With the state’s Democratic caucuses only months away on February 3, Iowa has become its typical hotbed of political activity. The various Democratic presidential candidates in the race have been crisscrossing the state in droves for town hall meetings, meet and greets and roundtables. Understandably, most of these campaign stops occur in the Iowa’s population centers like Des Moines, Fort Dodge or Mason City. However, last week, Wright County finally got some attention from one Midwestern candidate. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar held a “drop in” last Tuesday, November 26 at Clarion’s own Timbukbrü.
Klobuchar’s visit to Clarion was just one of five stops she made in north central Iowa on Tuesday. Earlier in the day, she made stops in Northwood, Forest City and Garner. The Wright County visit was billed as a “drop in” so it was a pretty casual event. There was no planned speech or calling on the crowd for questions. Rather, Sen. Klobuchar sat at a table at the brewery, sipped on a beer and munched peanuts with several local people sitting around with her.
The informal conversation was wide-ranging in topic. Klobuchar asked the crowd about Wright County and Clarion, and chatted briefly with Timbukbrü’s owners, congratulating them on their success. She asked about the Democratic Party in the county and expressed her support for District 4 House candidate J.D. Scholten.
Klobuchar also engaged with the crowd on a variety of political issues. She discussed rural hospitals and healthcare at length with Iowa Specialty Hospitals CEO Steve Simonin who was in attendance. She reminded the crowd that she is not a supporter Medicare for All and is “concerned about the effect that it will have on hospitals in small towns.” She supports a public healthcare option but not getting rid of all private insurance like some of her competitors. She also talked about how she would expand help for mental health issues, including taxing opioids to cover such costs. The senator was also questioned about immigration, trade issues and water quality.
While the crowd at the brewery was very engaged and eager to listen, most said they were still weighing their options when it comes to the candidates. One Clarion man who noted that Klobuchar is in his top three for candidates asked the senator why he should take a chance on her since she isn’t one of the leaders in the state. Klobuchar, who sits a number five in most recent polls in Iowa, pointed out that she is trending upwards and gaining momentum. She also said she has a history of winning both red and blue counties throughout her career. Klobuchar added that she can put words into action, having passed more than 100 bills as lead Democrat in her time in the Senate.
Other Wright County voters also weighed in on Klobuchar. One couple from the Belmond area noted that they currently support the senator and have heard her speak previously. They bring up her strong stances on mental healthcare as a tipping factor. They also noted that they feel the Democratic candidate “needs to be a moderate candidate who can attract all voters. We can’t have extreme positions if we want to win next time.”
Regardless if they are backing Klobuchar or not, most people at the brewery emphasized how pleased they were just to get a chance to listen to a candidate in a local setting. Alice Espe, a longtime active Democrat, said she hasn’t made up her mind about who she is supporting but explained, “I like the opportunity to listen to candidates in person if I can, and we don’t get that too much out here.” Mary Miller from Clarion agreed, saying, “I’m just amazed she came to Clarion. I’m undecided, but I appreciate that Klobuchar is a Midwesterner and has a strong voice.”
After about an hour and a half, Klobuchar and her team headed off into the snowy night for one more stop in Hampton. Wright County Democratic Party Acting Chair, Shannon Walker, was happy with the event all around. She added that Klobuchar’s drop in was a pleasant surprise for her. She said, “In past elections, people in rural areas like Wright County have felt neglected and ignored. But now candidates are realizing that they can’t win without the rural votes.” Walker is pleased that Klobuchar and the other candidates are finally giving small town folks their due.
Walker hoped that Klobuchar is only the first of many candidates to stop by Wright County in the next months. “We are open to any candidates sharing their message with us since a lot of people still haven’t decided who to support.” She hopes such visits will add to the Democratic enthusiasm in the typically red county. “We can’t wait for the upcoming caucuses. Our next step is to form a committee and recruit volunteers for that.”
For her part, Senator Klobuchar fought through the weather and continued on the campaign trail in Iowa. She spent the rest of the week in the state, including enjoying Thanksgiving dinner in Des Moines.
