Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama made a swing through northern Iowa Monday, arguing he’s the candidate best prepared to fight special interests in Washington. "And that’s why when I hear some other candidates talk about, ‘Vote for me because I know how to work the system,’ — the system hasn’t been working for us," Obama said during an appearance in Spencer. "When people say, ‘I know how to play the game better. Vote for me,’ — we don’t need somebody to play the game better. We need somebody to put an end to the game playing."
Obama talked of his efforts to curb lobbyists’ influence by forbidding certain gifts to members of congress. During that appearance in Spencer, Obama mentioned rival John Edwards by name, contrasting his own Senate record in tackling special interests with the record Edwards compiled when he was in the Senate.
Edwards told reporters in Des Moines he "respects" Obama "enormously" but Edwards went on to make the case that he, not Obama, is better prepared to fight corporate interests. "I do believe that we have a battle — not against politicians — but a very important fight against drug companies, insurance companies, oil companies, etcetera," Edwards said. "And I think that we need a fighter who’s ready for that fight and I know that I am. I’ve been engaged in that fight and winning it my whole life."
Another Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, is touting the number of elderly Iowans who’re pledging to support her in the Caucuses. According to Clinton, her campaign has been keeping a list of people in their nineties who want to Caucus for her.
"Well, the other day we broke through the barrier. A 102-year-old man is determined to Caucus for me," Clinton told an audience in Des Moines on Monday. "And he’s asked his 81-year-old son to take him but I may need one of you to help the son take the father to Caucus for me."