Chicago Tribune
07-21-06
Obama trip to Iowa ups buzz on '08
By Jeff Zeleny
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON -- He's been to Minnesota and Missouri. He's gone to
Nebraska. And, of course, he lives in Illinois.
But as he travels across the country campaigning for Democrats, Sen. Barack
Obama has purposefully avoided one politically potent place in the middle: Iowa.
Until now.
Obama will make his Iowa debut in September at Sen. Tom Harkin's annual
steak fry. The venue is one of the most sought-after platforms in Democratic
politics, a rural fairground south of Des Moines that has hosted Bill Clinton three
times and a string of political luminaries over nearly three decades.
"Basically, my rule has been that if I can help in the '06 cycle, then I'm going to
do it," Obama said Thursday. "The only reason not to do it would be the
symbolism of Iowa, which probably wasn't a good reason for us not to help out."
In an interview, Obama said no greater significance should be attached to his
trip to Iowa. Harkin extended the invitation and he accepted, he said, just as he
has for other Democrats.
"I've already been to 30 states," he said. "Why not Iowa?"
But in Iowa, a steak fry is not always simply a steak fry.
The state's precinct caucuses have helped launch the race for the White House
for 30 years. Seldom does a week go by--even in off-presidential years like this
one--when an ambitious Democrat or Republican isn't dropping by the state to
court activists for 2008.
The Harkin event marks Obama's first dip into the circuit.
"There is a lot of curiosity about him," Harkin said. "People want to see him and
want to hear him."
The trip comes as speculation builds about whether Obama is flirting with a
presidential run or is simply taking pleasure in the speculation. He is scheduled
to travel to New Orleans on Friday to tour the city as the first anniversary of
Hurricane Katrina approaches.
The Iowa appearance opens another chapter in a publicity-filled introduction to
the Senate. In October, a nationwide book tour will begin, stretching through the
end of the year and beyond.
Last year, former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) attracted more than 1,500
Democratic activists at the Harkin steak fry. In 2003, Clinton made his third
appearance at the event in Indianola, Iowa, speaking to a crowd of 8,000. In
1996, Clinton drew an audience of about 10,000 people.
Since taking office 18 months ago, Obama has become a top fundraising draw
for Democrats, delivering speeches from California to Connecticut. Along the
way, he has started to compile a list of people in his audiences, which is added to
his database of supporters.
Steffen Schmidt, a professor of political science at Iowa State University,
said he would be surprised if Obama runs for president in 2008. But he believes
the appearance will energize Democrats unlike any other speaker would,
perhaps with the exception of Clinton.
"Barack Obama is this very interesting new magical figure for the Democratic
Party," Schmidt said. "It's too early for him to run for president, but if he continues
the kind of political agenda and the kind of style of politics that he practices--even
as a senator--at some point he may become a very realistic candidate for
president."