No Longer Under the Radar

By Mark Nolte

It was one year ago that a political science professor at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa decided it was time. Having spent the better part of the last twenty years working behind the scenes on democratic campaigns it was his turn to be the candidate.  So, from his kitchen table, Dave Loebsack began calling family, friends and influential democrats across the state whom he had gotten to know from his years working in the trenches.  When he posed the question of whether or not they felt he should be the democrat that finally unseats Rep Jim Leach after 30 years of wavering on the issues, their response was clear: they sent checks. 

This process continued through the summer, a one man campaign that started to snowball.  Soon he had filed his paperwork and there was a treasurer taking the checks, enamored students began taking shifts at his kitchen table helping with research and various duties of a fledgling campaign.  By November of 2005 word was starting to spread, Dave had raised an impressive amount of money for a first time candidate still a year out from the election. 

His constant message of leadership and change coupled with his depth of knowledge on the issues that matter most to Iowa voters was resonating where ever he spoke.  Before the end of 2005 Dave realized that it was time to get organized.  He brought on Friedman and Associates to manage the campaign and in January the effort moved from the kitchen table to its headquarters in Iowa City.     

It was clear at last Saturday’s 2nd District Convention that the campaign has hit its stride.  Staff, Interns and Volunteers bedecked in royal blue t-shirts emblazoned with “DAVE” were everywhere.  As the crowd of over 400 rose to its feet, sporting lapel stickers and waving placards to cheer on the humble educator and tireless campaigner, he stopped just for a second to take it all in.  Then it was back to work.