2015

The sound of metal chairs scrapping across a floor is music to Andy McGuire’s ears. That’s what she says she hears in community rooms across Iowa as extra chairs and tables are needed when more people than expected show up for Democratic organizing meetings. Six months ago today Dr. McGuire won a four-way race to…

In a clear sign we’ve entered a new era in Iowa campaigns, Starting Line hears that the Martin O’Malley-backing Super PAC, Generation Forward, is planning to go all-in for the Iowa Caucus by hiring and running a large field team separate from the official campaign. Sources tell us that a Generation Forward field operation may…

Any will-he-or-won’t-he speculation on Pat Murphy running again for the 1st District was largely put to rest yesterday when he released a poll he sponsored that showed him ahead of Monica Vernon 43% to 34%, with Gary Kroeger capturing 12%. Obviously any candidate-sponsored poll should be taken with a grain of salt, but the results…

As Iowa’s second-largest city, Cedar Rapids plays host to presidential candidate visits very frequently. Known as the City of Five Seasons (the fifth being enjoying the other four, which is just plain weird), there’s plenty to see and do here. In recent years the region has really upped its dining options game, adding upscale restaurants…

Christmas in July is a popular contradiction; have a Christmas party while the temperatures are soaring and lemonade is the beverage of choice. It is an ironic celebration because, as Bing Crosby told us, Christmas should be white, and in July, everything is green. In Iowa we have another tradition that takes place when the…

Determined to not be out-organized in the Iowa Caucus again, Hillary Clinton’s Iowa campaign has been hard at work for months, constructing an impressive statewide grass-roots organization in every county. Those efforts are showing results as the Clinton campaign has brought on board a solid roster of well-known Iowa Democrats to help out. Interestingly, the…

Last weekend, I was proud to stand up in Dubuque and endorse Martin O’Malley for President of the United States. So much of what O’Malley stands for has struck a chord with me — his progressive values, his commitment to equality, fairness, and opportunity. But more than that — Martin O’Malley has an impressive record…

The Santa Maria Winery in Carroll, Iowa is a lovely place. Great food, good atmosphere, an elegant events center. (I’m not much of a wine drinker, so I can’t attest to their signature product.) If you live in the area, I imagine you have attended all kinds of events at the Winery; weddings, wine tastings,…

Apparently Senator David Johnson wasn’t finished sending questionable emails on education just yet. In other emails Starting Line obtained from readers and found posted online, Johnson makes clear he doesn’t mind the fallout his tone is causing, saying in one, “I sure hope all these emails are going viral too.” More importantly, however, in one…

Some Senate Republicans must be feeling pretty cranky following the statewide outcry over Governor Terry Branstad’s veto of the $56 million one-time funding for K-12 education. Vaughn Gross, a teacher in Black Hawk County, got a rather unpleasant reply from Republican State Senator David Johnson when he emailed him about the need for a special…