Clinton Gets Final Shot At Iowa Voters With Last-Minute Forum - TheHill

[WillyT]

Clinton gets final shot at Iowa voters with last-minute forum
By Jonathan Easley - TheHill
01/24/16 06:00 AM EST


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A Democratic presidential forum scheduled at the 11th hour will give Hillary Clinton one last chance to make her case to the Iowa voters as some polls show rival Bernie Sanders overtaking her in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

CNN and the Iowa Democratic Party announced this week that they’d partner on a candidate forum that will take place Monday night – less than one week before the Iowa caucuses – giving all of the candidates a high-profile setting to make their final pitch to Hawkeye State voters.

The network and Iowa party have been working on the logistics and on securing the participation of all three Democrats running for president since November, spokespeople for both groups told The Hill.

But a source with knowledge of the situation said the Clinton campaign was the only hold-out for the forum and didn’t come around to the idea until last week, finally giving the media outlet and the state party the green-light to move ahead.

The Clinton campaign did not return a request for comment.

Her late agreement to attend the forum comes as political watchers increasingly believe that Sanders could win the caucuses in Iowa and the primary in New Hampshire – the first two states to vote.

“If there was any calculation that she shouldn’t be as visible as possible, I’m sure they’ve reassessed and are trying to get her out in front of voters because she’s really shined at these debates and forums,” said Mo Elleithee, the former communications director for the Democratic National Committee.

It’s an ironic turn of events for Clinton, who was criticized early in the cycle for hiding from the press...

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More: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/266760-last-minute-forum-gives-clinton-last-shot-at-iowa-voters

[morningfog]

1. Making more sense now. Hillary was a hold out until on the ropes

[snagglepuss]

2. I don't believe it. I think when Hill saw the numbers she realized she

needed more face time. I think it was her that pushed for this and the spin that she was the holdout is simply to mask the fact that DWS does Hill's bidding.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Yes i think this is pure spin and lies

This forum has all of the markings of an event that was put together quickly.

There was never any mention of this event by anyone, ever.

I just don't believe that. At all.

This was put together because Clinton is desperate and thinks that one more chance in front of the voters is going to make a difference. So interesting that this forum is all Iowa-voter questions. Easy to plant an unfair question to Bernie and softballs for Clinton.

As has been discussed, the Iowa Democratic Party is organizing this even and in charge of all logistics, including who gets in the audience, who asks the questions and what those questions will be. The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, Dr. Andy McGuire is a long-time Hillary Clinton advocate. She served as co-chair of her 2008 Iowa campaign and she also served on a team of Iowa executives who are committed to electing Hillary in 2016. McGuire's license plate reads, "HRC2016."

So yeah.

There's all kind of possibilities for abuse her. No one has really addressed the potential for favoritism or a direct, unfair attack on Bernie. Let's just hope that the worst-case scenario is that Clinton pulled some strings and managed to get this event cobbled together in record time--so she has an extra chance to boost her campaign. If nefarious and bullshit question planting happens, there will be hell to pay in Iowa.

Enough Iowans know who Dr. Andy McGuire is and her ties to Clinton. If dirty tricks are played, Iowans will reject it and Clinton will suffer for it.

[nc4bo]

3. League night at the bowling alley, no dvr so will count on DU

to provide the details.

[catnhatnh]

4. Like, with a rifle?

See-I love Hillary's sense of humor!

[morningfog]

5. More like a shotgun wedding, I mean forum.