Hillary Clinton Seeks to Connect With Iowans, but Celebrity Gets in Way

[Capt. Obvious]

DES MOINES — On a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Iowa State Fair, Tom Harkin, a former senator and a popular political figure here, reaffirmed his support for his “great friend for almost 25 years,” Hillary Rodham Clinton, declaring that he and Mrs. Clinton “have the same type of values.”

It was a crucial endorsement that had eluded Mrs. Clinton in her 2008 presidential campaign, when Mr. Harkin stayed publicly neutral while Barack Obama’s candidacy gained strength in this important early nominating state.

But speaking with reporters after he praised Mrs. Clinton’s record, Mr. Harkin signaled what may have secured his early endorsement this time.

“I’m going to be frank — I never said this to Hillary,” he said. “I thought certain mistakes were made in 2008.” But he added that Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 campaign in Iowa was “doing everything right.”

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Mrs. Clinton, accompanied by a dozen Secret Service agents, state troopers and staff members, as well as a horde of reporters, photographers and videographers, then tried to do just that.

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NYTimes first draft

[bigdarryl]

1. Why would anyone post something from the NYT on Clinton you know how they

Feel about the Clinton's