Anyone know why Biden and Richardson skipping the Des Moines Heartland Presidential Forum in Iowa?

[Tejanocrat]

It's a huge deal in Iowa that no serious candidate ought to skip.

Is someone withdrawing from the race or pulling out of Iowa? What's up?

[Stop Cornyn]

1. Richardson tanked in the latest Iowa poll, but he's still in 4th place in New Hampshire. I bet

Richardson is re-focusing his campaign on New Hampshire.

Can't imagine why Biden would miss this. Any Bidenites have any clue why Biden's skipping the forum?

[frogcycle]

2. can only speculate

but Biden has spent a lot of quality time in Iowa, lots of townhalls and such. I think his results will surprise a lot of people. He is working NH pretty hard. Maybe he feels he has made all the gains he can in Iowa and needs to look down the road...

I certainly would not call it a "snub" - they have to make tradeoffs. Iowa is not "all the marbles" for the so-called second tier; a decent showing there pretty much has to have a good followup though...

[PatSeg]

20. According to Joe Biden's website he will be

participating.

<Dec. 1: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Joe Biden is in Des Moines, Iowa tonight, to participate in the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Candidate Forum at 7:00 p.m. (Central Time). This Forum is the nation’s only presidential candidate Forum where all candidates have the opportunity to answer essential concerns of African-Americans and Latinos.>

http://blog.joebiden.com/

Article from the Iowa Independent about the event:

http://iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1550

Another article at Daily Kos:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/30/17524/840

[PatSeg]

22. Sorry, wrong event

I am not awake yet.

[Debi]

23. Yeah, he'll be at the Brown Black Forum

but the Heartland Forum is a four hour forum (1:30 to 5:30) that's being held elsewhere.

Two forums on the same day? :shrug: I know.

I don't know how well attended either one will be at the moment, Iowa is being hit pretty hard w/freezing rain and sleet. I just saw where travel is not being advised in Des Moines (where both Forums are being held). Lots of cars in ditches and accidents already being reported (and power going out already too). This storm is supposed to last until midnight- 6:00 AM.

[maddezmom]

3. not sure, but found this

Saturday twin forums at 2:30pm ET and 8pm ET.

FIRST UP – Heartland Presidential Forum: Sponsored by community groups, event (minus Clinton who altered her schedule last minute) focuses on community values like health care, housing, jobs, clean elections, farming and immigration.

Watch it live on C-SPAN, listen to it on XM Radio, or see it streamed on the Web here. For more info click here.


THEN – Brown & Black Forum: Traditional Des Moines event (this one including Clinton) focuses on concerns of Latinos and African-Americans.

Watch it live on HDNet. Find out more here.

Read the Des Moines Register preview here.

more:http://thepage.time.com/2007/12/01/democrats-face-off-in-iowa/

[inthebrain]

4. Brown and Black even should be good

I'm going to enjoy watching some of the candidates who have capitulated to the right wing on immigration. Especially the silly driver license issue.

[Tejanocrat]

24. thanks

[seasat]

26. Richardson is also attending the Brown and Black forum.

I imagine that since the event focuses on Hispanic and African American issues, he probably wanted to make sure he was prepared for it and skipped the earlier forum.

[Debi]

5. It's a huge deal in Iowa?

:blush:

I'm glad you posted this, because it's the first I heard of it.

Maybe it's a huge deal in Des Moines Iowa, the city that forgets that there are 98 other counties in the state.

Now the Brown Black Forum http://www.bbpresforum.org/ THAT is a huge deal in Iowa.

[1corona4u]

6. Thanks for clearing that up Debi..

as usual, you're the voice of reason...

[Debi]

12. No being reasonable, just odd that there was no press in the paper

before Thursday (and then only in the Des Moines Register - not the W/CF Courier). :shrug: Haven't seen anything about it on the local news channels either, but I do only get northern Iowa news so maybe the more southern channels did stories about it.

[KittyWampus]

7. Thanks Debi, as someone from Iowa you'd have a good sense of things, IMO

[IA_Seth]

9. Oh of course...

I suppose I should have known you'd beat me to the punch here!

Thanks for lookin out!

[Debi]

10. Sorry, bud.

Didn't mean to steal your Iowa thunder :P

I don't know if I can get the BB Forum (or if I'll even have power tonight) so I'll be relying on the internets for play-by-play.

As for the Hearland Forum, the DMR only had a couple of Op Ed articles about it (and nothing in my 'local' paper) so I don't think it has very much coverage. Glad that C-SPAN will be showing it, hopefully I'll be able to see a rerun tonight.

What is the weather like down at your place? we've got blowing snow and it is COLD, looks like accidents left and right already. :scared: (Hope all is plowed and sanded before we drive in for the game...)

[Frustratedlady]

13. Debi...where are you located? Northwestern Iowa?

I'm in SE Iowa and it is flirting between ice and rain. Just wondering what is coming.

[Debi]

14. I'm northeast

It's supposed to be sweeping from the SW up to the NE -

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dvn/

Here's KGAN's recent radar page:

http://www.kgan.com/wx/xr_reg_small.shtml

KWWL reports light snow w/freezing rain which is what is causing the accidents.

Reporters keep talking about a repeat of February's ice storms...:scared:... I hope not.

[Frustratedlady]

15. Yes, ice could be a problem, as leaves are still on some trees.

They were late in dropping, this year, so the extra weight could cause some breakage. The ice coverage has increased in the past hour, so I'm in for the weekend. I hope the cable doesn't go out and cut off my Internet(s). :eyes:

Stay safe!

[Debi]

16. Since I live in the 'boonies' we have mobile internets

(and a 3 hour battery on my son's laptop). We are charging both our cel phones and his hand held games for entertainment purposes (oh, I should go charge his DVD battery too).

Inadvisibly we are headed out to the UNI football game this afternoon. Hope the power doesn't go out in the Dome AND that the roads are ready for travel by noon :silly: I know we're foolish. :banghead:

[1corona4u]

17. Just be careful!!

I can't imagine ever going back to that type of weather...ever, LOL.

[Debi]

18. I'm being stupid - the game is on TV

but we're season ticket holders and this is the biggest deal (sportswise) for the University for the longest time. Since my son is a freshman this is a dream year for him. Yeah, I'm being stupid.

[Frustratedlady]

19. The rain/sleet/ice is really coming down at the moment.

Why don't you put a pot of chili on to simmer and stay home. Better to wait for another day, than to end up in the ditch. There will be other games, and ten years from now, will this game truly be so important?

Just sayin'. Stay warm and safe!

[Debi]

21. You know us die-hards we beileve this is THE game and if we miss it

:cry:

The plows have been out and salted my road and I've scraped off the ramp and walkway.

I'm keeping an eye on the news but I'm certain that they won't cancel the game.

Mmmmmm chili, that will be a good thing to come home to! (Thank goodness for gas stoves).

x( I know I'm being foolish, I am sorry.

[IA_Seth]

8. Black and Brown...

The Black and Brown event is the big 'un... I myself hadn't heard of the Heartland Forum and my guess would be that it's more of a localized event.

I guess I am not surprised that a candidate would skip one or the other, and to skip the Black and Brown would be VERY foolish. Now THAT would be news.

[Steely_Dan]

11. Self-Deleted

[jillan]

25. Biden will be there. I don't know where you get your information?!

http://blog.joebiden.com/?p=1444

[1corona4u]

27. There are 2 different forums, today and tomorrow..

Biden will not be at the one today, but he will be at the B&B tomorrow, the important one.