Iowa Caucus-goers Track the Presidential Candidates

By Liz Larson, ISP

Iowans for Sensible Priorities posts campaign stops and candidates’ ideas about the federal budget

The crowded field of potential presidents presents a challenge for undecided Iowa caucus-goers.  Many Iowans have grown accustomed to meeting each of the candidates before they decide who they will support during their precinct caucus.  The “rock star” status some of the candidates hold makes a house party or coffee shop meeting unlikely this caucus season for many Iowans.

That’s why Iowans for Sensible Priorities launched a candidate calendar and bird-dogging blog as part of the organization’s effort to find out where each of the candidates stand on issues related to the federal budget.  The calendar allows users to look at both Republican and Democratic events and sort them by candidate, city, or date.  Go to sensibleiowans.org/birddog_calendar.php to view the calendar.

“We know people are very busy, so we want to make it as easy as possible for anyone to find an event they can fit into their schedule,” said Peggy Huppert, executive director of Iowans for Sensible Priorities.

As more and more supporters of the Priorities campaign attend events and ask the candidates what their federal budget would look like, Iowans can make a more informed decision as to who they will support next January.  Even people who cannot make it to an event in person can learn about a candidate’s position on the federal budget by checking out the Iowans for Sensible Priorities Bird-dogging Blog.

The blog highlights candidates’ answers to Priorities questions.  Recent entries include responses from Republican candidate and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson and Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democratic candidate.  The blog can be found at sensibleiowans.org/blog/.  Users are also encouraged to contribute their bird-dogging experiences to the blog.

“As we find out where the candidates stand when it comes to waste in the federal budget, all Iowa caucus-goers can get a better idea of who they will support next January.  We’re helping Iowans determine which candidate really shares their priorities,” Huppert said.

Iowans for Sensible Priorities is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Des Moines.  The group’s mission is to change the federal budget to reflect a national commitment to education, healthcare, energy independence, job training and deficit reduction -- all at no additional taxpayer expense -- by shifting spending from obsolete Cold War and nuclear weapons.  To learn more about the campaign, go to sensibleiowans.org.   

Liz Larson
Communications Director
Iowans for Sensible Priorities
www.SensibleIowans.org
1620 Pleasant Street, #218
Des Moines, IA 50314
phone  515/244-1207
fax  515/244-1750
cell  515/333-1608