UI in the National Political News

August 2007

Redlawsk: ethanol plant stops obligatory for candidates (Fox News, Aug. 30)
Don't expect to hear much talk about farming from the presidential candidates who regularly tour Iowa, one of the nation's premier agriculture states. Instead, prepare for three words: I love ethanol. To a great extent, it's the only agricultural topic that candidates address, often during stops at one of the state's ethanol plants. "It's sort of an obligatory stop to say, 'Hey, I get it. I know the farm economy is important and ethanol is potentially an important part of that economy,'" said DAVID REDLAWSK, a University of Iowa political science professor. This Associated Press story was published on the Web sites of several news organizations, including The Fresno Bee, the International Herald Tribune and Canadian Business Magazine. Link to article

Redlawsk: firefighters' endorsement may boost Dodd (Bloomberg, Aug. 29)
The International Association of Fire Fighters union, which backed John Kerry for president when he was an "afterthought" in the 2004 race, today endorsed Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, who trails his Democratic rivals in the 2008 field. DAVID REDLAWSK, a political scientist at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, said the endorsement gives Dodd "attention and has the potential to break him a bit out of the pack." Link to article

Gronbeck: early flood of political ads unprecedented (RTT News, Aug. 30)
Iowans are being inundated with political ads as the crowded field of presidential hopefuls lay the groundwork for the first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, hoping for a strong showing to get the momentum necessary to carry their campaigns forward. Ahead of the traditional post-Labor Day launch of the fall campaign season, in the last week six of those vying to be the next president have flooded the Hawkeye State's TV and radio waves. "I have never seen this many ads this early," said BRUCE GRONBECK, a University of Iowa communication studies professor, in an interview with RTTNews. When Iowa held its caucuses in late January and before than in early February, presidential campaigns began advertising in earnest in mid-December and "flooded" the state with ads three weeks before the caucuses, said Gronbeck, director of the university's Center for Media Studies and Political Culture. Link to article

Gronbeck: YouTube debates are fascinating (USINFO, Aug. 29)
Thanks to the Internet, the tide may be turning for young American voters who feel they have no say in politics. YouTube, the "broadcast yourself" cyberspace phenomenon that allows anyone with a digital camera to post videos on the Internet for free, offered an unprecedented political platform in July: Democratic candidates were grilled by ordinary Americans via video questions. University of Iowa elections expert BRUCE GRONBECK found this "fascinating." "Television maintained its position as the dominant framer," he said. "It threw the YouTube questions up on the screen and took a picture of them with a camera rather than direct feeding into the broadcast. So the dominant medium tried to stay in control and they picked the questions." USINFO is the news service of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Link to article

Redlawsk comments on candidate spouses (New York Times, Aug. 26)
DAVID REDLAWSK, who teaches political science at the University of Iowa, said that polls showed that most people do not vote for a candidate based on that person's spouse, although that might be different this year in the case of Hillary Clinton. But generally, he said, the spouses might as well say what they want. "It might get folks up in arms," he said, "but it also gets media attention." Link to article

Covington comments on Giuliani weaknesses (Las Vegas Sun, Aug. 25)
A series of exposes has revealed weaknesses in the Giuliani candidacy and have begun to seep down into the public's consciousness. And if they haven't yet, they will, said CARY COVINGTON, a University of Iowa political scientist who studies the nomination process. He noted that even if Republican voters don't trust the mainstream media, which are delivering this barrage right now, they will trust the mail and TV advertisements of Giuliani's Republican opponents. Link to article

Redlawsk: Obama's message reaches across party lines (Salon, Aug. 24)
In late July and early August, Iowa Republican voters were asked to name their choice for president in a University of Iowa poll. Mitt Romney, who leads most Iowa surveys, got 22 percent of the total. Rudy Giuliani came in second with 10 percent. But third place went to a Democrat, Barack Obama, who got nearly 7 percent -- more than Mike Huckabee, John McCain and Sam Brownback combined. Not to worry: The Obama campaign isn't likely to join the Grand Old Party, and pollsters are convinced that Obama has exactly zero chance of winning the Republican caucus in Iowa. But something is going on. "I don't want to make too much of it," says DAVID REDLAWSK, the professor who commissioned the poll. "But I do think that the message Obama is putting out right now is the most likely to reach across party lines." Link to article

Berg: IEM more accurate than polls (Campaigns & Elections, Aug. 22)
With the presidential race intensifying, so is trading activity on the Iowa Electronic Markets, and the program team at the University of Iowa is gearing up to open markets for more 2008 races. Since 1988, the IEM have allowed traders from around the world to invest between $5 and $500 to "bet" on the future performance of political candidates, parties and more. The site has been even more accurate than polls in predicting the outcomes of races, according to IEM board member JOYCE BERG, a professor of accounting at the UI. Link to article

Polls show McCain's support dwindling (The Business Journal, Aug. 22)
A new poll shows support for Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential bid dropping in the key early battleground state of Iowa. A new Zogby International poll shows McCain with 6 percent support among likely Republican voters in Iowa. McCain had support in the high teens in previous Zogby Iowa polls. The Arizona Republican trails former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is shown with 33 percent support, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 14 percent, actor Fred Thompson at 12 percent and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 8 percent support in the new Zogby poll. McCain's showing in recent surveys by the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA and ABC News/Washington Post also is in single-digits. The Business Journal is based in Phoenix. Link to article

Squire Comments On Iowa Caucuses (Guardian Unlimited, Aug. 22)
South Carolina's Republican party has announced its intention to move its primary forward to Jan. 19. That would change the date of New Hampshire's primary since the state is bound by law to hold its primary a week before any other. Since Iowa is compelled to hold its caucuses at least eight days before any other voting, it too will have to move forward. An election season that is usually competitive until March could effectively be over by mid-January. Candidates now have less time to gain momentum. PEVERILL SQUIRE, a visiting professor of political science at the University of Iowa, says: "It has increased the importance of Iowa rather than diminished it; a number of the candidates see Iowa as their best chance." The newspaper is published in the United Kingdom. Link to article

Clinton's Campaign Focus Working In Iowa (Newsday, Aug. 22)
Organizational muscle and campaign elbow grease appear to be paying off for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in early-caucus Iowa, where the former first lady has pulled ahead among Democratic presidential hopefuls, according to the latest polling there. Clinton is the choice of 30 percent of Iowa Democrats, according to a survey of 503 likely caucus goers questioned Aug. 17-19 by pollster Zogby International. DAVID REDLAWSK, director of polling at the University of Iowa, attributed her surge to focused campaigning during which she has spent 11 days in Iowa since July 1, and has opened a total of 19 offices in the state. "Clinton has built an organization in the state and has been fairly aggressive in her campaigning here," Redlawsk said. "[John] Edwards has led most of the year in Iowa. Now, it has tightened into a three-way race." The newspaper is based in New York. Link to article

UI Poll Shows Clinton Trails Among Men (Boston Herald, Aug. 21)
Former Hollywood madam-turned-laundromat-owner Heidi Fleiss and former vampire novelist-turned-reconcerted Christian Anne Rice have added their voices to porn superstar Jenna Jameson's in support of Hillary Clinton. But Clinton has it tough with male voters. And her toughest potential matchup is with Rudy Giuliani. Among men, Clinton got only 18 percent support in a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll in July, while she had 30 percent support among women. By comparison, Barack Obama showed no difference in gender support in the same poll of likely Iowa caucus voters. And 32 percent of the women in the Iowa poll think Clinton is electable, while only 14 percent of the men do. Link to article

Poll Addresses Clinton Appeal To Males (Minneapolis Star Tribune, Aug. 20)
Can Hillary Clinton attract male voters? A July poll of likely Democratic caucus-goers by the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA found that Clinton had 30 percent support among women and 18 percent among men. By comparison, there was no difference in gender support for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who got 21 percent from both men and women. This AP story is running widely. Link to article

Covington Comments On Clinton Juggernaut (Inquirer, Aug. 19)
Powered by polished debate showings, gaping opinion poll leads, and a pitch-perfect political machine, Hillary Clinton seems to be barnstorming towards the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. "If she continues to campaign without making a major mistake, it's hard to see how anybody beats her," said CARY COVINGTON, professor of political science at the University of Iowa. "It is a lot like a chess match, and she has the superior board position." The Inquirer is published in the Philippines. Link to article

Redlawsk Comments On Edwards' Tone (New York Times, Aug. 19)
Faced with a must-win situation in Iowa, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards is taking on a harsher tone. "There's a fine line between passion and anger," said DAVID P. REDLAWSK, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa and director of the university's political poll. Link to article

Covington Analyzes Thompson's Prospects (Time, Aug. 18)
Former Sen. Fred Thompson's late entry into an already crowded field of eight GOP presidential candidates may present a logistical challenge, said CARY COVINGTON, an associate professor of American politics at the University of Iowa. "He's looking at trouble because Iowa's a caucus state," Covington said. "Caucuses are won by grassroots organizing among county party officials. The other Republican candidates have long been busily getting these party officials to choose up sides and I don't know how many are left as free agents." Link to article

Redlawsk Comments On Edwards' Tough Talk In Campaign (Bloomberg, Aug. 17)
As the Democrats' 2004 vice presidential nominee, John Edwards ran as an ever-smiling optimist. These days, as he tries to catch up to better-funded rivals in Iowa's crucial caucuses, Edwards sounds more like the scourge of corporate America. In campaign speeches and conversations with voters, the presidential candidate calls some companies "robber barons." Behind the tough talk is an effort by the former North Carolina senator, 54, to carve out a sharper identity as he battles Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Iowa's caucuses, traditionally the first in the nation. "This is an active effort on the campaign to define Edwards more clearly for caucus-goers," said DAVID REDLAWSK, a political scientist at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Bloomberg is a global multimedia financial news service that provides news, data and analysis. Link to article

Redlawsk: Campaign Pace Takes Toll (Albuquerque Tribune, Aug. 16)
In a single moment, Gov. Bill Richardson has become the Sominex candidate. Richardson, tired and apparently worn down by a long stretch of campaign travel, caused a stir last week when asked during a debate whether it was a person's choice to be gay. "Yes," Richardson said. "No," he said the next day. Then, when clarifying what he really meant to say, Richardson said a long flight was to blame. Although no one is calling for Richardson to leave the Democratic presidential race after the gaffe, the moment might be an example of how the cruel pace of campaigning can catch up with the candidates, said DAVID REDLAWSK, a University of Iowa associate professor of political science. Link to article

Covington Discusses Edwards' Iowa Strategies (RealClearPolitics, Aug. 16)
John Edwards, suffering in the polls and increasingly seen as a second-tier candidate, is reshuffling his campaign's strategy more dramatically than virtually any Democrat so far this year. The former North Carolina senator is faced with a crucial question: How many eggs can he fit in his Iowa basket? After the 2004 race, Edwards practically made Iowa his second home. Since Edwards lost his bid to become vice president, he has made at least 30 trips to the state, far more than any other candidate. "He's building on his strength, which is in Iowa, because he poured so much effort into it last time around," said University of Iowa Professor CARY COVINGTON. RealClearPolitics is an independent political web site based in Chicago. Link to article

Hagle: Huckabee Helped By Straw Poll Turnout (Arkansas News Bureau, Aug. 14)
GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's strong showing in the Iowa Republican straw poll was helped by the dynamics of this year's event, said TIM HAGLE, a professor at the University of Iowa. Only about 14,000 Iowans voted Saturday, compared to 23,000 who cast ballots eight years ago. "You got a lot of people who came on message," he said. "Huckabee was able to do very well and get his message out in Iowa. Iowa is about going hand-to-hand and he did a good job like that." Arkansas News is a cooperative news Web site operated by several news organizations in the state. Link to article

Redlawsk Can't Explain Dodd's Lack Of Support (Hartford Courant, Aug. 14)
It looks like Chris Dodd's July trip across Iowa with singer Paul Simon didn't do much to pull him out of the poll doldrums. The latest University of Iowa survey, conducted July 29-Aug. 5, listed Dodd's support as an asterisk, meaning he had less than 1 percent. Dodd got warm receptions as he traveled from town to town, and even pollster DAVID REDLAWSK said Monday that he could not fully explain why the Connecticut Democrat's not moving. "I've seen him connect with people," said Redlawsk, an associate professor of political science at the university. Link to article

UI Poll Shows Edwards' Caucus Lead Shrinking (Boston Globe, Aug. 14)
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards is staking his campaign on winning Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus, even at the cost of stinting on the next big test in New Hampshire. Edwards yesterday began a bus tour that will snake through Iowa's cities and towns for seven days -- just a week after a two-day swing -- packed with stops that will let him exploit his down-home style to win over Iowans. He has campaigned here more than twice as much as he has in New Hampshire, where his folksy demeanor does not seem to connect as well with flinty New Englanders. So far, his Iowa gamble is paying some dividends in the polls, but it is hardly a safe bet. Iowa is the only state where Edwards has kept up with Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in the 2008 Democratic race. But the latest UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll showed that Edwards' lead has shrunk as other candidates spend more time in the state. Link to article

UI Poll Helps Interpret Straw Poll Results (American Thinker, Aug. 14)
A story about the Iowa straw poll noted that the latest UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll has Romney getting 27 percent of the vote, comfortably ahead of Rudy Giuliani, who trails with 18 percent. At the Ames Hoedown, Romney walked away with 31 percent of the 14,000 votes cast. And since his two main rivals -- Giuliani and former Sen. Fred Thompson -- weren't competing, it could be said that Romney won big in Ames while Giuliani lost. The American Thinker is published in New Zealand. Link to article

Redlawsk: GOP Angered At Straw Poll No-Shows (Ottawa Herald, Aug. 13)
A story about Saturday's GOP straw poll notes that a recently released University of Iowa poll suggests that many Iowa Republicans aren't too happy that former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain decided to skip the straw poll. Almost half of all Republicans believed that candidates not participating in the straw poll would hurt their chances in the state's first-in-the-nation caucus. DAVID REDLAWSK, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa and the poll's director, said 15 percent of respondents indicated it would affect their vote. "Clearly most Republicans think not participating in the straw poll will hurt both candidates," Redlawsk said. The Herald is published in Kansas. Link to article

UI Poll Is Not Encouraging For GOP (Channel 4, Aug. 13)
Commentator Felicity Spector says that in the wake of the Republican straw poll the real news from Iowa isn't great for the GOP. A UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll shows the most popular candidate among Republican voters is "don't know." Channel 4 originates in the UK. Link to article

Hagle, Squire Comment On Straw Poll (Boston Herald, Aug. 13)
In the wake of the straw poll, the GOP field is likely to stay as muddled as ever. "It's a big question mark at this point," said TIM HAGLE, associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa. "I think the results yesterday may actually have opened up the caucuses on the Republican side a little bit," said PEVERILL SQUIRE, a longtime Iowa analyst and a visiting political science professor at the University of Iowa. This is a Scripps-Howard wire story. Link to article

Redlawsk Comments On Straw Poll (Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 13)
Is Romney's win in the Iowa straw poll important? "I don't think 31 percent is convincing when you don't have at least [former New York Mayor Rudolph] Giuliani or [actor] Fred Thompson competing," DAVID REDLAWSK, a University of Iowa political scientist and pollster, said of the Romney vote. "The reality is the race is still fairly wide open here in Iowa." Link to article

UI Poll Indicated Romney Win (the Peninsula, Aug. 12)
A UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll predicted Mitt Romney's win in the Iowa straw poll. This AGENCE FRANCE-PRESS story was published in the Peninsula, which is based in Qatar. Link to article

Thompson Trailed In UI Poll (Appleton Post Crescent, Aug. 12)
Going into the Iowa straw poll, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson trailed in a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll. The Appleton Post Crescent is published in Wisconsin. Link to article

Hagle: Straw Poll Leaves Chaotic Field (Wichita Falls Times-Record, Aug. 11)
The Iowa Straw Poll has left the Republican presidential contest as crowded and chaotic as the carnival-like crowd scene outside the building where the votes were cast. As expected, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the most votes in Saturday's symbolic test of campaign organizing strength in this first-in-the-nation caucus state. But in the more critical expectations game, there were so many other declarations of victory that the GOP field is likely to stay as muddled as ever. "It's a big question mark at this point," said TIM HAGLE, associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa. The Times News is published in Texas. The same story was published on the Web sites of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, MSBNC and other news organizations. Link to article

UI GOP Poll Cited (San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 11)
Democrats urged Iowa Republicans on Friday to vote "none of the above" in today's Iowa Straw Poll that gauges the early organizational strength of Republican candidates seeking the presidential nomination in 2008. The UNIVERSITY OF IOWA'S latest poll showed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney ahead of 10 rivals. Link to article

Thompson Barely Registered In UI Poll (Wisconsin Radio Network, Aug. 11)
Going into the Iowa straw poll, former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson barely registered in the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll, setting the stage for the end of his campaign. Link to article

UI Poll Not Encouraging For McCain (The Nation, Aug. 10)
As John McCain sat out the Iowa straw poll, a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA phone survey found his support weak -- barely three percent of likely caucus attendees. Link to article

Huckabee Standing In UI Poll Cited (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Aug. 10)
Going into the Iowa straw poll, a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll found Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in seventh place. Link to article

Redlawsk Comments On '08 Votes Cast in '07 (New York Daily News, Aug. 10)
Voting for the 2008 presidential nominations could start in 2007, thanks to South Carolina Republicans who yesterday jumped their primary to Jan. 19. That's three days before New Hampshire, whose law says its primary must be first. But moving up that primary would put it in front of Iowa's caucus. Iowa has its own law saying it must be the first contest overall. Iowa votes on Mondays, and since Dec. 31 and Dec. 24 -- New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve -- wouldn't work, "You possibly end up with Iowa going three weeks before New Hampshire, on Dec. 17," said the University of Iowa's DAVID REDLAWSK. Link to article

UI Poll Shows Romney Strong On Eve Of Straw Poll (The New York Sun, Aug. 10)
The Republican presidential field will likely shrink by the end of this weekend following an Iowa straw poll that carries the last hopes for a litany of long shot contenders. This year, however, two leading candidates, Mayor Giuliani and Senator McCain of Arizona, are not actively competing, making the poll essentially a race between the overwhelming favorite, Mitt Romney, and everyone else. Anything less than a convincing victory could be seen as a significant blow to Romney's campaign, particularly with surveys showing him with a double-digit lead in Iowa. In a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll released Wednesday, he had a 16-point lead over Giuliani, 27 percent to 11 percent. Link to article

Squire: Prospect Of December Caucuses 'Insane' (Straits Times, Aug. 10)
Americans may cast some of the first votes in the 2008 presidential election later this year after South Carolina on Thursday moved up its voting calendar to compete with traditional first states Iowa and New Hampshire. "Changes to primary dates are only a problem for long-running candidates," said Randy Enwright, national political director of the Thompson committee. PEVERILL SQUIRE, a visiting political science professor at the University of Iowa, called the prospect of having the Iowa caucuses in December 'insane' but said that is what happens when states compete for the attention. This REUTERS story was published in the Straits Times, the most widely read newspaper in Singapore. Link to article

UI Poll Shows Tight Democratic Race (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Aug. 9)
A UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll show that Hillary Clinton is apparently leading in Iowa but by a much smaller margin than indicated in national polls. Link to article

Squire Comments On Thompson Plans To Mingle In Iowa (Jackson Sun, Aug. 9)
Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson plans to make his first Iowa trip as a presidential prospect next week, a development that is expected to reset the Republican field in the leadoff caucus state in the wake of the GOP straw poll in Ames on Saturday. Thompson is scheduled to visit the Des Moines area on Aug. 17 and meet with state legislators and social conservative activists before attending the Iowa State Fair, always a "must" on the summertime campaign trail in Iowa. Thompson's decision to come to Iowa in the immediate aftermath of the straw poll could blunt the momentum of candidates who are expecting to perform well on Saturday, especially former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, said University of Iowa visiting political science professor PEVERILL SQUIRE. The Jackson Sun is published in Jackson, Tenn. Link to article

UI Poll: Edwards Continues To Lead In Iowa (Boston Globe, Aug. 9)
A new UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll released today shows the race for the Democratic presidential nomination tightening in Iowa with caucus goers splitting nearly evenly between former vice presidential nominee John Edwards and Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Link to article

UI Poll Of Republicans Reveals McCain's Showing (Salon, Aug. 9)
John McCain's showing in a new UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll of Republicans who say they'll participate in Iowa's caucuses is just 3.2 percent. Just a month ago, aides to the cash-strapped Arizona senator said they'd be focusing their efforts on just three states. Iowa was one of them. Link to article

Covington: Straw Poll Is Mystifying (Arkansas News Bureau, Aug. 9)
A pep rally and a proving ground, the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday gives Mike Huckabee his first and perhaps his best chance to improve his standing among Republican presidential contenders. Huckabee looks to the straw poll as an indicator of what he sees as growing momentum in Iowa, the state with the first 2008 presidential caucuses. He will battle six other Republicans. The event is a campaign commercial writ large, said CARY COVINGTON, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. "It's not clear what it tells you, that's what's sort of mystifying about the straw poll," Covington said. "It only tells you which candidates are willing to spend the money to do well." The Arkansas News Bureau is an online partnership of numerous news organizations in Arkansas. A version of this article also appeared Aug. 9 in the SOUTHWEST TIMES RECORD, which is published in Fort Smith, Ark. Link to article

UI Poll Puts Romney In Front (New York Sun, Aug. 9)
A new poll from the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA shows Mitt Romney surging to the lead among Iowa Republicans in advance of this weekend's straw poll. Link to article

Romney Leads In UI Poll (MSNBC, Aug. 9)
Just two days before the Ames straw poll, a UNIVERSITY OF IOWA poll shows Romney with a substantial lead in the Hawkeye State over Giuliani, 26.9% to 11.3%. Fred Thompson was third with 6.5%. One-third of those questioned said they were undecided. Link to article

UI Poll Puts Tommy Thompson Far Back (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 8)
A new poll of Iowa voters, conducted by the UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, suggests former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson has not gotten much traction in his presidential bid. Link to article

Redlawsk: Poll Shows Iowa GOP Punishing Giuliani, McCain (Boston Globe, Aug. 8)
A new University of Iowa poll has good news for former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and bad news for his two major Republican presidential rivals, who are taking a pass on Saturday's GOP straw poll in Ames. For one of them, Arizona Republican John McCain, the survey shows the bottom falling out of his candidacy in the first caucus state. "Republicans appear to be punishing both (former New York mayor Rudy) Giuliani and McCain for their unwillingness to compete in the Aug. 11 straw poll, while Romney's campaign has hit its stride," said DAVID REDLAWSK, the poll's director and political science professor. Link to article

Redlawsk: Edwards Positions Himself As Candidate Of Change (Raleigh News and Observer, Aug. 7)
John Edwards took aim at the free trade policies of the Clinton administration Monday, calling for greater skepticism about deals with other nations. Edwards said past trade policies have hurt American workers, in what some saw as a dig at New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, one of his chief rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. With his poll numbers lagging, Edwards has stepped up his attacks on Clinton. In recent days, he has criticized her for accepting contributions from Washington lobbyists and accepting donations from executives of companies owned by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch. "You can read this [trade] rhetoric as a jab at Hillary -- an effort to say, 'I'm the change guy who will take us in the new direction we need, and Hillary is the past,' " said DAVID REDLAWSK, a political science professor at the University of Iowa. Link to article

Redlawsk: Democrats More Excited About Election (Denver Post, Aug. 6)
The state GOP predicts a turnout of about 40,000 people at the Iowa Straw Poll. Tickets are going for $35 apiece with roughly 24,000 Iowans casting votes. There is some question, however, about whether turnout will be as high as the party expects. "There is a general feeling here that Republicans are not nearly as excited as Democrats," said University of Iowa political scientist DAVID REDLAWSK, noting that Democrats are generally drawing larger crowds at campaign events in the state. "If people don't show up, it may be a further signal that Republicans are not satisfied with their choices." Link to article

Redlawsk Comments On Obama Fundraising (Los Angeles Times, Aug. 4)
After presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a show of standing up to Washington insiders by returning donations from lobbyists, he received help raising campaign money from at least two of them. The Illinois Democrat began airing television commercials this week in the early-voting state of Iowa decrying the Washington culture and proclaiming that he accepts no money from federal lobbyists or political action committees. In his campaign finance statements, Obama has disclosed that he has returned more than $52,000 given to him by Washington lobbyists, though there is no law against taking money from them. Even as he shuns donations from lobbyists, Obama has taken more than $1.4 million this year from law and consultancy firms that have partners who are registered to lobby, a Times analysis of Obama's fundraising shows. "There is always the risk if you set yourself up as being better than others," University of Iowa political scientist DAVID REDLAWSK said. "If there is evidence that you're not really walking the talk, the fall can be harder. Link to article