Joe Shannahan, Rob Tully and Jeff Link have made up Iowan's minds

[Debi]

Only the top three money raisers will be able to compete for the Democratic nomination :eyes:

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070405/NEWS/70405006/1001/NEWS

Dem. leaders say $ narrows field to 3-way race

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's eye-popping $25 million campaign disclosure impressed key Iowa political strategists Wednesday, but none said the money total would thin the field of Democratic candidates. They said Obama's campaign finance report issued earlier in the day establishes him as a serious contender, but they warned there is a long way to go before the Iowa caucuses in January.

''It's April and there is plenty of time for someone to stumble,'' said Democratic strategist Joe Shanahan.

Des Moines lawyer Rob Tully, who backs former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, said the Democratic race will likely come down to three candidates - Obama, Edwards and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

''The reality is all three of them are going to be competitive in the first four contests,'' Tully said.

<snip>

Democratic strategist Jeff Link agreed that the money raised by the top candidates means the real field of candidates is small.

<snip>

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Thanks guys, but I'd like to go ahead and attend a caucus if that's okay with you....x( (Are these kind of comments the way to ensure the voting public and smaller campaigns that Iowa is a state where everyone can compete?)

[rurallib]

1. Got a call from a friend who's working for Dodd yesterday

Dodd's stand on issues is probably the most democratic of all, save maybe Bill Richardson. I am a long way from making up this noggin. When people start telling me how to vote, I usually wonder what they want, like money.

[Debi]

2. I can't come up with a Democratic candidate who doesn't add to the conversation

during the primary (okay, I don't know enough about Gravel to say if he does/doesn't add to the debate). Can you imagine what the 2004 primary would have been like without Kucinich/Dean/Clark?

Money, money, money. Yes, it is necessary to run for office, I get that. But for these three 'Democratic Leaders' to presume that Biden/Dodd/Richardson/Kucinich have no chance and don't add to the conversation during the primary because their millions weren't in the double digits is absurd.

AND, as ambassadors of the state of Iowa each of them ought to be talking about the openness of our state and the ability of a candidate that doesn't have boatloads of money to compete here. Tully above all of them should know that.

AND if the primary race is to be decided solely on money raised. Why was Howard Dean not the Democratic nominee? Really guys, you did our state and ALL the candidates a disservice with your comments.

[IA_Seth]

3. Dodd

Ya know, I have a feeling that Dodd is gaining some traction lately. I unfortunately missed an opportunity to meet with Dodd in a one-on-two setting (that was laid on a golden platter for me by a fellow DUer), but I am not discounting the guy completely at this point.

His mile-long voting record surely contains some smear-fuel, but what he is saying now-a-days is alright!

[Debi]

4. But gee Seth, he ONLY has $7.5 million cash on hand

That's not enough to compete in Iowa :eyes:

I haven't met him either (and hope he makes it to Black Hawk County soon..hint..hint..campaign staff lurkers).

As for voting records, you can see how some here feel about Biden, Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Etc. I don't think the Democrats have an unblemished candidate. (:rofl: I was going to try to say something nice about the republicans but then I just laughed so hard I snorted!! Certainly fans of marriage aren't they for one!!!)

[IA_Seth]

5. Money Shmoney.

I know it matters, and I know it matters BIG in some circumstances, but money alone doesn't win caucuses, which is what the campaigns should be focused on right now.

A TV ad, a newsprint spot, they might influence someone to check a box on voting day, but when it comes time to stand up in your own neighborhood and declare your support for a candidate, and possibly even speak about your candidate in hopes of influencing your neighbors, well I guess I would think that actions, ideas, and retail politics are going to matter moreso than a fat bank account and fancy TV ads.

Of course I have been wrong and disappointed before.

I am still undecided at this point (unless Clark announces), but my feelings toward the 'big 3' aren't getting any better. They all seem to be typical politician types and haven't really energized me behind their ideas. The focus on money, and lack of focus on Iran and preventing another war, has really turned me off. I will vote Dem, hell or high water, but so far no one has actually motivated me to want to go door-to-door for them.

[Debi]

6. You sound like a walking-talking caucus encyclopedia Seth

and that just makes my heart go pitter-patter :loveya:

:yourock:

[justgamma]

7. I met Dodd last weekend.

I really like that guy. He sat next to me having coffee. There were about 10 people there.

I like his positions. The one thing I didn't like was his answer to a heathcare question. All he could talk about was how great it was to do away with smoking in restaurants. Not much of a solution there.

When asked about agriculture. He gave an honest answer. He said that he didn't know much about it, so he just did whatever Harkin told him to do.

He is sort of a touchy feely kind of guy. He had his hand on my shoulder the whole time he was telling a story about being in the movie "Dave"

I told him he better watch out or they would start calling him a Hollywood Liberal. He laughed.

[Debi]

8. Dodd and Biden seem to be the only candidates having these smaller

meetings giving people the opportunity to actually talk WITH them and ask questions. Although I enjoyed attending the Clinton reception I think I was the only person there who wasn't an elected official, no 'regular' folks around.