Having Senator Dodd out to Iowa for his first post-announcement visit was great! After a week of below freezing temperatures here, Dodd brought a heat wave with him -- we got all the way up to the mid-40's! We’ve decided that, bringing weather like that, he can come back as often as he wants.
We started at Des Moines Fire Department Station #1, and in addition to a great bowl of firehouse chili, Dodd got a chance to see how his FIRE Act and SAFER Act have helped the firefighters there. The two bills have contributed more than $54 million as part of 879 grants to fire stations in Iowa alone -- money that helps communities like Des Moines hire, train, and equip their firefighters.
It was a good thing he got some good food in his stomach, because there wasn't much scheduled down-time for the rest of the day. At the State Capitol, Senator Dodd spent the next several hours meeting with state leaders and our new governor, Chet Culver. Dodd wasn’t a new face to many legislators, thanks to his help on their campaigns last fall, and many said it was good to see them again.
We left the capitol for some coffee with one of the most dynamic groups of women I've ever met. Members of Women for a Stronger America grilled Senator Dodd on questions across the board, and he answered every one. The group even made him pass around pictures of his daughters, Grace and Christina. It's no exaggeration to say they were a big hit.
Congressman Leonard Boswell was kind enough to introduce the Dodd at a meet and greet over at the Iowa Federation Machinist’s Hall in the evening. Rep. Boswell let everyone know that Senator Dodd is one of the few people in Washington who always return your calls, and that's important to Iowans. Several people commented to some of us staffers that they don't like massive events with thousands of people. Iowans prefer to meet their presidential candidates up close and personal. Senator Dodd takes that to heart, and he's making every stop he can to shake every hand he can. The stop at the Machinist's Hall was good evidence of that: folks didn’t wait too long to have a good, personal conversation with Senator Dodd. He took the time to talk to everyone about whatever it is that might be on their minds.
A couple of familiar faces from earlier in the day were there. State Senators Mike Gronstal, the majority leader, and Tom Courtney, the majority Whip, joined us. It’s always nice to be in a room with people that really understand the value of working men and women and are willing to fight for them. Senator Dodd fit right in.
On Day 2 of Senator Dodd's trip, he stopped by Iowa Public Radio to appear on The Exchange. You can always trust Iowans to deliver smart, tough questions and Sen. Dodd’s answers were a reminder that not only is he a good guy, but he really knows what he’s talking about. And with the experience he has had, you know that what he’s says isn’t just rhetoric. He’s had the proven follow-though to back it up with action. As I write this, the audio isn't up from the show yet, but we're told it will be up shortly. You'll be able to listen in here.
Some of Iowa City’s top Democratic activists turned out to see Senator Dodd at the New York NY Fresh Deli/Capanna Coffee & Gelato downtown. After a lovely introduction by Eileen O’Toole, and some brief remarks, he opened it up for questions and the first one out of the gate was in Spanish! After a quick exchange, Dodd asked (in Spanish, mind you -- he's fluent) whether he should answer in Spanish or English. Those of us who studied French in college were glad that he opted for English. The questioner asked about illegal immigration, and everyone seemed glad to hear that Dodd takes pride in America being a country with a rich history of being a welcoming country where new ideas and new approaches help make us stronger.
While many folks were getting to know Chris for the first time, there was at least one very familiar face in the crowd. Virginia (or Ginny as the senator calls her) Coulter-Stratton, who currently works for Congressman Dave Loebsack, is a former staffer for Chris. She brought a picture of Senator Dodd with her daughter when both were, well, younger. Just listening to Ginny, you can see that Dodd is someone who once you get to know, you’ll always respect him.
We capped the trip off with a rousing event at the Irish Democrat in Cedar Rapids, thanks to our star hosts, Lynda Waddinton and Kay Hale. The energy was great and the crowd had a wonderful time. And as we saw it, it was the end of the day, and folks didn’t want to stand around and hear speeches, so over 50 people just got to spending the evening with Chris.
Dodd asked if the name of the bar, the Irish Democrat, wasn't a little redundant.
In all, a great first trip, full of the promise and potential Senator Dodd shows as he begins his campaign in Iowa. We'll be sure to keep you updated on future trips. Is it too much to hope for a question in French sometime?
