Stories

Just one week from today, each of Iowa’s 99 counties will host their Democratic county conventions. It’s a development that has sparked the previously successful grassroots organization of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama back into action.
In an email to supporters on Friday, the Obama campaign provided detailed information based on county of residence as well as [...]

Carrie Giddins, recently departed Iowa Democratic Party communications director, has been named the top political operative to watch by Politico today. Giddins, 33, left the IDP after a year stint coordinating press coverage for the Iowa caucus — an endeavor that had her working with more than 3,000 journalists from around the globe. She is [...]

Two of the nation’s Democratic presidential front-runners are not only hoping caucus night 2004 won’t repeat itself, they are taking steps to ensure it won’t. New caucus-goers — individuals of all ages who are most apt to be intimidated by the often lengthy and highly-charged Iowa caucuses — are going to have many opportunities to [...]

Why would a national organization with national name recognition choose to hold its first presidential forum in Iowa?
“This forum is clearly another example of why the Iowa caucuses are so important,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan said following Monday’s event. “Not only do organizers understand that presidential candidates are in our state, but it [...]

In a Des Moines Register column former United States Congressman Dave Nagle has issued a blistering assessment of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards’ comments to the Associated Press and takes a few swipes at Iowa politicos while he’s at it.
Yesterday John Edwards, the man who Iowa created in 2004, who New Hampshire allowed to survive [...]

(Latest statements from candidates located in comments.)
Two more Democratic presidential campaigns have issued statements about Michigan’s possible jump to Jan. 15, 2008, and their belief that Iowa should lead the nomination process.
“Gov. Bill Richardson believes Iowa should remain first in the primary calendar,” said Tom Reynolds, Richardson’s communications director in Iowa. “Iowans understand the responsibility [...]

Inasmuch as members of the press were waiting for that “uh-oh” moment from the Democratic contenders this morning during the debate at Drake University in Des Moines, participants in the audience were simply expecting more of the same.
“We’ve watched most of the debates,” said John Edwards supporter Theresa Navin of Winterset. “We’ve also seen most [...]

Sen. Chris Dodd, one of eight Democrats running for president, told members of the Iowa Democratic State Central Committee that “Iowa is going to be a blue state for years to come” and that his candidacy wasn’t a boyhood dream.

“I’ve come out here a lot over the years on behalf of Democrats,” Dodd told members [...]

On Saturday Elizabeth Edwards dropped by the Democratic State Central Committee meeting in Des Moines to thank Iowa Democrats for their hard work and attention to the issues.

“We want to applaud you for all the the work you do because it is important for us,” Edwards said. “The work you do is particularly important to [...]

At least two of the individuals listed on Campaigns & Elections magazine’s list of 2007 Rising Stars have direct ties to Iowa.
Former deputy coordinated campaign director for the Iowa Democratic Party Jessica VandenBerg was instrumental in the successful elections of U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and then-Gov. Tom Vilsack. She is currently a partner at [...]