Looking Back

I don’t know what to say. Three days, 10 hours of sleep, six towns and countless interviews later, TMN Politics is packing up and heading home to Missouri.

We’ve seen all the candidates, witnessed them in moments of humility and defeat, as well as victory. We’ve seen them at a human level and in times of staged theatrics. We’ve stood in the throng of the press, chased down interviews and eaten more fast food than any human being should be asked to consume.

And what did we gain? Other than the blisters and the bruises and the loss of dignity, as we ran alongside campaign buses in high heels?

We gained insight into one of the most unexplainable political phenomena in the world: the fact that every four years, eyes turn to one Midwestern state that will influence a national decision that impacts billions of people around the globe. For three days, the Iowa caucuses outshine all other news including war, famine and crime.

We gained firsthand experience in observing political candidates, their moments of spectacle and meekness. Rick Santorum seeking out a young girl who fainted to give her an autograph was an incredibly human act. Mitt Romney’s intricately staged campaign events were planned exhibitions that reflected his character. Michele Bachmann’s malt order softened her professional exterior.

We gained experience in our craft. We bumped elbows with photographers and beat out national press for interviews. We learned to stand our ground and find an interesting angle. Instead of pressing to the front of the crowd, we often rushed to the back, seeking out those in moments of conflict, such as the occupiers and Ron Paul supporters forcibly removed from Mitt Romney events.

But mostly, we gained confidence: confidence in ourselves as journalists and our fellow Americans as voters. Iowans are incredibly motivated and competent and educated. Their enthusiasm for the caucuses is at once intimidating and inspiring.

As professional journalists prepare for the next onslaught of theatrics in New Hampshire, we will take what we gained here in Iowa and carry it with us into the upcoming election. For now, we’ll be following the political horse race from afar.

KanhemaPhoto.com

Photo essay by Tawanda Kanhema. Look for more at kanhemaphoto.com.

Mitt Romney's wife, Ann Romney at a campaign event in Marion, Iowa. 

One of Michele Bachmann's campaign team members waits for her arrival for an event in Des Moines, Iowa.

Michele Bachmann addresses supporters at her campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Newt Gingrich's wife, Callista Gingrich looks at a mascot from her new children's book at a campaign event. 

Branding himself as "Republican, Businessman, Leader" Mitt Romney tells supporters, "We will win this thing" in Marion, Iowa.

Republican candidate Ron Paul addresses supporters in Kirkwood, Iowa. 

A man listens to Ron Paul speak. Paul's events were dominated by young voters. 

A girl holds up a yard sign at Ron Paul's campaign event in Kirkwood, Iowa, on the last day of campaigns. 

Newt Gingrich speaks to supporters in Walford, Iowa.

One Last Campaign Stop: A Photo Essay

Press was mostly exiled to certain zones of this Mitt Romeny event, unlike some of the other events of that we attended yesterday. Security gaurds roamed the crowds before, during, and after the event. This combined wit hthe press wrangling crease a more professional and less intimate feeling.

South Dakota Senator John Thune (R) has been assisting Romney in Iowa and introduced him at last night's event. Thune endorsed Romney in late November. 

 

Romney invited his wife Ann and four of his five sons onto stage. After Ann Romney interacted with the crowd, Mitt Romney went on to cover economic issues and how to decrease government spending. Romney said that is a program was not worth funding for unless the government was willing to borrow money from China to fund it. The event was briefly interrupted by Occupy protestors but Romney supporters began chanting to drown out the other voices. 

 

Romney took time after the event to circle the stage and shake hands and sign posters and other memorabilia. Supports rushed to the front to try and get close to Romney as the press surrounded both Romney and his supporters. 

One section of the crowd was filled with enthusiastic young people who awaited handshakes and autographs. Romney posed in many group photos with these exciting young supporters. The Romney family also made the rounds shaking hands and speaking with supporters around the stage and warehouse. 




All photos taken by Carrie Nelson

A Timeline in a Typical Truman Media Network Students Iowa Caucus Day Part 3

Yesterday was a long day for the media team I had the pleasure of tagging along with. Dubbed "Team C" we were assigned to go to events in the eastern part of Iowa, places like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and others. We saw four rather distinct events in our 302 mile journey around Iowa.

After Ron Paul we left to go see Mitt Romney at Pate Asphalt in Marion, Iowa. The event was expertly ran, as after we had just finished setting up and helping one of our team members do her first stand up, the crowd went wild because Mitt Romney and his gang had come out of the door and was ready to please. The gentleman who owns Pate Asphalt introduced Senator John Thune of South Dakota, and he then after Senator Thune gave his spiel he introduced Romney to the already knowing audience. Mitt Romney started off in a light and casual manner, trying to imitate the idea of the blue-collar worker (like Gingrich did, and Ron Paul didn’t). He addressed the issue of family instantly, talking about his wife, five children, and 16 grandchildren. He then moved on to what he would do if he were to get elected to office, stating that his day 1 task is to repel Obamacare. It was easily one of the quickest events of the day, where we spent more time waiting for him to come out of the doors than it took for him to talk.

Mitt Romney finished promptly, which allowed us to move onto something we hadn’t seen all day, food. We ran quickly to grab a bite so we could move back from the east side of Iowa to the west side. After we ate like champs, we then hopped back in the van and went to Urbandale, Iowa, where Michele Bachmann was finishing up an event on Sean Hannity and coming back to her campaign headquarters where she was going to address all her volunteers and thank them for their work. Before Michele got to the office we were allowed to interview Eric Woolson (Iowa Campaign Manager) where he talked about moving from working in the newspaper business to helping Michele Bachmann potentially win today’s Caucus. The address from Michele was brief, as it was outside and bitterly cold, but her supporters showed lots of positive upbeat-ness and were clearly having a good time.

That was the end of Day 1 for Team C from Truman Media Network in Iowa! Let us see what today holds.

A Timeline in a Typical Truman Media Network Students Iowa Caucus Day Part 2

Yesterday was a long day for the media team I had the pleasure of tagging along with. Dubbed "Team C" we were assigned to go to events in the eastern part of Iowa, places like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and others. We saw four rather distinct events in our 302 mile journey around Iowa.

We entered The Hotel at Kirkwood Center to listen to Ron Paul address an eager and young crowd. Orderly and on time, Ron Paul stepped onto the platform with his son and the hotel’s manager a few minutes after 2:30 (event start time). Rand Paul received an introduction from the hotel’s manager, and a standing ovation from the audience. Rand Paul moved through his words quickly, being sure to address that his father has the support of not just young enthusiastic people, but also of active duty military personal and veterans, proving that his anti-war stance is popular. Ron Paul then stepped up and took the microphone from his senator son and addressed the audience. Being interrupted frequently by an energetic crowd, Representative Paul really lit a fire in the hearts of these potential voters making them eager to show up today and caucus for him by reminding them that he was there to make war something more like our days in the early years of the country, not the long drawn out wait we do now. He also was sure to mention that he would balance the budget by slashing more out than any other candidate dares to propose. The standing ovations were endless for the Texas representative, leading to a swarm of people around him when he left the stage.

Campaign Stops Vary in Substance

Michele Bachmann favored style over substance in a number of campaign stops in local neighborhood eateries. Bachmann’s campaign mainly focused on shaking the hands of local caucus goers. Several of the more prominent caucus goers, such as ambassadors or local leaders, were pointed out specifically by her handler. Bachmann quickly moved from one venue to the next, taking time to shake hands and order some food but not much else. The event felt like more of a last ditch effort to make any impression possible on voters than a full-fledged campaign event. Most caucus goers at the event, as the gentleman pictured above, seemed to be undecided and were still ‘shopping around’.

Before visiting Rick Santorum’s next campaign stop we had the chance to stop on the set of “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, where we met a Truman alumnus, who was showing his support for the Iowa caucus’s first in the nation status. Next we traveled to a “Pizza Ranch” where Rick Santorum came for a meet and greet. Santorum gave a short yet spirited speech for the multitude of news crews assembled at the event, and another speech to caucus goers in the restaurant. In juxtaposition to Bachmann’s event, Santorum’s seemed much more enthusiastic and was more than just shaking hands of potential voters. Santorum inspired the crowd and hoped to woo many of the undecided voters. There were several dedicated Santorum caucus goers as well as a few undecided Iowans in the crowd. The event had much more substance than Bachmann’s event.

Mitt Romney’s final campaign stop of the evening, and before the Iowa caucus, was well organized and most highly attended. Romney introduced himself and his family, but handed the microphone to his wife to have her begin the speech before he took over. The crowd was highly energized, cheering and waving signs at key points of Romney’s stump speech. Still, many of the caucus goers remained undecided, while others intended to caucus for Romney.

A Timeline in a Typical Truman Media Network Students Iowa Caucus Day Part 1

Yesterday was a long day for the media team I had the pleasure of tagging along with. Dubbed "Team C" we were assigned to go to events in the eastern part of Iowa, places like Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and others. We saw four rather distinct events in our 302 mile journey around Iowa.



We started by going to Newt Gingrich's rally in Walford, Iowa, where he was speaking at an event in Schrader Excavating & Grading. Inside of the event, we were able to see through large windows on huge garage doors his bus pull up. We were surprised to find out that they were planning on driving the bus into the building, so that Newt could use it for a backdrop! After it was expertly reversed behind the former Speaker's podium for the day, to the tune of "Eye of the Tiger" no less, Newt Gingrich emerged from his bus with his wife right behind. Instantly he approached the podium where he started to address the audience, and quickly brought them up to a fire of fury hitting major points about Obama's failure, his own personal experience, and, of course, relating himself to Ronald Reagan. Through his speech he talked about how he had the know-how to run this country like a well oiled machine, to which the audience seemed to agree. Towards the end of the speech, he was sure to mention that his book was on sale behind the audience at a table and that they should pick it up and read it, as well as buy his wife's newly published children's book "Sweet Land of Liberty". He finished the event by signing books and posters of himself for the attentive audience after answering a few questions.

That concluded our time with the former Speaker, and we quickly ran out to the van (to avoid the cold) and left to go see Representative Ron Paul give a speech in Cedar Rapids