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The Iowa Caucuses, Part One
February 8th, 1988
An article appearing in the Des Moines Register
Results of the Caucuses Still Anyone's Guess
As the candidates for both the Democratic and Republican parties continue to frantically crisscross our state, looking for every last vote, most experts are predicting close races in both caucuses tonight.
The most recent polling indicates a tight race between former Colorado Senator Gary Hart, Illinois Senator Paul Simon and businessman Lee Iacocca for the Democrats. On the Republican side, the national front-runner, Vice President George Bush, appears to be trailingKansas Senator Bob Dole and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle here in Iowa.
But, as a whole, both elections appear to be extremely tight.
We at the Des Moines Register, as writers second and citizens of Iowa first, encourage all of our readers to go to their local caucus location tonight and exercise your democratic right to vote, no matter the candidate.
You all have the power to change thedirection of this nation. Don't let that power mean nothing.
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10:07 AM
A conversation between Jack Kemp and a reporter
"Jack, Jack, can I get a comment this morning?"
"I didn't know we were on a first name basis, but sure, what's your question?"
"Well, Mr. Kemp, recent polling has put you at less than 5% here in Iowa. According to other polls, you aren't faring much better nationally. How do you expect to be the Republican nominee at this time?"
"Well, I'm confident that I can win this party's nomination. I think our support here in Iowa is being undersold. It seems to me that this battle between Bush and Quayle is already becoming tiresome to the common people of this state, and of the nation. I think I can present an alternative."
"Well, this brings me to the question I am sure you will answer a dozen times before the day is out. How do you think you'll do in tonight's all-important caucus?"
"I am a confident man, I'm a former football player, so naturally I am a confident guy. I think we're going to win here in Iowa tonight."
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11:22 AM
A conversation between Al Gore and his campaign manager, Fred Martin
"Be honest, Fred. You know better than anybody. What's the best we can do tonight?"
"Well, we aren't going to win..."
"I could've told you that. Anybody could looking at the polls. But do we have enough to keep the campaign going? If I want a shot at the VP spot we need to have a little leverage."
"My projections have us at somewhere between 9% and 15%. I think that if we can break double digits we can keep fighting."
"Good, good.... How's our fundraising looking?"
"Jackson being in the race is doing us no favors. If you were the only Southern candidate, we would be rolling in dough. As it is, we are struggling. Like I said, break double digits and we'll be fine."
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12:44 PM
A Phone Call Between Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders
"Hello! It's good to hear from you today, Bernie. I trust that you are well."
"Sure I am, but I'd be doing a lot better if I knew you were going to pull through and win that Caucus today. How're you feeling about your chances?"
"To be completely frank, we are done for in this state. You know it as well as I do, Iowa is moderate and lily white. These people just aren't my base."
"As long as Iacocca doesn't win this one. Big business is killing this country, Jesse, and if he becomes president it will only get worse. I just don't understand how people don't see it..."
"Bernie, while I have you, I just wanted to thank you again for your endorsement. I know it was hard for you, especially in your home state---"
"Ain't that the truth! Jesse, I'll tell you, I was giving a town hall in support of you a few weeks back and when I was done I walked off the stage and a woman, I didn't know this woman, but this woman slapped me in the face. Can you believe that?"
"The way that some of these lily white states are? I'm not surprised at all. As I was saying, it took a lot of courage. You and I share a lot of the same ideas. I'd really enjoy getting to work with you sometime down the road."
"Me too, Jesse, me too. Best of luck today."
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2:43 PM
“I tell ya Barack, I think tonight's gonna be a great night”
Paul Simon was smiling as he straightened his bow tie.
“Yes, this win is exactly the thing we need to get our campaign up and running!”
“Thank goodness for Harkin's endorsement, without it, that bully Iacocca would be doing just as well as Quayle is for the Republicans.”
“Yes, but we can’t count him out just yet. Both him and Hart have run good campaigns here.”
“Always the optimist, aren’t ya Barack?”
*Laughter*
“Well even with my less than optimistic view on this race, I still think we have a fantastic shot.”
“Great, let’s hope the cards are in our favor”
-Conversation between Paul Simon and assistant Barack Obama
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So this concludes Part One of our two-part mega update. Tune in in 90 minutes to see the conclusion of the Iowa Caucuses.
An article appearing in the Des Moines Register
Results of the Caucuses Still Anyone's Guess
As the candidates for both the Democratic and Republican parties continue to frantically crisscross our state, looking for every last vote, most experts are predicting close races in both caucuses tonight.
The most recent polling indicates a tight race between former Colorado Senator Gary Hart, Illinois Senator Paul Simon and businessman Lee Iacocca for the Democrats. On the Republican side, the national front-runner, Vice President George Bush, appears to be trailingKansas Senator Bob Dole and Indiana Senator Dan Quayle here in Iowa.
But, as a whole, both elections appear to be extremely tight.
We at the Des Moines Register, as writers second and citizens of Iowa first, encourage all of our readers to go to their local caucus location tonight and exercise your democratic right to vote, no matter the candidate.
You all have the power to change thedirection of this nation. Don't let that power mean nothing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10:07 AM
A conversation between Jack Kemp and a reporter
"Jack, Jack, can I get a comment this morning?"
"I didn't know we were on a first name basis, but sure, what's your question?"
"Well, Mr. Kemp, recent polling has put you at less than 5% here in Iowa. According to other polls, you aren't faring much better nationally. How do you expect to be the Republican nominee at this time?"
"Well, I'm confident that I can win this party's nomination. I think our support here in Iowa is being undersold. It seems to me that this battle between Bush and Quayle is already becoming tiresome to the common people of this state, and of the nation. I think I can present an alternative."
"Well, this brings me to the question I am sure you will answer a dozen times before the day is out. How do you think you'll do in tonight's all-important caucus?"
"I am a confident man, I'm a former football player, so naturally I am a confident guy. I think we're going to win here in Iowa tonight."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11:22 AM
A conversation between Al Gore and his campaign manager, Fred Martin
"Be honest, Fred. You know better than anybody. What's the best we can do tonight?"
"Well, we aren't going to win..."
"I could've told you that. Anybody could looking at the polls. But do we have enough to keep the campaign going? If I want a shot at the VP spot we need to have a little leverage."
"My projections have us at somewhere between 9% and 15%. I think that if we can break double digits we can keep fighting."
"Good, good.... How's our fundraising looking?"
"Jackson being in the race is doing us no favors. If you were the only Southern candidate, we would be rolling in dough. As it is, we are struggling. Like I said, break double digits and we'll be fine."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12:44 PM
A Phone Call Between Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders
"Hello! It's good to hear from you today, Bernie. I trust that you are well."
"Sure I am, but I'd be doing a lot better if I knew you were going to pull through and win that Caucus today. How're you feeling about your chances?"
"To be completely frank, we are done for in this state. You know it as well as I do, Iowa is moderate and lily white. These people just aren't my base."
"As long as Iacocca doesn't win this one. Big business is killing this country, Jesse, and if he becomes president it will only get worse. I just don't understand how people don't see it..."
"Bernie, while I have you, I just wanted to thank you again for your endorsement. I know it was hard for you, especially in your home state---"
"Ain't that the truth! Jesse, I'll tell you, I was giving a town hall in support of you a few weeks back and when I was done I walked off the stage and a woman, I didn't know this woman, but this woman slapped me in the face. Can you believe that?"
"The way that some of these lily white states are? I'm not surprised at all. As I was saying, it took a lot of courage. You and I share a lot of the same ideas. I'd really enjoy getting to work with you sometime down the road."
"Me too, Jesse, me too. Best of luck today."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2:43 PM
“I tell ya Barack, I think tonight's gonna be a great night”
Paul Simon was smiling as he straightened his bow tie.
“Yes, this win is exactly the thing we need to get our campaign up and running!”
“Thank goodness for Harkin's endorsement, without it, that bully Iacocca would be doing just as well as Quayle is for the Republicans.”
“Yes, but we can’t count him out just yet. Both him and Hart have run good campaigns here.”
“Always the optimist, aren’t ya Barack?”
*Laughter*
“Well even with my less than optimistic view on this race, I still think we have a fantastic shot.”
“Great, let’s hope the cards are in our favor”
-Conversation between Paul Simon and assistant Barack Obama
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So this concludes Part One of our two-part mega update. Tune in in 90 minutes to see the conclusion of the Iowa Caucuses.
- Gentleman Biaggi
- Word Count: 900