Word: caucus
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...there's no doubt that the sudden peace and quiet will be a double-edged sword; as the extraordinary excitement and activity abruptly stops, the double whammy of life after the holidays and the caucuses will leave some Iowans down in the dumps. "This is a huge event. It really picks up people's moods - they see themselves being viewed nationally as very important to a very important process," says Larry Hejtmanek, director of a Des Moines mental health center and an avid caucus-goer. "The downside is January 4. It's all over. You have a normal letdown. People...
...Which, of course, once again makes Iowa's unique role every four years vulnerable. Iowans are very familiar with the arguments against giving such a small demographically unrepresentative state such a big say in the presidential race. We know the caucus critics are grumbling again. ("Who the hell cares about Iowa?" New York Post columnist Cindy Adams growled recently...
...typical image of Iowa is we're this kind of beige state, this boring place," says Hejtmanek. "Usually Iowans are apologizing for where they live. That's not the case with caucus season...
...most campaigns, New Year's will involve a lot of work (unlike Christmas, it's a secular holiday, which gives candidates a free pass to stay on the job) - they'll be entering the final sprint to the Jan. 3 caucuses - though most events on Jan. 1 start noticeably late in the day, just in case. Several campaigns considered throwing big bashes with marquee entertainment, but they scratched their plans, worried that glitzy parties wouldn't seem very "Iowan" and that the crowds who turn out on New Year's Eve may not be inclined to come back on caucus...
...along with the guests of two TV networks that have arranged for private seating. For the hundreds of less moneyed reporters in town for the holiday, Carrie Giddins, the spokeswoman for the Iowa Democratic Party, and Mary Tiffany, her GOP counterpart, have joined forces to throw "Raucous Before the Caucus," a big bash with a jazz band at the Temple for the Performing Arts downtown - the $25 entrance fee gets journos a taste of Iowa, including State Fair favorites like fried Twinkies and corn dogs...