Clinton Campaign Recruits from Out of State for Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner

[gateley]

When the Iowa Democratic Party started selling tickets to its 2008 Jefferson Jackson Dinner, the state party’s largest fundraiser — and candidate cattle call — of the year, it kicked off something of an arms race between the three top Democratic candidates for president. Each scrambled to buy up as many tickets as possible, to the point that members of the public who did not have tickets already reserved for them because of previous donations to the IDP were unable to buy them at all. (Update: The issues that I’ve heard about from members of the public trying to buy tickets, it seems, may have been overstated. Carrie Giddins, IDP Communications Director, tells me there are still a few balcony seats available and that, although the campaigns were particularly active in buying tickets this year, some members of the public were able to buy tickets through the party.)

Now, campaigns have to find ways to actually fill all of the seats they bought, and it may be trickier than it sounds. Getting over 1,500 signed supporters to Des Moines next Saturday will be a struggle for any candidate, and I don’t envy the people in charge of crowd-building for it.

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign, which is either ahead or tied in the polls in Iowa (depending on whom you ask), has begun recruiting supporters from other Midwestern states to help build up their crowd. In an email obtained last night, Clinton’s Political Director for the Midwest, Sean Johnson, asks out-of-staters to come to Iowa for a “day of action,” which will include a canvass during the day and — perhaps more importantly — a chance to waive signs and look good on camera at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner.

This will be the biggest battle of optics of the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. John Edwards, and Clinton are each planning to hold rallies in Des Moines leading up to the dinner. Clinton may not want to be outdone like she was at Sen. Tom Harkin’s annual Steak Fry in September, when thousands of Obama supporters marched in unison with their candidate to the Indianola Balloon Field, far outshining the Clinton campaign’s fairly impressive barrage of yard signs blanketing the city.

The Clinton campaign’s email to out-of-state supporters is reprinted below the fold. They may argue that every campaign will resort to this tactic before next Saturday, but as of yet I have not seen evidence that any others are doing so in public.

Please sign-up to volunteer for the Iowa Day of Action, when volunteers from all over Iowa and border states in the Midwest will join to go canvassing, to rally for Hillary and attend the Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner event.

If you can join, please signup at:
www.hillaryclinton.com/iowadayofaction <http://www.hillaryclinton.com/iowadayofaction>

What: Hillary Clinton Campaign - Iowa Day of Action

When: Saturday, November 10
Goal is to arrive by noon on Saturday.
Out of town travelers staying through the JJ event will likely want to stay overnight. Information about hotels with availability and room blocks for volunteers will be shared to anyone requesting such information.

Where: Indianola Field Office
602 ½ N. Jefferson Street
Indianola, IA 50125
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Directions

Activities: Everyone who is able to attend will be trained to assist with canvassing or phone banking in the area.
Volunteers will be invited to a RALLY with Hillary in advance of the dinner.
Volunteers will be able to attend the Iowa Democratic Party’s JJ event.

Notes: Carpool with friends and reserve rooms as soon as you can. Volunteers will be on their own to cover travel expenses and hotel accommodations.

Bring a Friend: Share the attached flyer with your friends and networks of Hillary Supporters. Make sure everyone signs up at
www.hillaryclinton.com/iowadayofaction <http://www.hillaryclinton.com/iowadayofaction> .

If you have questions about the weekend, please email:
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>

I hope you can make it!

Thanks,
Sean

############################################
Sean P. Johnson

Midwest Region Political Director
Hillary Clinton for President


http://cmondisplay.com/2007/11/03/clinton-campaign-recruits-from-out-of-state-for-iowa-jefferson-jackson-dinner/

[geek tragedy]

1. Will they be wearing orange hats? n/t

[flyarm]

2. Soo how does that sit with Iowans??

i really feel like we are living the days of Pravda..

fly

[dflprincess]

3. I've never seen an offer to the annual dinner before

but every 4 years we in Minnesota get calls from whatever candidate we're supporting for "action days" in Iowa. I imagine Democrats in all states surrounding Iowa get these.

And really, does it matter who has the most signs waving at the dinner? I suppose CSPAN may broadcast it, but who but the most hardcore are going to watch it? And they will all know what's going on.

[zulchzulu]

4. Every JJ Dinner has people from neighboring states to help out

I was at the one in 2003. It was a blast!

I can tell you that there will be a LOT of Obama supporters who live in Iowa there. Based on what I've heard from people who've been to Iowa recently as well as myself, there is very thin Clinton support visibly and the Clinton offices are complaining about lack of supplies or support from the national campaign.

This should be interesting to see what happens.

[Debi]

6. The JJ in 2003 was out of this world!

Between the receptions - the sign wars - the shouting wars - the entrances of the candidates (yes, Dean's was the coolets) - the after dinner receptions. It was an exhausting night but a very memorable one. We actually went back to our hotel and watched parts of the replay on C-SPAN b/c we were so riled up after the evening!

[zulchzulu]

7. I videotaped a lot of the action in the stands and pre and after parties

It was cool seeing all the people for all the different candidates with signs and cheering. Lots of national media trucks and media celebs walking around.

The shouting wars were a blast!

[Debi]

8. I just know this year is going to be even crazier n/t

[Debi]

5. As long as there isn't a straw poll or other type of support count at the JJ

it shouldn't matter where the people come from who attend the dinner. Sure, people may see the crowd on TV and think 'wow, that candidate sure has a lot of support' but most figure it out. Look at Tom Harkin's steak fry and how many people the Obama Campaign bussed in for the event. It's a great fundraiser for the Iowa Democratic Party but I hope actual Iowans were the first choice for the campaigns to offer tickets.

[gateley]

9. Is this something that would be covered live on C-Span, do you think? nt

[Debi]

10. Has been in the past so I would imagine it will be

I hope they do a little pre-show so folks can see the actual sign wars and the shouting. There is nothing like it.