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Across the street from the Democratic rally at the union hall Monday, a Miller-Meeks supporter pulls up to wave a sign as a Dave Loebsack supporter tries to get his message out, too. Courier photo by Mark Newman.
Democratic candidates make one last visit to Ottumwa
Of more than 6,000 early ballots, the bulk were from registered Democrats
OTTUMWA — Some of Iowa’s top Democratic names stopped in Ottumwa Monday in a last-minute swing before what most analysts think will be a very good day for the party.
Most observers believe Democrats will benefit from strong turnout in today’s election. Iowa voters submitted more than a half-million early ballots, more than 6,000 of which were from Wapello County, the bulk of which were from registered Democrats. But U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and Rep. Dave Loebsack warned an occasionally raucous crowd of party faithful not to take anything for granted.
After all, Loebsack’s win two years ago was one of the biggest surprises of the election anywhere in the nation. Few observers thought he had a chance against a 30-year incumbent, a fact he alluded to in his remarks.
“As long as you send me back Nov. 4, I’m going to keep coming back [to Ottumwa],” Loebsack said. “Two years makes a heck of a difference. … In fact, two years makes so much of a difference that I think this time most of you think I’m going to win.”
Much of what Loebsack said recounted his personal story, about his upbringing in a poor household and his work to get through college. Loebsack eventually wound up as a college professor before entering politics in 2006. He called on voters to help him “restore hope and opportunity to the people of the 2nd District.”
That, to Loebsack, means sending a Democratic supermajority to Congress. But a supermajority means holding seats the Democrats already have, including those held by Loebsack and Harkin.
While Loebsack’s race may be close, depending on which polls you look at, Harkin does not appear to be in danger. He routinely wins Iowa by a wide margin, a custom that shows no sign of changing this year.
That wasn’t always the case. Harkin ran for Congress the same year as his wife ran for county attorney. She won, he lost. He laughs about it now, saying he won in part because of his wife’s work in office.
Much of Harkin’s focus was on building up Loebsack’s credentials before he branched out into broader party themes. The first election for an incumbent is when, historically, the incumbent is most vulnerable; so Harkin talked about Loebsack’s work for the “Employee Free Choice Act,” a bill that shifts the rules for union recognition from a secret ballot to signature cards. The bill has strong support from unions, and Harkin’s comments received a warm reception at the UFCW Hall that housed Monday’s rally.
He also had kind words for Lt. Gov. Patty Judge. She arrived with the candidates, but left early. Judge isn’t on today’s ballot, but she toured with Harkin and Loebsack for much of the Monday. She reminded the audience of Democratic wins two years ago, which saw Democrats take control of both sides of the Legislature as well as the governor’s mansion for the first time in 40 years.
“Two years ago we came, we asked for your help. You delivered in a big way,” Judge said. “Can you imagine what will happen in Washington, D.C. with Tom Harkin and Dave Loebsack in the Senate and in the House, and Barack Obama in the White House?”
Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com
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