Clinton in Iowa: Setting Expectations
Clinton in Iowa: Setting Expectations
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) makes her first trip to Iowa in more than three years this weekend, traveling to that most influential of states when it comes to presidential politics.
A schedule sent out by her campaign earlier today that shows a total of five events during the visit -- two "house-party style" events, a town hall meeting, a meeting of the Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee and a press availability.
So what should we expect out of this visit? Not all that much.
Clinton's people are purposely -- and smartly -- limiting the media throng so that she can have some semblance of a normal conversation with Iowa voters. Only her town hall meeting and the press availability are open to all members of the media; the house parties and the Iowa Democratic Party gathering will be covered pool-style -- one national and one local reporter will be allowed into the room and they will be tasked with filing a report about what Clinton said.
One of Clinton's primary tasks in Iowa and elsewhere is to reintroduce herself to voters who may know of her but don't really know her. She can't do that while being trailed by 200 (or more) reporters. Clinton won't ever lack for press coverage, so restricting the size of the press pack strikes The Fix as smart.
The other goal for Clinton during her Iowa visit is to begin building momentum in the state. Multiple polls have shown Clinton running behind former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), who placed second in the Iowa caucuses in 2004. But Clinton's advisers have insisted that her poll standing has much more to do with the fact that she has not been a regular visitor to the state while Edwards has made it his home away from home.
After a few visits, Clinton needs to see some jump in her poll numbers; she doesn't need to leapfrog Edwards, but she does need to show movement. She's already made one very sound move in the state -- signing up JoDee Winterhof as her Iowa state director; Winterhof formerly served as chief of staff to Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin.
For more on Clinton and all the rest of the contenders for the Democratic and Republican nominations, make sure to check out tomorrow's Friday Line.
By Chris Cillizza January 25, 2007; 6:19 PM ET Category: Eye on 2008
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/01/clinton_goes_to_iowa_expectati.html?nav=rss_blog
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) makes her first trip to Iowa in more than three years this weekend, traveling to that most influential of states when it comes to presidential politics.
A schedule sent out by her campaign earlier today that shows a total of five events during the visit -- two "house-party style" events, a town hall meeting, a meeting of the Iowa Democratic Party Central Committee and a press availability.
So what should we expect out of this visit? Not all that much.
Clinton's people are purposely -- and smartly -- limiting the media throng so that she can have some semblance of a normal conversation with Iowa voters. Only her town hall meeting and the press availability are open to all members of the media; the house parties and the Iowa Democratic Party gathering will be covered pool-style -- one national and one local reporter will be allowed into the room and they will be tasked with filing a report about what Clinton said.
One of Clinton's primary tasks in Iowa and elsewhere is to reintroduce herself to voters who may know of her but don't really know her. She can't do that while being trailed by 200 (or more) reporters. Clinton won't ever lack for press coverage, so restricting the size of the press pack strikes The Fix as smart.
The other goal for Clinton during her Iowa visit is to begin building momentum in the state. Multiple polls have shown Clinton running behind former Sen. John Edwards (N.C.), who placed second in the Iowa caucuses in 2004. But Clinton's advisers have insisted that her poll standing has much more to do with the fact that she has not been a regular visitor to the state while Edwards has made it his home away from home.
After a few visits, Clinton needs to see some jump in her poll numbers; she doesn't need to leapfrog Edwards, but she does need to show movement. She's already made one very sound move in the state -- signing up JoDee Winterhof as her Iowa state director; Winterhof formerly served as chief of staff to Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin.
For more on Clinton and all the rest of the contenders for the Democratic and Republican nominations, make sure to check out tomorrow's Friday Line.
By Chris Cillizza January 25, 2007; 6:19 PM ET Category: Eye on 2008
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/01/clinton_goes_to_iowa_expectati.html?nav=rss_blog
posted by presgore19 at 5:21 PM
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