CAUCUS DIGEST

Font Size:

By Quad-City Times | Tuesday, August 7, 2007 12:23 AM CDT | () comments

Passion play

Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback said Monday that this weekend’s Ames straw poll will be a contest between passion and money. And Brownback thinks he has a chance to pull off the upset.

The U.S. senator from Kansas is pinning high hopes on the straw poll, which, his backers believe, could help him emerge from a pack of lesser-known GOP contenders.

In the past, winning the poll has meant buying up thousands tickets and busing in legions of supporters. It’s a pricey strategy for a frugal, upstart campaign.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has built a formidable, well-financed organization in Iowa, is the favorite to win the straw poll.

“We can’t compete with the money,” Brownback said. “We do have a lot of passionate people on board. And they’re helping out intensely, giving long days and long hours.”

Brownback has campaigned hard to gain the support of Christian conservatives, who are expected to make up a large share of straw poll attendees.

Among the guests at Brownback’s straw poll tent will be Norma McCorvey, the “Jane Roe” of the Roe v. Wade decision who is now an anti-abortion activist, and Steve McEveety, executive producer of the film “The Passion of the Christ.”

Brownback is taking a day off the campaign trail today to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary.

“But I’ll be right back,” he said Monday.

Here come the Bidens

Presidential candidate Joe Biden is returning to Iowa and he’s bringing the family.

Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, his son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, and his sister, Valerie Biden Owens, will campaign in Iowa beginning Wednesday and continuing through Labor Day.

U.S. Sen. Biden of Delaware plans to make stops at the Iowa State Fair, the AFL-CIO state convention in Waterloo and the Hawkeye Federation of Labor conference in Cedar Rapids.

Redemption

Pastor Bill Devlin is spending time in Iowa trailing presidential candidates and encouraging young Iowans to get involved politically.

Devlin leads New York-based Redeem the Vote, the Christian right’s answer to Rock the Vote. Rock the Vote is the MTV-inspired effort that uses pop stars and others to encourage youth political activism. Many of the spokes-voters tend to be politically left-of-center celebrities.

Devlin is traveling the state this week, trying to get young Christians to attend this weekend’s GOP straw poll.

“We believe we’re starting a revolution among young people,” Devlin said after attending a Sam Brownback house party. “We don’t say, ‘Who would Jesus vote for?’ We do say, ‘What would Jesus do?’ ”

Devlin said his group signed up 79,000 new voters during the previous election cycle at concerts featuring Christian music acts.

Devlin concedes he has his work cut out for them in Iowa, where the average caucus-goer is in their mid-50s.

Huckabee’s back

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee opens a three-day Iowa campaign swing Wednesday leading up to Saturday’s straw poll in Ames.

On Wednesday, Huckabee will make stops in Spencer, Algona, Boone and West Des Moines.

He will campaign in central Iowa on Thursday and spend the day at the Iowa State Fair on Friday.