about it not just in front of the Sierra Club.”

Edwards — “I think we need to recognize the obstacles to the change that everyone thinks is necessary — oil companies, power companies… need a president that will ask Americans to be patriotic about something other than war… the future of the planet for our children and our grandchildren is a moral crisis.”

Clinton asks Washburn if the candidates should raise their hands if they believe global warming is a real problem. The audience here and in Des Moines enjoyed it.

Dodd — Farm Bill question: “Think Harkin has been doing a good job… Iowa represents as much as 10 percent of the most fertile land in the world… move in a direction that encourages conservation is something we all should support.”

Obama — “My rural farm agenda centerpiece is capping the farm subsidies… family farms are getting squeezed out (because of corruption within the system)… we need to invest in organic and alterative crops… we can save the land but increase economic engines in rural areas.” Again, he sounds like he is stuttering… not speaking smoothly at all.

Biden — “First time in Iowa was with Sen. Culver in 1974 — different now, lots of open land, very few farmers…. How do you preserve family farmers?… We need to focus on the things that the farm program was set up to focus on… We need a radical change.” Biden says he and the others voted today to lower the caps.

Clinton says that she’s been following Harkin’s lead on what to do in respect to the Farm Bill. “I’ve got a dozen or so of my family farmers in New York traveling around Iowa today, visiting with Iowa farmers.”

1:47 p.m. — There is light applause for Clinton and her response about the Farm Bill… I just don’t think the audience is too active here.

Clinton — “Everyone wants change. Everyone on this stage has an idea on how to get change… I believe you get change by working hard… that’s what I will do as president… I will not rest until every child has a chance to live up to his or her God-given potential.”

Of course, as soon as I note how quiet the audience is, they come alive following Clinton’s 30-second free-time speech. Nearly everyone in the room was applauding the senator’s remarks.

Dodd — “One of the things I’ve tried to do in this campaign is to talk about postive ideas and also about results… What I’ve done for 26 years is bring Republicans, Democrats and Independents together… this isn’t about wealth or celebrity, it’s about choosing the best candidate who can win.”

1:53 p.m. — Richardson says he would scrap No Child Left Behind and he receives positive noises from the audience here at the Clinton headquarters. He then hits on having arts in schools and garners some more warm fuzzies from the folks here.

Obama — “A lot of [education] ideas have been mentioned,” he said. He then goes onto early childhood education and changes needed to No Child Left Behind. “I want to get parents re-engaged in instilling excellence in their children…. we’ve got to turn off the TV set and turn off the video games.”

Dodd — “What’s the single most important issue? Education. It is the key to everything we are… it’s going to take leadership in this country that makes this a priority.”

Clinton hops in — “The federal government only pays 10 percent of the cost of education… how about funding special education? How about fully funding whatever we ask the local school districts to do?”

Applause for Clinton again from the folks in Cedar Rapids — they especially reacted to her thoughts on special education.

Edwards — “We need to think … about the long-term on how we create the infrastructure to build American workers.”

Biden — “My wife can’t be here today because she is teaching.” Biden says we need to start kids earlier, we need quality teachers and we need to have access to higher education.

Obama — Question: What will you do your first year? — “End the war. Investigate Bush’s executive orders. Health care.”

Biden — “End the war with the Biden plan. Abandoning Bush policy of torture, holding prisoners. I would insure every single child in America for catastrophic illness — education plan.”

Richardson — “End the war. Make a major effort to pass universal health care. Create an ‘energy revolution.’ Say to the American people that I’m going to follow the U.S. Constitution.”

2:00 p.m. — Dodd reacts to Richardson going over time. “It’s going to be a long year.”

Dodd — “Change the nature of the conversation to bring the country together. Give the country back its Constitution. Certainly the war, but also robust diplomacy in the Middle East.”

Edwards — “Too many promises being made, we need to tell people the truth. I will end war, close Gitmo, restore civil liberties, begin working on health care.” Edwards again hits on corporate America.

Clinton — Will begin to end the war in Iraq. “Era of cowboy diplomacy is over.” Review Executive Orders and issue some, like not interfering with science. Review Bush’s vetoes.

Lots more applause for Clinton here in Cedar Rapids.

Clinton — Question: Health care plan in the ’80s was too close and secretive, How would your administration be different?

“Need a strong communications strategy. I didn’t have that then and I’ve learned from that. … I want to have an open and transparent government… put as much as we can on the Internet…. make sure we have an administration that works with the Congress… end the revolving door of lobbyists… I’m very committed to open, transparent government. I’ve learned a lot and believe I can apply those lessons.”

Biden is being asked about his “foot-in-mouth” disease in terms of race.

“I think I have my whole career — I got involved in politics because of the civil rights movement…. I may have phrased those things wrong… I was making the point that minorities start off at a disadvantage… it may be because I speak so bluntly… but no one who knows me doubts my credentials.”

Everyone on the stage yells “Here here!” when Biden completes and then Obama “testifies” on Biden’s behalf.

Edwards — reduce power and wealth in the country? How can you work with them to bring about change after your strong rhetoric?

“I think it is a complete fantasy that we can sit with these people and bring about change… all the things we’ve talked about today… depends on winning this battle [with corporate lobbyists]… I’ve been fighting them my entire life and I’ve been winning my entire life. If you are looking for a winner… I’m 54-year-old and have been doing it my entire life.”

Dodd — is your motivation to restore your family’s good name?

“I’m motivated by my family’s history in public service… a well intentioned public servant can make a difference in the lives of million of people. That’s my motivation. That’s why I’m running for president.”

Richardson — Issues when you were energy secretary?

“In 25 years in public service, there are probably many other mistakes I have made… I didn’t work hard enough… the point is that we do have in all of our lives… I’ve made a lot of gaffes and I’m glad you didn’t raise them. I’ll stand behind my record as energy secretary.”

Obama — you have Clinton advisors, so little of your own — how do you break from past and bring about the change you’ve advocated?

Clinton said she wanted to know that answer as well — nice response locally. Obama responded, “Yeah, I’m looking forward to you advising me as well.” Lots of moans, and a few laughs, from the audience here in Cedar Rapids.

“I think those who are advising me agree with [increasing our reputation in the world]… all designed to create long-term security.”

As president would you use signing statements?

Clinton — would use them the way that presidents before this one used them… this president has essentially used them as a form of veto.

Applause for her here in Cedar Rapids.

Edwards — I will go back to the way signing statement have been used historically — also will make sure that our three branches are equal. Edwards receives a few whoops when he says “we don’t have a king”

2008 New Years Resolution?

Clinton — it is multi-part — spending time with family, exercise, also resolved to do the best I can in this campaign, to run a campaign that Democrats can be proud of, go into the White House ready to serve

Edwards — to remember that tonight somewhere in America tonight a child goes to bed hungry, that a family will go to a hospital and beg for health care, that a man will lose his job — We are all going to be just fine, but what is at stake if America will be just fine

Dodd — regain our moral authority around the world, national optimism, spend time with family, Iowans caucus and caucus correctly on Jan. 3

Richardson — lose weight, I wish that the Congress and the President would end their dysfunctional relationship. I also want to continue to stay positive and be optimistic.

Biden — Remember where I cam from. Your whole life can change in a split second. Every year I make a resolution to try to remember when things were really bad — that I treat everyone the way they should be treated.

Obama — be a better father, be a better husband, remind myself that this — what I’m doing — is not about me

2:21 p.m. — one last question — What are your lessons from Iowa?

Clinton — thanks to Iowans, I’ve eaten my way across the state. I will not forget the people of Iowa.

Edwards — Iowa caucus-goers see us up close and they can judge if someone is honest and sincere and can be trusted and they can see who has fire in their belly

Dodd — A great joy to eat everything on a stick at the fair. I love the independence of Iowans to make up their own minds. That’s a good thing for America.

Richardson — What I like best about Iowans is that you like underdogs — I’ve been enormously enriched by my contact with Iowans.

Biden — Iowa deserves to be first because they take it so seriously. Where ever you are people take it seriously and you treat us with respect. Without you this democracy is in trouble because without you it is all about money.

Obama — Core descency of the American people — generosity of spirit.

Thanks from the moderator, the debate has come to a close — the audience locally applauds.

Those in the audience are being invited to volunteer for an extra hour — now or later, says the staff. We’d love to have you.

“We’ve watched most of the debates,” said John Edwards supporter Theresa Navin of Winterset. “We’ve also seen most of the candidates as they’ve traveled through our community. They all have a good message.”

Her husband, Pat, a member of Teamsters Local 90, agreed with his wife and added, “This is probably going to be a repeat of what we’ve already heard.”

Brad Hudson of Ankeny came into the debate undecided and is interested to know if anything will be said to change his mind. “I’m with the teachers’ association, so I really want to hear about education. I want to know about No Child Left Behind and hear the details of what the candidates plan to do to make it work.”

Fourth-grade teacher Linda Melson of Council Bluffs is also undecided and interested in hearing the candidates discuss education. “More than anything, I just want them to discuss education — just talk about it,” she said. “There really hasn’t been a great deal of discussion so far on education.”

Drake University political science professor Rachel Caufield said she expected to see more division and wedges self-placed by the candidates.

“I’m expecting to see the front-runners try to position themselves,” she said. “I also expect to see the ’second tier’ candidates — that is, [Chris] Dodd, [Joe] Biden and [Bill] Richardson — try to break through to the next level.”

All those interviewed received at least a portion of what they’d wanted and expected — although, at the end of the program, no one had an epiphany or change of heart.

“I like [Dennis] Kucinich even more after seeing him today,” said Theresa Navin. “All of the people on the stage need someone like him to keep them on their toes.”

Nonetheless, she was quick to add, “But Edwards is still my number one.”

Although Pat Navin said he’d like to see the field narrowed, he wasn’t ready to take the plunge himself.

“They are all very good,” he said. “But my opinion hasn’t changed based on what I saw and heard here this morning.”

Melson thinks she may have some idea of where she’s going, but she’s not positive.

“I was really pleased that we finally got to have a conversation about education,” she said. “And… there were some things that were said that are helping me to get a clearer picture.”

While also pleased to hear the questions regarding education, Hudson still maintained a foggy picture.

“On the merit pay question, I think this most had good ideas, but I thought [Barack] Obama was fumbling,” he said. “All of America wants great teachers. Who would get to decide who gets the great teachers and who gets the average teachers?”

Caufield, who was also undecided prior to the event, said she didn’t have any major breakthroughs based on what she saw.

“I think Edwards and Obama did what they needed to do,” she said. “They should be very proud of their performance.”

Des Moines Register political journalist David Yepsen, who helped moderate the event, said he was pleased with the debate.

“The most remarkable thing I heard was that we finally got to get into some of these issues that hadn’t already been discussed — like education,” he said. “We went with the merit pay question because instead of No Child Left Behind because there are some real differences there… so that we could hear some differences.”

The format was well received as were Hillary Clinton’s color-coordinated jacket and beads. Many felt the candidates came across as more human and there was a real sense of getting to hear substance and not just quick soundbytes.

The feeling is that John Edwards and Bill Richardson danced around issues — that maybe Clinton and Richardson were defensive. Barack Obama, of course, was one of the room favorites.

My opinion is the big story is not who did well, because most did, but who was really horrible. While credit should be given to each candidate for coming, speaking and placing themselves “out there,” I’m wondering if Gov. Bill Richardson might have been better served by staying at home.7:50 p.m. — I’ve arrived at the Linn County Obama for America office and we’re roughly 15 minutes away from the start of the LGBT Presidential Forum. People are still filing into the office, grabbing a slice of pizza and settling in for the show.

It was previously announced that Sen. Joe Biden would not be in attendance at this forum. Rumors are circulating around the room that Sen. Chris Dodd, who was previously confirmed, has also taken a pass. I guess we’ll know for sure once the event gets underway.

As always your comments during the blogging are welcome.

8:00 p.m. and we are underway.

Interesting set-up… we have the panelists sitting on a sofa with the moderator. Not sure if it is going to stay that way.

Candidates will appear in the order they confirmed.

8:05 p.m. — Sen. Barack Obama enters the arena to a standing ovation.

Thanks to HRC and Logo for setting this up, he says. Glad to be here and glad to be the first who committed to be here.

Joe Solmonese asks the first question — What place does the church have in government-sanctioned civil unions?

Belief, he says, that government has to treat all equal. Wants to make sure rights conferred by the state are equal to all people. Supporter of a strong version of civil unions. I don’t think the church should be making these determinations when it comes to legal rights conferred by the state.

Q: How is what you say any different than separate but equal?

A: When my parents were married… discusses the correlations between interracial marriage and gay marriage. “Not for me to suggest you shouldn’t be troubled by this. My job as president is to determine that the rights of couples across the country are recognized by my administration across the country.”

Q: Why does religion own the word marriage?

A: Semantics may be important to some, but I need to see that those rights are available to everyone. All people need civil rights under the law.

Q: (from Melissa Etheridge) First says how honored she is to be at this debate and representing the community. You have this reputation of being an incredible orator — you touch many of us, she says — If elected president, what will you do to bring the country back together?

A: Part of the reason LGBT issues are important to me is because I got into politics because I didn’t like some people looking down on other people. There is a hopefulness within him, he says, and also within most Americans. Key question for next president is if we can tap back into that core? We need to acknowledge the reality of what people live with every day.

8:15 p.m. — continuing with Obama…

Melissa says she grew up believing in this country and believing in our documents. She believes all people are equal. She also encourages Obama to lead and not be afraid.

Jonathan Capehart, a journalist with the WaPo, wants to know how Obama is going to speak with the black community about their homophobia.

I already have, says Obama. He did it when he was discussing AIDS… he did it while in Tennessee. “Discussed how the notion of gay marriages has been used in black churches to divide.” Asked minister to show him an instance of how a traditional marriage has been broken up as a result of two men or two women being together, they should show him.

Q: You are running as a candidate of change, but how can that be when your stances are “old school”?

A: “Oh come on now!” I’ve got a track record of working with the LGBT community. I will focus on the rights provided by the federal, state and local governments are the ones that are provided to everyone. I don’t make promises I can’t keep, he says.

Q: Would you put the fight for gays and lesbians for civil rights on par with those of African-Americans?

A: I worry about getting into comparisons of victimology, he says. The situation is different, but there are similarities. I’m going to be more sympathetic not because I’m black, but because this has been the cause of my life.

8:20 p.m. — Obama is given a summary statement. He says all candidates are going to be terrific on this issue and that’s a good thing. He wants people to know he doesn’t talk about these issues when it is only convenient.

8:22 p.m. — John Edwards is up, also a standing ovation. The local folks here at the Obama office are announcing Barack Obama will be hosting a conference call shortly for those who want more information.

Melissa welcomes Edwards to the stage. She says she and Elizabeth Edwards share their suffering with cancer and their ability to afford the best health care. Segways into a question about health care/insurance rights for gay couples.

Edwards first thanks everyone and begins touting his health care plan as universal and available for everyone. Says he met a group of young people at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center who were homeless because they told their parents they were gay. Says he’s shocked that anyone in America would consider throwing young people out just because they were gay.

Melissa says — heard you said you feel uncomfortable around gay people. Are you comfortable now?

Edwards — “Can I just tell you that’s not true… what you just said.”

Melissa — apologizes. Should schools teach about gay families?

Edwards — yes. Children need to understand these are American families just as all other families. We have thousands of children in foster care who could benefit from a gay or lesbian family — they need a family.

What grade or age would you introduce?

Good question, but I haven’t thought about it enough to answer.

Jonathan asks: Why should gay community think it will be protect this time around by you when many feel you let them down in 2004?

Edwards — we cannot let this hate foster anymore. I was very proud of my wife, Elizabeth, for taking on Ann Coulter. If we let hate stand, more people will use it. We have to stand up for what’s right and fair and we have to do it with passion and strength.

8:30 p.m. — continuing with Edwards. Says he believes what Ann Coulter does goes to the lowest common denominator of people.

Q: If a member of your staff comes to you and tells you they are transgender and thinking of transitioning… also who in your life has influenced this thinking?

A: We need powerful employment non-discrimination laws in this county. Says he would support the employee. (This is really soft-ball question — how could he give any other answer?)

Q: What is it within your religion that leads to oppose same-sex marriage?

A: I should not have said that… my campaign is about equality. It makes perfect sense to me now how people could view gay marriage vs. civil unions as separate but equal. Says what he believes as far a religion is not something he should press on the American people.

He adds that Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell is wrong and was wrong from the beginning. Says he still doesn’t not agree with gay marriage, but will support same-sex unions.

Q: Missed the full text, but it has to do with Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

A: Says he’s firmly committed to eliminating Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

In Summary — “America owes you a debt of gratitude. If we believe in having one America we have a lot of work to do and no one knows that better than the people in this room. … We are better than this. We and all of you are important in bringing about the change that is necessary to this country. The real change and the real movements in the oval office. They began in the communities and places just like this.”

8:41 p.m. — Here comes Dennis Kucinich

“We really like you here on the left coast.”
Imagine that equal sign behind us inside a heart. What we are really talking about here is human love. People who love it each other must have a way to express that in a way that is meaningful.

Are you saying Edwards and Obama are wrong or playing politics?

“I’m saying I stand for real equality.” (Good for Dennis for not taking the bait.)

8:45 p.m. — continuing with Kucinich…

“The greatest commandment is love,” he says. “Love has a transformative power.”

“Dennis, you are so evolved for a member of Congress.”

Have you felt this way all your life?

To me it really doesn’t matter who is gay… didn’t matter when he was Mayor, he says.

“We can lift up the nation in a wide variety of ways — in peace, in equality.”

Q from Melissa: I hope you always run for President until you are elected.

Dennis says it took him 5 times to be elected to Congress.

Q: Many people with health problems have benefited from legalized marijuana. Should it be legal for the whole country?

A: Many years ago when there were raids in congress, I objected to that. This should be between the doctor and patient. As president I would make sure that our justice dept. was mindful of taking a compassionate approach.

Drugs in society should be looked at as a medical and health issue in lieu of a criminal issue, he says.

Says he’s the only person in the campaign standing for a single-payer, non-profit health care plan.

8:50 p.m. — Kucinich is still on stage.

How are you going to get elected President?

I am the candidate in the center of America’s hopes and dreams. No other candidate stood up against the march to war in Iraq. I took a stand when it was really unpopular to do so. Being president means that you have to do the right thing the first time.

My candidacy is not only transforming the race, but will transform the nation… my heart is clean… I cannot be bought… I see the world as one.

Viewer-generated question: Living with AIDS and speak regularly to students in high school. No longer funded — will you fix this?

A: I’m the co-author of the bill that creates Medicare for all. This is a very serious health issue. A president must help our country and our children do the things to be healthy — including sex education. We also need a president who is ready to embrace people with AIDS.

Q from Joe: Thanks for being outspoken your entire time in Congress. How can we get things done like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act?

A: We need to acknowledge the role Barney Frank has played. I worked with HRC in the past, he says, and look forward to do so more in the future.

9:00 p.m. — a note that all Republican candidates were invited to take part in a similar forum, but all declined.

Now we are taking a quick break. (My fingers are so happy!)

8:58 p.m. — Closing statement for Kucinich

“I send you great love. I want you to know that the love of the country, the love of equality, is something that everyone of us embodies, but we need a President to exemplify that. I cannot imagine what it would have been to have met the love of my life and then been told I couldn’t be married. That would be devastating. Because I understand that, I’m ready to be your next president.”

9:04 p.m. — We’re back with Mike Gravel (looks like he left his YouTube rock at home)

Q from Melissa: “You are unusual from your generation of straight white men” How do you speak to your generation?

A: First, he wants to thank his friends for getting him to the debate. Says he was originally “cut out of the pack.”

Says public sentiment is turning in relation to gay issues.

Melissa wants to know if there are many gay folks in Alaska.

Gravel says yes and lists a few of his friends.

Q: Do you think it is changing enough that you can put gay marriage up for a vote and have it win?

A: Yes, I think so.

9:08 p.m. — Gravel continued…

Marriage is a commitment between two human beings in love, says Gravel, not a religious establishment. “If there is anything we need more of in this world it is more love,” he says.

(I’m feeling all gushy and flighty with all this talk of love.)

Q from Jonathan: Can’t understand why people are supporting Obama, Edwards, Clinton over you?

A: People are playing it safe. They don’t care — they are playing a game in order to gain votes. This stance isn’t bringing me votes… it’s costing me votes.

Q: Did we go for marriage too soon?

A: I don’t think so. By telling people that you can’t use the word marriage — which has been misappropriated by religion — what you have to do is recognize that when people are telling you that you can’t be married is them telling you that you are second-class citizens.

In too many areas of our society we are adolescents. We haven’t had much leadership in the past 50 years to help us mature.

Q from Joe: Take a look back and tell us what you have done to advance rights that you are most proud of?

A: First piece of legislation in Alaska… I used political capital… it was the Human Rights Commission of Alaska. That was my first accomplishment and I felt it deeply. I’m not afraid of this issue… it shows the competition to be very weak. (Excellent point!)

9:15 p.m. — continuing with Gravel

Q: How help people with AIDS?

A: We have to do better with health care. We have to address the whole drug issue — no difference between marijuana and booze. It is the same of this country that we have so many millions of people in prison — prohibition failed in the 20s and here we go again.

The drug war.. not the drugs… is ravaging the inner cities.

Closing statement —

“For me it is justice and it’s human rights — it’s not just gay rights. You’ve got to assert your rights. No one is going to give you anything from on high. You have to step forward and I’ll stand up with you. I’ll do more for your cause than any other human being that walks the planet as your president.”

9:20 p.m. — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has entered the room.

Q from Jonathan — A the CNN YouTube debate you said you’d focus less on marriage and more on what’s achievable?

A: The nation is on a path to full inclusion. What is achievable is civil unions with full marriage rights with domestic partnership. We also need to redress some of the gross imbalances in the past.

We should get rid of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell. If you are asking someone to die, you don’t need to be giving them a lecture on sexual orientation.

9:25 p.m. — Richardson continued…

“You need to bring the public along — build public support.”

Q: You were asked by Imus if a staff member was a Spanish word that translates to “faggot” — do you regret taking part in this exchange and using that word?

A: I meant no harm when I said that on Imus. I was caught off guard. I apologize. You should look at my actions and not my words.

I’ve made mistakes and said things I regret. Richardson lists off things he’s done for the gay community in New Mexico. “Fully funded HIV/AIDS initiatives across the state.”

“Governor, I think everyone gets one mistake on Imus.”

How many states have DOMA, he asks. New Mexico doesn’t. Says he should get credit for that.

If the New Mexico hands you a marriage amendment, would you sign it?

Richardson says he isn’t going to give “flowery speeches” like others tonight. Says he will do what is achievable.

The panel seems to be getting frustrated with Richardson who is avoiding answering the question of where his heart is.

9:30 p.m. — Richardson continued…

Do you think homosexuality is born or learned?

I’m not a scientist, he says. I don’t like to answer definitions like that, that might be grounded in science or other things I don’t understand.

“As a Hispanic I grew up with people thinking that because of my darker skin that I wasn’t equal. Across the board, I’ve always felt every human being deserves the same rights.”

Melissa says she’s lived in Santa Fe and wonders about the Bark Beetles. (???)

Is homosexuality something that is a lifestyle choice and can be cured?

I don’t think it is a matter of preferences, I think it is a matter of equality. I have not only spoken about these issues, he says, I’ve done it.

Richardson closing statement —

Melissa, admire your efforts with breast cancer and environment.

“I want to lead this country because I believe I have the most experience and because I represent change. I also believe that I’m electable. Look at my record as a congressman and governor and see what I’ve done. The issues here, I’ve delivered on them and I’ll do the same as president.”

9:35 p.m. — Hillary Rodham Clinton is here. The last candidate. Does that mean she was the last to confirm?

The folks in the room are wondering if we’re going to have to hear about her cleavage again all today tomorrow.

Q: What about Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell

A: First, thanks to all. Simple answer is that we didn’t have a chance to repeal it with a Republican Congress and a “very negative” president. I want to do it as President.

We are talking now about steps to make in the Congress once we have a change in the White House.

I came out against Don’t Ask, Don’t tell in 1999. It was done by my husband’s administration at a time when there was a witch hunt going on. Important to recall how much of an advance Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was at the time, she says, although it wasn’t implemented appropriately.

9:40 p.m. — Clinton continued…

She’s still talking about the history of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell — how it came about, why it isn’t working.

Ends by saying when she’s president something will be done.

Q: Why oppose same-sex marriage.

A: Prefer to say I’m very positive about same-sex unions. (Gets a laugh from the audience there and here.)

In favor of civil unions of full equality, she says. She also believes states should maintain their jurisdictions over marriage. Gives HRC credit for leadership in stopping the federal marriage amendment, says it gave the states breathing room to make their own decisions.

Q: Can you sympathize with the concern that it is a state’s rights issue — it seems to work against the gay community?

A: I do see that and I respect the advocacy the community is doing on behalf of marriage, she says. “This has not been a long-term struggle left,” she says. (What’s that? The gay community hasn’t suffered long enough?)

She says the Republicans and Karl Rove have tried to use marriage as a political tool — we should be grateful for the Defense of Marriage Act.

Q from Melissa: I came out publicly during Clinton’s inaugural week — in the years that follow, we were thrown under the bus. Promises were broken. I understand politics and how hard it is… what are you going to do to be different?

A: Obviously, I don’t see it quite the way you describe it… I think that we didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but I believe there was a lot of honest effort going on. I remember marching in gay pride parade in New York City when I was running for Senate.

I think I am a gay leader now, she says in response to Melissa’s interruption question as to “why not be a leader now?”

“If I was sitting where you are sitting over the past 14 years, I think I’d feel the same way,” said Clinton.

As president she says she will have an opportunity to end the degrading not only of rights but of people as individuals.

9:50 p.m. — Why didn’t you respond to Pace immediately?

A: I did, she says. I went right at him on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Says she thought she did a good job, but then the phone started ringing and she realized that maybe she didn’t say enough or focused to heavily on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

(Clinton was asked about “I’m your girl” and she repeated it AGAIN!!!)

Closing statement —

“This country with all of its flaws has demonstrated a lot of resilience. As the years unfold we will see more. There are members who have suffered through a long period of suffering… I want to be a president who can clearly say to the American people that these are people we want to support as they live the best life they can. We won’t agree on everything, but I will be a president who will work for you. I hope we can be partners in trying to make our country a little bit better.”