Longtime caucus-goers reflect on what's changed, constant

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By Kurt Allemeier | Saturday, December 01, 2007 |

Photos by Kevin E. Schmidt/Quad-City times Charlotte Mohr, who has been a longtime caucus-goer and strong GOP supporter, looks through a photo album of candidates she has met. In 1987, she hosted then Vice President George H.W. Bush to her family’s farm. Buy this Photo

Whether it is 1960 or 2008, serving lemonade to a vice president or shaking hands with senators and governors remains part of the up-close and personal Iowa caucuses.

The participants, more than the process, are changing.

“People my age are always there, but you are starting to see young people,” Charlotte Mohr, 85, of Eldridge, Iowa, said. “We have a lot to share, and more people are getting involved.”

A staunch Republican, Mohr’s family hosted then-Vice President George H.W. Bush at their family farm in 1987 before the 1988 caucuses.

Audrey Linville, 76, of Davenport, a long-time Democratic activist, has seen many new faces at campaign events this year. She should know. She’s met every Democratic presidential candidate in this year’s field except former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel.

“Every time I go to these things, you see more and more people, and some are independents and some are Republicans,” she said.

Linville recalls volunteering for John F. Kennedy in the 1960 caucuses, while Mohr has lost track of the first time she caucused and for whom.

They were politically active long before the 1976 Iowa caucuses thrust the event into the national spotlight, when a little-known Georgia governor named Jimmy Carter won the state and eventually the nation. His Iowa victory propelled Carter to the Democratic presidential nomination.

The women remember when the caucuses were held in living rooms across the state, before moving into schools to accommodate more people. The number of people getting involved continues to grow as presidential candidates aim for a quick start to the season of primaries amid a media spotlight.

Despite their differing political leanings, the women share some observations about the caucuses. Over the years, they’ve seen candidates become more polished, spend more on advertising, campaigns lengthen from months to years, and the caucus date come earlier and earlier.

Mohr thinks the campaigning is less personal, while Linville thinks the long campaigns are too grinding for the candidates and their supporters, giving and hearing the same speeches.

“It is the same old thing,” Linville said. “I could give you their lines verbatim.”

Neither are a fan of the Jan. 3 caucus date for 2008.

“I think they should have a sabbatical over the holidays,” Mohr said. “I was hoping they’d lay off during the holidays. That is family time.”

Linville warns that her true opinion of the Jan. 3 date is unprintable.

“It is nasty,” she said. “I want all the political ads to disappear for the Christmas season.”

They enjoy Iowa’s “first in the nation” status and have taken advantage of it, meeting as many candidates as possible. Both have pictures of themselves with the lions of their parties and have met many, from President George W. Bush and former President Bill Clinton to U.S. Sen. Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Mohr has a picture of her shaking hands with first lady Laura Bush, while Linville gushes about former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who she had her picture taken with earlier this year.

“If we weren’t in Iowa, we wouldn’t get the chance to meet the people who govern,” Linville said, adding that she has several rolls of film needing developing.

Both women have volunteered their time over the years. They recommend people get involved in the process.

“The main thing is to have a candidate and work for them,” Mohr said.

Both women are coy about whom they will support at the caucus. Mohr was an early supporter of former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who has dropped from the Republican race. Now she considers herself uncommitted. Linville says she is undecided but has a John Edwards sign in her front yard.

“If the rest want to put signs in my yard, they’re welcome to,” Linville said.

Kurt Allemeier can be contacted at (563) 383-2360 or kallemeier@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.