Originally posted by: Perry404
I have to apologize for my joke. I don't even know anyone from Iowa so obviously I am ignorant about Iowans.
On another subject...what are your impressions of how Paul is understood by the average Iowan? Are you satisfied with how his message is coming across?
I'm over it, I'm just fearful that because a few evangelicals promoting someone like Hickabee or pabster is representing Iowa here that we all look like a bunch of nut jobs.
My favorite thing about Iowa is the people. You'll hear this from lots of Iowa expats who've come back. It's a purple state and can go either way. Everytime I travel the nation I am always reminded about how reasonable and how much the average Iowan avoids extremes. Sure, we can't satisfy all the nation all the time with the political picks. Some individuals wouldn't be satisfied till they alone play kingmaker. IA isn't a kingmaker by any means anyway if you look at the trackrecord.
The candidates are forced to do face-to-face retail politics here, and you can start a campaign here without needing millions of dollars. This is the advantage to starting in Iowa.
Even though I dislike him, this has been proven with Huckabees rise. I think partially removing money from the early race is good for this country, where money (mainly corporate) already influences politics far too much. While Huck sucks, in the future this might play in the favor to some other underfunded candidate with a powerful message. Most of the disdain for starting in Iowa seems to come from a lack of understanding as to the advantages of it, and mere contempt for flyover country, which is sad as we're one nation.
Everyone likes to feel elite and look down their noses at the next guy to justify a false sense of supremacy.
With this being said, I think the message comes across well if they've been exposed to it. If we had the foot soldiers, which we do in some areas (my area has always needed more) then you can convince people. Few shut out the idea that the war needs to be stopped.
The saddest part is the Republican base that seemingly refuses to do any real research of their own on the candidates, I feel alot of people are on autopilot that I speak with. Even with those people, they don't feel comfortable with what's going on.
I feel I represent the average Iowa Republican myself when I say that I'd be a Democrat right now if they'd gotten us out of Iraq already. That would've demonstrated leadership to me. We can't follow if there's no one to lead.
This made a lot of sense to Iowans. The only ones who it wouldnt are in the minority like Pabster. Iowans like that wouldn't dare say their pro-death demagoguery in public here, it's pretty looked down upon. You'll find people want to save face in the war. We both know Ron offers the best way to do that. Most thoughtful, university educated Iowa Republicans have abandoned the party, I'd say if Obama is the Democratic nominee in a general election Iowa goes Blue. No Republican short of RP has a chance of beating Obama here. If it's Hillary it's a tossup again this election.
About as many people feel she's a great candidate here, as people who think staying in Iraq is a good idea.
The state is receptive to RP's message, but I fear too little money was spent here. NH seems to be where they decided to focus on early in the cycle. Which is fine, you gotta call those shots. This might be due to perceptions that the message wouldn't be popular here when I personally feel it is or could be more so. People are more receptive here than out of state campaigners assume.
Focusing on his abortion stance and articulating his war stance more would have helped if results don't turn out as we hope for. Evangelical or not, most people here don't grasp the necessity of abortion. Most of all, articulating his view that the states should decide these things rather than federal tyranny would probably be even more popular. I do feel the anti-amnesty crowd, a small but fanatical bunch, have now rallied behind Ron Paul now that Tancredos out.
I have nervous anticipation for our results, it's a total tossup here and but am optimistic about NH. A given is that the results will shock a lot of people, I think here in Iowa a shock to the system will be delivered with whatever Ron ends up placing. I suspect it will be better than the pundits and polls say.
Dividing up the pro-death vote by all the other candidates besides Ron is the biggest benefit. The base will probably cannibalize itself between all the other weak candidates and we'll pull out with the independents and Democrats who didn't side with Obama. With no strong peace candidate in the Democratic party we seem to have most of those people as well.
Most Obama people I've met here don't seem terribly concerned with coming out to vote.. while I heard one RP supporter say he'd ice skate to the caucus if he had to. I think we got the best of the Independents and first-time caucus goers (which I'm one of).
Overall, the message works here, but I'm not sure the attention was placed here early on.
