Category: Students

Following the campaign trail across Iowa has been an amazing experience. I’ve gotten
the chance to meet Democrats and Republicans in small towns and big cities all across the Hawkeye State. There have been inspiring speeches and unique moments throughout.

Micah Hammac runs the Shaky Tree Coffee Shop in Spencer, Iowa. A transplant from Portland, Oregon, Micah admitted that he was confused and intimidated by the Democratic caucus system when he arrived in Iowa: “It’s a little confusing you know. I wanted to go but I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what was going on.”

Against better judgment, I’m going to lay out my predictions for tonight’s Iowa caucus results. Based solely on the feeling I’ve developed while following the campaigns across the Hawkeye State for the past week I will predict:

Unlike many of his conservative counterparts, Thompson chose to lash out at the Democrats instead of his Republican competition: “the Democrats will lead us to weaker national defense, to a welfare state, and to a weaker, more divided country. And that’s what Thursday is really all about. Somebody has got to stand in the way of that.”

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack introduced Hillary Clinton to a packed gymnasium at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa yesterday. Vilsack told the crowd that the rapidly approaching caucuses made him think of a football analogy: “It’s the fourth quarter, we’re in the red zone, it’s first and goal, and I sure am glad that my QB is Hillary Clinton.”

Rush Limbaugh is not a fan of Mike Huckabee. In a recent show, Limbaugh noted Huckabee’s strong Christian faith, but criticized the former Arkansas governor for being too weak on conservative issues. Limbaugh’s comments echo a number of right wing voices who have called Huckabee’s record as governor into question.

John Edwards understands populism. Speaking to a packed room at a community college in northwestern Iowa, Edwards railed against the plight of the working class. His fiery speech lashed out against the greed of corporate America and influential lobbyists.

Only two of the 15 presidential hopefuls have placed campaign offices in Spencer, Iowa: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The town of 11,000 in rural northwestern Iowa is fairly removed from the beaten campaign trails of Des Moines and eastern Iowa.