Spending a Late Evening in Fort Madison, Iowa, with Presidential Candidate Chris Dodd

Sitting around in a group of 12 and talking to a United States Senator is probably something I will never get to do again in my life. This is why the gathering at Newberry's Retirement Center with U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Chris Dodd in Fort Madison, Iowa, was such a wonderful opportunity.

The campaign was probably hoping for a better turnout; however, this sort of setting gives every one involved a better chance to chat just like old friends. One of the possible reasons for the low turnout, however, was that on the official website of Chris Dodd for President, the event was accidentally listed as to take place tomorrow instead of today. These sorts of errors can happen during what is such a grueling schedule during a presidential campaign. Newberry's is actually a very nice place to hold events. It is sort of ironic that they don't have a handicapped accessible entrance given that it is a recreational center for elderly citizens.

There were an assortment of cookies and snack food at event. I myself indulged in two chocolate chip cookies and they were above par for a political gathering. There were similar different types of soda there. The one that caught my eye was the "Coke Zero" which I had never heard of so I did not sample it. Every one else at the event seemed to know what Coke Zero was so I just assumed I'd been living under a rock. There was a media personality there -- Jim Wuhrl of KOKX. Before the event started we discussed how the Keokuk Chiefs and Fort Madison Bloodhounds were doing in high school football. The people at Newberry's were more then helpful -- they had a lot of thing set up nicely and even had the fans going on an unseasonably warm night for Iowa in October. The event started at 7:15. I got there around 6:30 or so.