Waiting for John Edwards

I’m at the Savery Hotel in downtown Des Moines, waiting to be let into the ballroom where John Edwards will speak to his supporters later tonight after the caucuses. I’m taking video for the Des Moines Register, the newspaper where I interned this summer. Here’s what the Washington Post said about Edwards today: “Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, ended 36 hours of nonstop campaigning with a rally in Des Moines on Wednesday night that featured singer John Mellencamp.” I certainly hope he got a good night’s rest last night, because it would be bad if he yawned during tonight’s speech! The Associated Press reports Edwards could make $2 million a day if he wins the most Democrat support in Iowa, because that’s what Kerry made in 2004 when he got the most Democrat support in Iowa. Edwards got about half that in 2004 as runner-up. Either way, it would help his campaign; he’s got less money than Clinton and Obama. The Des Moines Register’s front-page headline in the print edition and on the website is an all-caps “NOW, YOU DECIDE.” Edwards placed a full-page ad in the paper. From the Register’s Ken Fuson: “You know there are too many reporters in Iowa when you see two interviewing each other about how many reporters there are in Iowa. You really know it when you see that happening more than once.” Since it’s been done, I won’t stop to interview another journalist about how many journalists there are in town, then. If you’re wondering about the weather here, “Oh, it’s frickin’ freezing,” said a woman who walked by my table at lunch in Panera — and no, I didn’t stop her to interview her, but I do have to say I agree with her weather assessment. Last night, weather.com had it as “feels like -1” in Des Moines. Today, it’s sunny with a bit of wind, and weather.com says the temperature is 29 but feels like 15. I’ll take 15 over -1.

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