PDA

View Full Version : "Iowa Caucus Digest" -- in globegazette.com




LizF
07-19-2007, 05:43 AM
http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2007/07/18/latest_news/doc469ec576a7248899744082.txt


Published: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 10:07 PM CDT

Iowa Caucus Digest

By The Globe Gazette Des Moines Bureau


IOWANS GIVE — Iowans contributed more than $415,000 to presidential campaigns during the first six months of 2007, according to federal election figures.

Republicans narrowly edged Democrats in Iowa giving, $208,840 to $206,896, according to numbers compiled by the Federal Election Commission. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney raised the most money in Iowa, collecting more than $108,000 statewide.

Romney was followed by three Democratic contenders — John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Edwards raised $67,566 in Iowa with $63,685 for Obama and just more than $41,000 for Clinton.

Edwards’ campaign said Wednesday he received donations from 2,468 Iowans this year and 2,355 gave less than $200. Obama has received donations from 1,864 Iowans this year, with 1,737 giving $200 or less.

“But this is not a fundraising contest, it’s a contest of issues and ideas, and who would be the strongest Democratic nominee for President,” said Edwards spokesman Dan Leistikow in a statement.

Nearly one-fourth of Iowa campaign money — $100,110 — came from Des Moines-area donors. Another $58,000 came from the capital city’s western and southern suburbs and nearby towns.

There were a few other interesting facts tucked into Iowa’s numbers:

— Ron Paul, who has spent very little time in Iowa, raised $8,533 here. That’s more than Iowans donated to familiar candidates such as Mike Huckabee, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden and Tom Tancredo.

— Iowa’s $415,000 may sound like a lot of money, but it’s a tiny fraction of the $262.8 million contributed to candidates nationwide. Californians donated $36.8 million to campaigns and New Yorkers kicked in $38.1 million.

— Illinois donors gave $12.1 million to candidates, including more than $7 million to Obama. Obama received more than three times as much money as the entire Republican field, which received $2.1 million in Illinois.

POPMA STAYS PUT — Veteran GOP activist Marlys Popma is sticking with John McCain’s campaign after all.

On Monday, Popma, McCain’s coalitions director in Iowa, announced that she was resigning from the campaign. But she reconsidered after receiving calls from his top advisors and McCain himself.

“I got apprehensive about whether the campaign was really committed to Iowa,” said Popma, who worried that McCain would pull the plug on his Iowa operation as he shrinks his struggling campaign.

“After I resigned, the intensity of the calls, and who it was that called me, completely convinced me that is not going to happen,” Popma said. “They are completely committed to participating in Iowa.”

McCain is depending on Popma to help him convince Iowa conservatives to take another look at his candidacy. Popma, a Dordt College grad who’s been active in caucus politics since 1996, believes the Arizona senator still has a chance here.

“The electorate is as fluid as I’ve ever seen it,” Popma said. McCain is expected to visit Iowa on Sunday.

BROWNBACK’S BACK — Sam Brownback has a busy schedule today (Thursday) and tomorrow in Iowa.

The Republican presidential candidate begins at his West Des Moines headquarters with the introduction of his Iowa Catholic leadership team.

He will spend the afternoon and at events in the Des Moines area, including an ice cream social, a house party. Later on, he will throw out the first pitch at the Iowa Cubs game.

On Friday morning, he will speak about rural economic issues at the Central Hawkeye Gas Engine and Tractor Power Show in Booneville. He has events later Friday in Ames, Boone and Radcliffe.

AFSCME CONVENTION — The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, is holding its Iowa convention and it’s a big draw for Democratic presidential hopefuls.

John Edwards speaks to the convention in Des Moines this afternoon. On Friday Bill Richardson speaks to union members at noontime and Hillary Clinton is expected to address the group Friday night. Barack Obama speaks Saturday night.