by Gary Klein

Despite being a Tuesday evening, the energy was palpable at Iowa City's famed (and intimate) nightspot “The Mill” as well over 100 people anticipated Ed Fallon's arrival in a smoke-free, but clearly not fun-free environment. Fallon staffers relayed that Ed had been slowed by House business, but that didn't keep the enthusiastic crowd  from enjoying music and speeches from dignitaries like 2nd District US Congressional Dem candidate Dave Loebsack, 89th District State Senate Dem candidate Mark Nolte (who is a supporter of Fallon), and local Dem candidates for Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness and Nick Maybanks and Board of Supervisors candidate Larry Meyers. Secretary of Agriculture candidate Denise O'Brien  planned to come, but was ably represented by Sara Baird.

 Music was provided by the very popular and always energized Dave Zollo and, Shinbone Alley (featuring local Guitar God, John Lake) ahead of Ed's arrival.  Among the crowd were James Moody, Paul Osterholt, Jeff Fields, Mark Kresowik, Tom Carsner and other local Dem party “players”. When Ed arrived around 8:45, Nick Johnson, a former FCC commissioner, made a stirring introduction which  caused Ed to comment, “It was a long introduction, but I know who to call for a really good introduction.”

Fallon supporters were on their feet when Ed came to the front of the house. He referred to the “little guys and gals” who he would fight for, like the poor, GLBT, the small farmer and others who, like him aren't wealthy. He sees the divide in Iowa as more about top versus bottom, not left and right; the small, but powerful interests at the top versus those without power at the bottom.

He spoke about clean campaign finances and that when Paul Wellstone ran for the senate seat, he was outspent 6 to 1 when he won  in Minnesota. Ed joked and said he planned to only be outspent 3 to 1 to become Iowa's next governor. Ed accepts no PAC money.

He was not excited to run TV ads, but in a statewide race he said “you have to. And I pledge that I will never run a negative, nasty television ad.” Talking to his campaign team they said that it will be very easy to distinguish Ed from the other Dem candidates and Rep. Jim Nussle when his ads begin to air–stay tuned, as they say.

Finally, he urged his supporters to tell ten friends to support him and that he would win the primary and as he walked off the stage, the  band Stones in the Field made Celtic music that made Ed feel very much at home. He spent the rest of the evening chatting with his committed core and some uncommitted voters.

Ed's advance team –Chelsea and Henry were very professional and helpful to the organizers of the event–they admit they don't sleep much, but as Henry said “I do get some time off between mid-November and the end of December. Although this year, I'm hoping to be on the transition team.”

P.S. Pictures Tim Weitzel took these pictures of Ed, Jeff Cox, and Nick Johnson…