Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
City of Carroll hosts 26 presidential candidate visits in 2008 cycle — so far
Presidential campaigns and national media in recent days have said they are viewing Carroll, Iowa, as something of a bellwether city in Thursday’s Iowa caucuses.
C-SPAN is expected to broadcast from the Republican caucuses at Des Moines Area Community College in Carroll, and for the Democrats, Wards 1 and 2 in Carroll are being closely watched party officials who say they are among the key sites in the state.
For its part, Fox News Channel did a major piece here recently under the premise that Carroll (population 10,000) offers a good read on western Iowa and the possible outcome of the contest statewide.
“It’s real simple why we came to Carroll,” Fox News national correspondent Steve Brown said this morning. “Western Iowa obviously is in play.”
Brown said many independents and Reagan Democrats appear to be leaning toward caucusing Democratic Thursday, making Carroll a city in the center of a battleground to determine the first win in a series of presidential primaries and caucuses.
“The evidence is right there on the streets of Carroll,” Brown said. “Never before have there been three Democratic campaign offices in the city – and three heavyweight campaign offices.”
The campaigns of U.S. Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have offices in Carroll as does former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.
In addition to the nationwide attention, the eyes of much of the world will be on Carroll.
A British television crew from Sky News filmed a segment on in the caucus activity here on Adams Street downtown.
Correspondent Michelle Clifford – who has done stints in Iraq and Afghanistan – is a veteran journalist with an eye for details.
The Sky News piece featuring Carroll will air several times right around the Jan. 3 caucuses in Europe and Africa.
Sirius Satellite Radio is doing a live interview from Carroll this afternoon and the Washington Post and Associated Press have been frequent filers of stories here in Carroll.
The Washington Post carried a Page 1 story one recent Sunday with a Carroll, Iowa, dateline.
“With 25-plus appearances by the candidates, three campaign headquarters and numerous other visits, it’s no wonder that as caucuses come to culmination, Carroll will be a very important hub,” said Jim Gossett, executive director of the Carroll Area Development Corp.
By this newspaper’s count we have had 26 presidential candidate visits in the 2008 cycle. No campaign events are planned today or Thursday.
Top Democratic candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson visited Carroll two times each – as did second-tier presidential aspirant U.S. Sen. Joe Biden. D-Del.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards was in Carroll four times. U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., was here three times and had one of the more memorable events as singer Paul Simon performed a concert for Dodd in Graham Park.
Former Democratic candidates Tom Vilsack, the state’s last governor, made two stops in Carroll as did former Democratic Virginia Gov. Mark Warner. Both are out of the race.
Obama drew the biggest crowd in Carroll as 700 people attended his event Dec. 26 at Carroll Middle School. Clinton drew 600 at Northwest Park in the summer.
On the Republican side, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney made two appearances here and had by far the largest crowds of any GOP candidate in Carroll this year. Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., made one stop in Carroll, as did Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo, who is no longer in the race and supports Romney. One-time candidate U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., made an appearance at the Carroll depot.
Former GOP Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson held two events in Carroll before dropping out. Businessman John Cox, a Republican candidate, appeared in Carroll once.
While former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, locked in a battle with Romney, did not visit Carroll, his wife, Janet, stopped at the Carrollton Centre. Obama’s wife, Michelle, campaigned here, too.
In just one 20-hour window last week Carroll had visits from Obama, Clinton and Richardson.
The Daily Times Herald interviewed in person or over the phone every Democratic candidate with the exception of Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. This newspaper covered or interviewed all Republican candidates except Texas Congressman Ron Paul.
Several candidates from each party sent spousal and celebrity stumpers, including music legend Simon and TV home-improvement expert Bob Vila.
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