Michigan, Iowa and the Games the Politicos Play
by: Lynda Waddington
Thursday (10/11) at 15:09 PM
Iowans are by and large straightforward people. Given that, it should come as no surprise that to the average Iowan, the Michigan ballot situation seems pretty cut and dried: Democratic presidential hopefuls who honor their four-state pledge and support the nomination calendar won't be on the Wolverine State's ballot. As with most things in life, and especially politics, the situation is more complicated.
Five individuals connected to five different campaigns have confirmed -- but only under condition of anonymity -- that
the situation that developed in connection with the Michigan ballot is not at all as it appears on the surface. The campaign for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, arguably fearing a poor showing in Michigan, reached out to the others with a desire of leaving New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as the only candidate on the ballot. The hope was that such a move would provide one more political obstacle for the Clinton campaign to overcome in Iowa.
Lynda Waddington ::
Michigan, Iowa and the Games the Politicos Play Despite speaking in confidence, sources were quick to point out that the discussions were not the final deciding factor when candidates' names were removed from the ballot.
"Yes, such discussion did take place," said one national staffer, "but that doesn't mean we were influenced by it. The decision to pull from the Michigan ballot -- or other renegade states' ballots, for that matter -- was made the day we signed the pledge with the four early states."
A contact within a second campaign agreed.
"The belief that this would somehow hurt front-running Clinton in Iowa was icing on an already sweet cake," he said. "The real meal, however, is the good will the move generates not only in Iowa, but in all the states who are playing by the DNC rules and that don't appreciate all of this jumping and chaos."
Candidates who remain on the Michigan ballot are Clinton, Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel and (not by his own choosing) Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. A person close to the Dodd campaign said the push to make Clinton look bad in Iowa and the feeling of being played "like a political pawn" were items discussed by the campaign. But, standing on principle isn't always a comfortable position.
"The campaign did what it thought was right," the source said. "The hope is, of course, that since we were the first to sign the pledge letter and that because we have been so adamant in support of the first states -- especially Iowa -- that those who caucus and vote in the early states will know we support them and their place in the process."
To further drive home their support of Iowa being first, the Dodd campaign is planning several multi-day trips by the senator to the state. Another campaign staff person has estimated that Dodd will be on the ground in Iowa more than 20 days each month between now and caucus night.
It is undoubtedly a gamble for the Dodd campaign. The residents of Iowa and New Hampshire are known for their tenacity when it comes to their status of first caucus and primary in the nation. But Dodd isn't the only candidate with his dice on the table.
Clinton, who recently took the lead in Iowa polling, must try to balance opinions in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada with those of voters in other states. While a first-place finish in Iowa can't really provide her the boost it could to other candidates, a poor showing would put a damper on her nearly established inaugural parade across the nation.
The remaining campaigns have just as much -- if not more -- at stake. For them, the cards are on the table, and it's Iowa or bust. Further, there are some campaigns who may now have to shrug off perceptions by one of the top-tier campaigns that they will act more as allies than as foes -- so long as Clinton is the target.
