Iowans pick up on Clinton's silence
Iowa Falls, Ia. - Iowans have noticied that Democrat Hillary Clinton is not taking public questions from audiences during her final-push campaign rallies. After her 40-minute monologue ended shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday, Clinton immediately began to sign autographs, pose for photographs and listen to caucusgoers' concerns one on one.
Iowa Falls resident Alene Rickels, 51, when asked her thoughts about the event, said: "Her speech was really good, but it would've been interesting to see how she reacted to questions. "I really thought she would take questions," said Rickels, a middle school teacher. "It's late in the day, so I'm assuming that that's the reason. I don't know what she did the rest of the day."
Clinton took no questions from audiences at any of her stops earlier Sunday, in Vinton, Traer and Cedar Falls.
That message control raised eyebrows for other caucusgoers.
Lee Weber, 53, of Mason City caught Democrat Joe Biden at lunchtime Sunday, Democrat Christopher Dodd after supper then hopped in the car to see Clinton in Iowa Falls.
"Biden wins today," said Weber, who teaches at a community college. "Excellent presentation. He took questions. And I've been impressed with his message for a long time."
Biden opens himself up to questions from the audience every single event. Lately, he's been shortening his stump speeches considerably to allow time for more questions from the audience.
As for the press, Biden makes himself available at any event where several cameras are present and reporters are interested. Because he typically attracts few reporters, anyone who wants a few minutes with him afterward can generally arrange it with his staff.
Since returning to Iowa after a short Christmas holiday, Clinton has opened herself up to public questions just one time - at an event Friday in Story City. She has made herself available to questions from the pool of reporters covering her once, after a rally in Eldridge Saturday.
Democrat Barack Obama takes questions from the audience at almost every event. He rarely does press availabilities and will generally decline to answer reporters' questions if they approach him while he is shaking hands. His staff, also, guards him quite closely to prevent media from asking him questions.
In contrast, Democrat John Edwards takes several questions at every event, and tells people that if he didn't get to them, they should either e-mail their questions to his web site or write them down and hand them to one of his aides, and he or someone from the campaign will answer the question before the caucuses.
"It's my responsibility to answer your questions," he tells audiences. He makes himself available to reporters two or three per day and routinely has reporters take turns interviewing him on his bus between stops.
This has been Edwards' habit since the beginning of the campaign, when Edwards was ahead.
On the Republican side, Mitt Romney did "Ask Mitt Anything" events before Christmas in which he took questions. Lately though, he shakes hands but takes no audience questions. In the past he's done one press availability a day, but recently it's become spotty.
By Jennifer Jacobs, Des Moines Register, December 31, 2007
Iowa Falls resident Alene Rickels, 51, when asked her thoughts about the event, said: "Her speech was really good, but it would've been interesting to see how she reacted to questions. "I really thought she would take questions," said Rickels, a middle school teacher. "It's late in the day, so I'm assuming that that's the reason. I don't know what she did the rest of the day."
Clinton took no questions from audiences at any of her stops earlier Sunday, in Vinton, Traer and Cedar Falls.
That message control raised eyebrows for other caucusgoers.
Lee Weber, 53, of Mason City caught Democrat Joe Biden at lunchtime Sunday, Democrat Christopher Dodd after supper then hopped in the car to see Clinton in Iowa Falls.
"Biden wins today," said Weber, who teaches at a community college. "Excellent presentation. He took questions. And I've been impressed with his message for a long time."
Biden opens himself up to questions from the audience every single event. Lately, he's been shortening his stump speeches considerably to allow time for more questions from the audience.
As for the press, Biden makes himself available at any event where several cameras are present and reporters are interested. Because he typically attracts few reporters, anyone who wants a few minutes with him afterward can generally arrange it with his staff.
Since returning to Iowa after a short Christmas holiday, Clinton has opened herself up to public questions just one time - at an event Friday in Story City. She has made herself available to questions from the pool of reporters covering her once, after a rally in Eldridge Saturday.
Democrat Barack Obama takes questions from the audience at almost every event. He rarely does press availabilities and will generally decline to answer reporters' questions if they approach him while he is shaking hands. His staff, also, guards him quite closely to prevent media from asking him questions.
In contrast, Democrat John Edwards takes several questions at every event, and tells people that if he didn't get to them, they should either e-mail their questions to his web site or write them down and hand them to one of his aides, and he or someone from the campaign will answer the question before the caucuses.
"It's my responsibility to answer your questions," he tells audiences. He makes himself available to reporters two or three per day and routinely has reporters take turns interviewing him on his bus between stops.
This has been Edwards' habit since the beginning of the campaign, when Edwards was ahead.
On the Republican side, Mitt Romney did "Ask Mitt Anything" events before Christmas in which he took questions. Lately though, he shakes hands but takes no audience questions. In the past he's done one press availability a day, but recently it's become spotty.
By Jennifer Jacobs, Des Moines Register, December 31, 2007
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