Road Report from Ted Chiodo:

Hello Iowa! With 21 days left till decision time 2006, the traveling road crew headed out to the fine state of Iowa. I woke up early to catch a 7AM flight out of DCA (Washington National) to Cedar Rapids. I used the flight time to catch up on some of the road posts.

JK was in fine spirits as we bounded through O’Hare airport to pick up our connection in the C concourse. We arrived in Iowa (in roadspeak, “wheels down”) at 10:47 am and were met by Alan Bernard, Justin Shields and Matt Summers (a transplanted staffer from Keeping America’s Promise in Iowa for the month). It was a brisk Midwestern fall day with light winds and overcast skies. We all headed out of the airport to Iowa City, the home of the Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa.

Our first delicious stop (unscheduled) was Whitey’s Ice Cream Parlor. JK and everyone else wanted to get something to eat so we all decided grab some ice cream. I snapped some photos for everyone inside of Whitey’s, a great family owned chain that has a multitude of ice cream flavors. JK ordered a sundae with hot fudge and whipped cream, Marvin had a double scoop of chocolate in a cake cone; I went with the white tiger paw in a cake cone.

The white tiger paw really hit the spot as we headed to the first scheduled event, a rally with Chet Culver and other Democratic candidates at Vito’s restaurant on 118 East College Street.

The site was packed with Democrats old and young who came to see John Kerry speak, including University of Iowa students and Delta Gammas’ Katherine Morrison, Sarah Milani and JJ Usedom, who were attending their first Democratic rally. <!-more-> John Kerry brought the crowd to its feet with his attacks on the current administration’s failures in Iraq and domestically: George Bush wants you to believe that Democrats are to blame for the Foley cover-up, that Democrats are to blame for the current mess in Iraq, that Democrats are the cause of all the country’s ills.

These lies have to end. It was the Republicans who covered up for a predator instead of protecting children in their charge. It was a Republican administration that didn’t plan for victory in Iraq and sent our troops to battle without the equipment they needed. If Republicans don’t accept responsibility for their failures over the past 6 years, then voters must hold them responsible in 2006. They have had 6 years to bring American together and failed utterly. It’s high time Americans made a change.

JK went on to disparage the well known Rovian Republican smear machine. Iowans aren’t going to stand for Texas millionaire money coming in and funding these 527 ads attacking Democratic candidates who have lived, worked and fought for Iowans their whole lives. This November, 2006 election can be decisive in getting our country back on the right track.

JK called on the crowd to do more than vote: get involved, pick out a number of friends, neighbors, and family members, and make sure everyone in your group goes to vote.

The crowd rose to its feet in applause and cheers as JK ended his remarks. It was a great event and I know the voters of Iowa are going to make their state Blue in 2006.

Let’s get at it!  Mahalo!

    -- Ted