Obama Media

Does $6 M + Organizing Experience + Ethanol=Victory in Iowa?

Mark Kleiman’s analysis of the minimal investment needed to win the Iowa caucuses settles on $6 million  as the magic number. He concludes that “the rather closed and cozy caucus campaign style of the past, where endorsements from state legislators and public-employee unions were all-important, may be obsolete.”  Kevin Drum continues the conversation, adding

I doubt Obama will try to win Iowa with huge wads of cash anyway. He’ll save it for places like California and New York. In fact, if anything, I’d guess that Obama’s experience in community organizing is his biggest asset in places like Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s nice to have money, but knowing — really knowing — how to motivate and organize your organizers is probably even more important.

Plus ethanol. Don’t forget about ethanol.

“Serious” Iowans Push and Praise Obama on Middle East

Jim Zogby reflects on the tendency of Iowa voters to

Iowans take their politics seriously. While some complain that Iowa or New Hampshire, (the first primary state) are not representative of the rest of the nation, in fact, they are. Though most of Iowa’s ethnic, racial and interest groups are small, they take their responsibilities seriously, knowing that they will get the chance to raise the issues and ask the questions that the rest of America needs to have answered.

And on most topics, Iowans have done their homework and can be quite sophisticated, including matters involving the Middle East.

He goes on to quote from an open letter to Obama composed “by activists across the state.”

Your campaign has been built around a new brand of politics that offers hope to Americans eager for courageous, moral leadership. We thank you for extending this approach to a conflict which has historically suffered from a lack of American vision, engagement, and leadership. As Iowans, we have long advocated a foreign policy that reflects America’s values and commitment to justice and peace. Your compassion and support for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the security of Israel are consistent with the positions taken by Iowa citizens for many years.

He concludes by citing Zogby polls that show

that despite the hardline and one-sided positions taken by some, most Americans, including most American Jews and Arab Americans, support a US policy that recognises the needs of both Israelis and Palestinians and works for a balanced resolution to their conflict.

Obama Pays the Least in Iowa

Jim Addison takes a gander at Iowa Progress’ report on what Democratic campaigns are paying their Iowa staffs. Only the Big Three have paid Iowa staff. Clinton is offering the highest salaries, Obama the lowest. Iowa Progress compares Obama to the Dean Machine

because it seems to include an unusual number of ideologically motivated young people, many of whom have never worked a caucus before. Their typical field organizer offer, which is the lowest of the candidates reviewed here, is $2,000 per month. Because Senator Obama is so magnetic, they are having no trouble filling positions, but the low salary may not be enough to entice experienced operatives.