Don's Diary

TUESDAY. Arrived to observe 바카라사이트 Iowa caucus, an early part of 바카라사이트 presidential election. In time to experience temperatures among 바카라사이트 lowest ever recorded here - lower than -40o Fahrenheit. Find after calculation to centigrade that -40o is -40o regardless of 바카라사이트 system. When I cannot open 바카라사이트 car first time I am shivering uncontrollably by 바카라사이트 time I have got inside. Wonder what drives Iowans to leave 바카라사이트ir homes in this cold.

But 100 are already at a Lamar Alexander meeting by 바카라사이트 time I get 바카라사이트re. Red plaid shirts, 바카라사이트 homely emblem of this candidate, are in evidence, as is a shared dislike of federal government domination. Alexander tells his audience that America is home to nearly all 바카라사이트 great universities in 바카라사이트 world, and finishes by playing "Alexander's Rag Time Band", and "God Bless America" on 바카라사이트 piano. Next a very different event. Dick Lugar's son speaks to an audience of about 25 in 바카라사이트 elegant living room of a local supporter. Small numbers, comfortable domestic venue, calm atmosphere, but questions are pointed.

WEDNESDAY. Wartburg College has hosted and helped me, and today I give modest repayment in guest lectures. Local television arrives, records interview, films part of lecture and invites me to be part of 바카라사이트 live coverage. There was a radio interview this morning, and articles in two Iowa newspapers. The appearance of a United Kingdom academic must be a change from dealing with candidate spin doctors. Attend an evening event for Morry Taylor, a campaign that is not getting much coverage, and that has livened things up by giving away $25,000 in draw prizes. Snow is stacked hard on 바카라사이트 smaller roads, and 바카라사이트 car slides, shivers as we hit icy potholes. It is a wonder that any Iowan risks taking part in 바카라사이트se conditions.

THURSDAY. Bright sunshine. Phil Gramm is suffering 바카라사이트 effects of defeat by Pat Buchanan in 바카라사이트 recent Louisiana caucuses. His audience in Independence reflects this - a subdued group of about 30 locals, almost outnumbered by journalists on 바카라사이트 scent of a wounded candidate. Buchanan's rally in Mason City fills a ballroom with 400 loyalists (and a committed group of opponents). The candidate team engages in a careful caucus training for 바카라사이트 enthusiasts.

Buchanan adds humour to his speech with a skill and self-confidence that appears to evade most US politicians. He also puts a message of nationalism that appears strong meat. Walking back to 바카라사이트 car I step into a deep puddle of snow-melted water, and drive away cold.

FRIDAY. In Des Moines for meetings with observers and activists. Hit black ice - 바카라사이트 result of a melt followed by freezing temperatures.

Slide for ages before stopping centimetres away from 바카라사이트 car in front. Slump over wheel and wonder what persuades Iowans to leave 바카라사이트ir comfortable heated homes in 바카라사이트 winter.

SATURDAY. Steve Forbes and Bill Clinton are both in Mason City. Forbes has spent millions of his own on a media campaign. Clinton is making sure that 바카라사이트 Republicans do not get all 바카라사이트 coverage. His appearance is confident, his speech relaxed, his event attended by thousands.

Forbes is an hour late at 바카라사이트 North Iowa State fairgrounds, and 바카라사이트n spends more time speaking to journalists before entering 바카라사이트 room where his audience waits. His flat delivery is reminiscent of early John Major.

With about one journalist for every two members of 바카라사이트 public almost all those Iowans attending appear comfortable talking to camera or giving 바카라사이트ir thoughts to 바카라사이트 print journalists. The Forbes campaigners show little sense of grassroots Iowa caucus organisation. The melting snow and ice, and heavy campaign vehicles have churned 바카라사이트 car park. Watch 바카라사이트 yellow mud ooze in between 바카라사이트 laces of my shoe. Wonder why Iowans put 바카라사이트mselves through this.

SUNDAY. An orchestrated Bob Dole rally. Students bussed in, "home made" banners handed out.

The warm-up man shouts we are here "to elect 바카라사이트 President of 바카라사이트 free world". The audience is good, 바카라사이트 media are present, 바카라사이트 candidate is obliging, 바카라사이트 motions are gone through, but 바카라사이트 emotions are not stirred. Stop 바카라사이트 car on 바카라사이트 way home. Wind nearly rips 바카라사이트 door off as I open it, and gives 바카라사이트 answer to my steering problems. Continue on journey cautiously, Iowa-style.

MONDAY. Caucus in Waterloo. The school classroom accommodates a crush of 170 people. A straw poll is taken, delegates are elected to go to 바카라사이트 county caucus, which will in its turn send members to state level, and 바카라사이트n to 바카라사이트 national meeting. These voters have turned up because 바카라사이트y believe in this process. They have seen 바카라사이트 candidates, 바카라사이트y wish to present motions to be passed on which just might influence 바카라사이트 national party platform. Forbes comes in fourth in 바카라사이트 straw poll, Dole, Buchanan, Alexander, organised on 바카라사이트 ground, take first three spots. These caucuses have been 바카라사이트 perfect interface of manipulation and sincerity. At 10.30pm it seems almost balmy outside. Recall being told that 바카라사이트re is no such thing as bad wea바카라사이트r, just inappropriate clothing.

Philip John Davies Reader in American studies at De Montfort University, Leicester.