Last night, Senator Barack Obama appeared at the Apollo Theater in Harlem to an overflowing crowd. Senator Hillary Clinton was in Southern California yesterday speaking at an AIDS conference hosted by the Saddleback Valley Community Church. Governor Bill Richardson was in New York City inaugurating 75 chapters of his new Mi Familia con Richardson effort. Today, John Edwards delivers his own "Tear Down this Wall" speech at the fall DNC meeting in Washington, D.C.
But the real action is in the state of Iowa. On Saturday, December 1, 2007 Clinton, Dodd, Edwards, Kucinich and Obama will each take the stage at the Heartland Presidential Forum in Des Moines to discuss real issues with real people. As many as 5,000 people are expected to attend the event. The Forum will not be televised, but will be available on the web via streaming video at 2:30 p.m. EST. The event is being advertised as historic. There will be no planted questions or mainstream media sponsorships. The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is co-sponsoring the discussion with the Center for Community Change and the National Campaign for Community values, and has invited grassroots organizers from all over the country to participate.
Iowa will hold the first caucus/primary of the nation on January 3, 2008. Historically, the winners of the Iowa Caucuses who also win New Hampshire and South Carolina [usually] end up becoming the presidential nominees of their respective parties. Currently, the democratic favorites in Iowa are Obama and Clinton, followed by Edwards.
With the recent swiftboating of Senator Obama, Governor Richardson calling for a stop to campaign mudslinging and rumors of Senator Clinton planting questions during debates, the Heartland Forum could prove to be a new trend for candidates willing real questions from real people.
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Comments: 16
Deborah J Ledford
STACCATO
Andrew: Yes, I've read reports that confirm the planting of questions. Also, I agree that the issues will be discussed in more depth once we're down to two candidates. There does seem to be quite a difference between many of the candidates within their own parties, though.
I'd love to see the candidates here on gather to take OUR questions! If you would too, check out THIS ARTICLE BY TOM GERACE.