Star Power at Annual Dems Event

[illinoisprogressive]

The Steak Fry is political theater, a kind of live entertainment and a war of decibels, where the candidates buy blocks of $30 tickets and bus supporters from all over the state who will chant, hold signs and scream for their candidates. Hours before the candidates arrived, as steaks sizzled, the battle was joined. It started on the roads into town and, with few breaks, didn't end until late afternoon, when the candidates left.

Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign has taken Indianola by storm, with an almost unbroken line of "Hillary" signs that lined the last four or so miles of road. Sen. John Edwards' supporters stationed themselves at intersections. Sen. Barack Obama's rising sun symbols and the words "Hope" dawned over the field. The second-tier candidates -- Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- were barely represented.

Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina, won the air war, hiring a plane to tow a banner. But battles are never won by air alone, and Clinton's groundlings massed on either side of the path in the two hours before the gates opened, chanting so loudly and so completely for the New York senator that the other candidates gave up.

"C'mon, you need to be louder," an older woman castigated a trio of quiet Richardson supporters gamely holding signs before the Clinton gauntlet.

"It won't make much of a difference," one replied, her voice almost drowned out.

Later, Obama raised the decibel level further, countering with a marching band and gymnastics troupe. His initial appearance, as he walked in the front gate, washed over the crowd and electrified even the Edwards and Clinton supporters waiting a half-mile away to greet their candidates.

"Obama's coming," said one, who pulled away from Edwards' group to meet the Illinois senator who tested the waters at last year's Steak Fry, a considerably smaller event. Clinton and Edwards were, despite Obama's appearance, similarly mobbed. Richardson's walk to the front stage, on the other hand, was barely interrupted as he cut through the volunteers handing out Clinton stickers and Obama signs.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i7796170462804d1fbb5eac7e718ff5e4

[emilyg]

1. Wish I had been there.

[illinoisprogressive]

2. me too. I live about 4 or so hrs from there.