It was a bitterly cold New Year's Day 2008, mere hours before the crucial Iowa caucuses. The wonderful thing about living in Omaha is that you get all of Iowa's political benefits (scads of Presidential candidates!) without actually having to live there. I could make an entire post of Iowa jokes, but I'll save that for later.
I was just returning from Columbus, Nebraska after vi sting the family of my girlfriend at the time. As we are both political junkies, we decided to capitalize on a rare opportunity: the three leading candidates for President were all in Council Bluffs on the same afternoon.
First on the docket was a Hillary Clinton rally at the Mid America Center. Entering the MAC, we weren't sure what to expect. We signed in- all political rallies require you to give your personal info- I signed as "Scott Stewart" Cassy as "Alex Williams" Absentmindedly I grabbed a Hillary Clinton placard.
When we walked in to the massive ballroom holding the rally, we were floored- the huge room was completely packed. So much so another ballroom was being opened to hold the hundreds of onlookers. Before I took a seat a hundred or so yards away from the stage, I walked up to a young female volunteer and asked if there were any seats near the front available. She politely said she would check.
When the young woman returned, we hit jackpot. She seated us in the front row, directly behind the stage- no more then 10 feet from where the Senator would eventually stand, amid a packed bleacher section of union supporters. Ironically, we were easily the best dressed in our section; everyone else wore jeans and t-shirts that had slogans along the lines "LOCAL 815 FOR HILLARY" Stunned and giddy we sat for about an hour until the proceedings commenced.
I'm holding the camera, over Hillary's right shoulder
These were seats I'd struggle to get a Republican rally, and I'd stumbled upon them at a Democrat gathering. Eventually Hillary came out flanked by former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, her mother, and Chelsea. About the only down side of the seats was that we were looking in to the cameras, meaning we saw her backside for the majority of the time.
The Hillary rally was unlike any I had ever been to have attended since. While there was passion, it seemed feigned. the "Hillary, Hillary, Hillary" chants all seemed contrived, and the flock acted less than enthusiastic, more mechanical than anything.
Once her mediocre speech was over, Hillary walked to the opposite of the bleachers as us and began the routine of hand shaking and book signing. Cassy and I thoroughly expected her to bolt one person before us. But she didn't. Once she got to me, I handed her the placard and asked, "Senator Clinton, could you sign my sign?"
"Well sure!" Hillary replied. As she Sharpie'd the sign, I moved in for the picture, which she graciously gave. After I had gotten my picture, I returned the favor and Cassy got a picture.
While the flock rushed toward the stage hoping to catch a glimpse of Hillary, we sprinted out of the MAC, almost floating on air. Barack Obama's speech was about half an hour away on the other side of Council Bluffs.
The Obama speech, held at the Iowa School for the Deaf, was a much easier gig. While the bleachers were packed, the Obama rally featured a standing crowd around the stage. I got in the crowd, and slowly but steadily pushed my way forward, eventually getting to the rope line. Ironically, two hardcore Republican friends of mine were also in the front row.
About a month later (on my birthday, to be exact) Obama would speak in Omaha to about 15,000 people. This event, held before he became the media darling, held maybe 1,000, at the most.
Obama gave a solid speech and followed with the customary rope line. Secret Service agents informed us that Obama would sign and allow pictures, but he would not slow down. I handed the camera off, and as Obama walked by I got a quick snap of the Senator and I. 2 for 2!
The final stop was a late night John Edwards rally at his Council Bluffs campaign office. Office doesn't really do the place justice... how about hole in the wall? Or more correctly, dirty closet in a building about to condemned for failing the fire code. It was tiny and dirty, walls covered with hand made "EDWARDS FOR IOWA" posters. If someone had dropped a match the place would have probably instantaneously exploded.
The room was probably 10 feet by ten feet, and every inch was jam packed with people waiting for Edwards. Disdaining the cramped surroundings, and thinking we would have a better shot at getting a picture or autograph, we moved outside, hoping to catch the beautifully coiffed Senator on his way in or out.
While this was good strategy, we didn't anticipate that Edwards would be two hours late. We stood in the freezing cold, Cassy wearing sandals without socks for what seemed like an eternity. Multiple times we talked about leaving, only to rationalize that if we've waited this long, we might as well stick it out.
At 11 pm Edwards SUV showed up. We scurried up to it and were about three people away when the Senator and his wife walked out. As Edwards walked up to me I gave the same "Senator, could I please have a picture?" that I had given Clinton, Obama, and scores of other pols. To my surprise, I received a curt "No, maybe on the way out."
I guess it doesn't really matter all that much, because the camera I would have used had frozen from being in the sub-zero temperatures for hours. Let's just say I smiled when Edwards dropped out of the race.
While the Edwards snub was a little but of a buzz kill, the day was amazing. Some people have asked why I would go see politicians I personally don't like, let alone get pictures with them. I go to them because I want to be a part of history, see the people that are leading America- even if they aren't the people I'd prefer to be leading America.
Either way, I've got a picture with the next leader o the free world... whoever wins.
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