Iowa’s Neighbors Envious of Caucuses, But Not Hostile

From Iowa Independent

Hostility to the Iowa caucuses seems to increase with distance.

Michigan and Florida are defying the national parties’ schedules, and leaders like Michigan Sen. Carl Levin and king of the bloggers Kos are openly calling for an end to Iowa’s first-in-the-nation status. But the states next door, while slightly envious, seem to take a little neighborly pride in Iowa.

“Do you know how jealous I am?” said Lynn Wilson of Rochester, Minn., chair of the Olmstead County DFL (that’s Minnesotan for Democrat) when told of this weekend’s five-presidential-candidate county party fund-raiser in similar-sized Iowa City. But even though she’s off the field of battle, Wilson found a way to participate in the caucuses without being able to caucus. She frequently traveled to northeast Iowa for John Kerry in 2003 and 2004. This year Wilson is doing the same for Hillary Clinton.  “I’m running down to Iowa to help in Decorah, Mason City, and with J-J (the Nov. 10 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner).”

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