The crowd had filled out to its full size of 12,000 (probably minus a few no shows).
I stopped to talk to two women who were sporting Hillary stickers. I asked them where they were from. "Grinell, Iowa." I asked them who they were supporting. "Hillary or Obama. They both have platforms we agree with." One said, "It's a triumph of American politics I'd like to see. Both are smart." I asked if they would be participating in the caucus. Both said they have in the past, and they will this time, too.
As I walked through the entrance gate a twenty-something asks me for my ticket, then sees the press pass, smiles and says, "Sorry," then motions me through. I'm wondering the same thing.
Down the rabbit hole.
There was an army of volunteers at the entrance from one campaign or another passing out campaign stickers (and still others working the crowd, handing out campaign paraphernalia and getting Iowans to fill out cards). They see my pass and don't offer me anything.
There's no mud. People stream in through the entrance. The food lines at the south east are humming with activity. The huge tents with tables are occupied. I see a big crowd to the north east.
Ah. The scheduled photo-op.
The attendance to the event is eventually announced. 12,000. A record. That's one big mass of humanity.
Well, after a day's total of nine hours of driving we just got back from the Harkin Steak Fry. As a surreal experience it certainly exceeded expectations.
When we arrived into town at Highway 92 - heading east toward the balloon field - we encountered one of the slowest moving traffic jams I have ever experienced. It took us 45 minutes to get the three miles from a highway junction to the balloon field.
Early tomorrow morning a small group of us from Warrensburg will pile into two vehicles for the 4 1/2 hour drive to that muddy (probably) balloon field near Indianola, Iowa for the 30th Harkin Steak Fry. This to hear Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson speak.
I wrote about some of my experiences at the event four years ago here.
