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Nationwide message now must past caucus test

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By the Quad-City Times | Friday, September 21, 2007 |

Boy, those Democrats sure can talk. Public TV anchor and forum host Judy Woodruff started off discretely flashing a small card to signal times up when candidates talked over time limits during Thursday's Democratic presidential debate. By night’s end, her card was getting a workout after nearly every question. Candidates delved into policy details that will mean something to those ardent caucus-goers. But it probably made dull TV to the rest of the nation.

The AARP forum did its job of elevating health care and financial security, the two banner topics for the evening. Woodruff brought clarity to the Democrats’ race by extracting this succinct answer on universal health care: Not one of the five candidates favors a single-payer system. Not one.

But the candidates frequently proved those topics can’t be discussed in a vacuum. When asked how each would pay for expanded government-backed health insurance, each relied on less military spending, savings through smarter use of technology and, in most cases, tax increases for big earners.

The most compelling differences are the levels and nature of experience among the candidates. Sen. Clinton pointed to know-how she gleaned as first lady. Joe Biden referenced Social Security reforms he negotiated with Bob Dole way back in the mid 1970s. He even swiped at Gov. Bill Richardson’s comparatively modest New Mexico statehouse experience, until Richardson reminded all he also served in the Clinton cabinet.

In the end, Woodruff drifted from the stated topics to address the No. 1 issue in the campaign: Iraq. It was Biden who stated with certainty: “Folks, you’re looking at one of us on this stage to end this war.”

Perhaps. The stage was missing at least three Democratic candidates. And the AARP has another forum scheduled Oct. 25 in Sioux City for Republican candidates to give it a shot.

Thanks to the five candidates who did attend, and thanks to AARP and Iowa Public Television for staging this important event at the Adler. The candidate’s messages may have been pitched to millions of public television viewers nationwide. But before any of those viewers have a chance to act on it, those messages will have to resonate with those in the Adler crowd. How important are those caucus activists?

Consider: About 2,000 filled the Adler. That’s better than a third of the 5,000 or so who participated in the last Democratic presidential caucus in Scott County.