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| All eyes on Hillary Clinton as she returns to Iowa for first time since 2008 caucus loss | All eyes on Hillary Clinton as she returns to Iowa for first time since 2008 caucus loss |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| INDIANOLA, Iowa — Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Iowa on Sunday for the first time since her demoralizing loss in the 2008 presidential caucuses amid anticipation of her potential 2016 presidential campaign. | INDIANOLA, Iowa — Hillary Rodham Clinton returned to Iowa on Sunday for the first time since her demoralizing loss in the 2008 presidential caucuses amid anticipation of her potential 2016 presidential campaign. |
| Her appearance at retiring Sen. Tom Harkin’s 37th annual and final steak fry has drawn thousands of Democrats to an open grassy field here, eager to hear Clinton rally the party faithful at a time when control of the Senate is up for grabs and could be decided in Iowa. | Her appearance at retiring Sen. Tom Harkin’s 37th annual and final steak fry has drawn thousands of Democrats to an open grassy field here, eager to hear Clinton rally the party faithful at a time when control of the Senate is up for grabs and could be decided in Iowa. |
| “I’m glad to be back,” Clinton said as she flipped steaks with Harkin and her husband, former president Bill Clinton. | |
| Hillary Clinton ignored questions shouted from reporters about the 2016 campaign, but across the field, one of the early speakers called out from the stage, “Are you ready for Hillary?” The crowd roared. | |
| The Clintons touched down in Des Moines Sunday morning to attend a private fundraiser with Harkin before making their way south to a balloon field just outside Indianola. | |
| Party activists began arriving well before noon, claiming their places in folding chairs on the sloping and still slightly muddy field in front of a stage adorned with bales of hay, pumpkins and a giant American flag. | Party activists began arriving well before noon, claiming their places in folding chairs on the sloping and still slightly muddy field in front of a stage adorned with bales of hay, pumpkins and a giant American flag. |
| On this crisp, clear-skied day, the atmosphere was both festive and serious. Many said that a principal reason they were here was to pay tribute to Harkin, an unabashed prairie populist who through 40 years in elective office has become a legendary Democratic figure in the state. | On this crisp, clear-skied day, the atmosphere was both festive and serious. Many said that a principal reason they were here was to pay tribute to Harkin, an unabashed prairie populist who through 40 years in elective office has become a legendary Democratic figure in the state. |
| But equally important to many was the chance to size up Clinton for the first time since she finished a surprising third in the 2008 caucuses, behind Barack Obama and John Edwards. Clinton left Iowa feeling scorned and her husband voiced criticism of the state’s unique caucus system, irritating some Democratic activists. Concerns remain about Clinton and her 2008 campaign team, who came across to many Democrats in Iowa as aloof and presumptuous. | But equally important to many was the chance to size up Clinton for the first time since she finished a surprising third in the 2008 caucuses, behind Barack Obama and John Edwards. Clinton left Iowa feeling scorned and her husband voiced criticism of the state’s unique caucus system, irritating some Democratic activists. Concerns remain about Clinton and her 2008 campaign team, who came across to many Democrats in Iowa as aloof and presumptuous. |
| “Unlike the media, I don’t care if she announces anything. I can wait,” said Brent Paulson, a state worker from Indianola attending the steak fry. | |
| At Sunday’s steak fry, Clinton honed her retail skills, although in a controlled and highly supportive environment. She flipped steaks at the grill and was expected to shake hands on the rope line following her speech, as she did in 2007 at her last steak fry appearance. | |
| Clinton’s visit here marks her debut on the campaign trail this midterm season, and she is expected to throw her support behind Rep. Bruce Braley (D), who is locked in a tight race against Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst to replace Harkin. | Clinton’s visit here marks her debut on the campaign trail this midterm season, and she is expected to throw her support behind Rep. Bruce Braley (D), who is locked in a tight race against Republican state Sen. Joni Ernst to replace Harkin. |
| Many Democratic activists here will be listening for signals from Clinton about where she would lead the party and the country should she run for president again. There are doubts among some in this state that she is too hawkish on foreign affairs and too friendly to business interests when it comes to economic policy. | Many Democratic activists here will be listening for signals from Clinton about where she would lead the party and the country should she run for president again. There are doubts among some in this state that she is too hawkish on foreign affairs and too friendly to business interests when it comes to economic policy. |
| Even Harkin, her host today, said he was unsure about her commitment to the progressive causes that he’s spent his career championing. | Even Harkin, her host today, said he was unsure about her commitment to the progressive causes that he’s spent his career championing. |
| When asked on Friday where she fits into the current Democratic Party, Harkin told The Washington Post, “I think that’s probably yet to be determined.” But he also said, “She is much more progressive in her thoughts and her inclination than most people may think.” | When asked on Friday where she fits into the current Democratic Party, Harkin told The Washington Post, “I think that’s probably yet to be determined.” But he also said, “She is much more progressive in her thoughts and her inclination than most people may think.” |
| In an interview that aired Sunday morning on ABC’s “This Week,” Harkin sounded more skeptical. Asked if he still had “unease” about where she stands on economic and foreign policy, Harkin said, “We’re always nervous about people moving too far to the right.” | In an interview that aired Sunday morning on ABC’s “This Week,” Harkin sounded more skeptical. Asked if he still had “unease” about where she stands on economic and foreign policy, Harkin said, “We’re always nervous about people moving too far to the right.” |
| Harkin’s steak fry has been an excuse for a weekend of political activity and networking in anticipation of the 2016 campaign. The event has drawn people from around the country, including many strategists and operatives in the Clinton orbit who form the backbone of the outside already set up to aid her if she runs. | Harkin’s steak fry has been an excuse for a weekend of political activity and networking in anticipation of the 2016 campaign. The event has drawn people from around the country, including many strategists and operatives in the Clinton orbit who form the backbone of the outside already set up to aid her if she runs. |
| Ready for Hillary, the pro-Clinton super PAC that has been laying the grass-roots foundation for her campaign, has a major presence here. Their logo-wrapped bus is stationed at the entrance to the steak fry, and dozens of young volunteers are distributing Ready for Hillary bumper stickers. They also have erected scores of barn signs around the field saying, “Thank You, Tom!” and “Thank You, Ruth!,” as tributes to Harkin and his wife. | Ready for Hillary, the pro-Clinton super PAC that has been laying the grass-roots foundation for her campaign, has a major presence here. Their logo-wrapped bus is stationed at the entrance to the steak fry, and dozens of young volunteers are distributing Ready for Hillary bumper stickers. They also have erected scores of barn signs around the field saying, “Thank You, Tom!” and “Thank You, Ruth!,” as tributes to Harkin and his wife. |
| In Des Moines, a mobile billboard saying “Ready for Hillary” circled the streets downtown all weekend to generate enthusiasm. And at the entrance to the Des Moines International Airport, the group has a huge billboard advertisement featuring the iconic photo of the then-secretary of state in black sunglasses reading her Blackberry on a military aircraft, but with a catchy message: “Please Don’t Text & Drive.” | In Des Moines, a mobile billboard saying “Ready for Hillary” circled the streets downtown all weekend to generate enthusiasm. And at the entrance to the Des Moines International Airport, the group has a huge billboard advertisement featuring the iconic photo of the then-secretary of state in black sunglasses reading her Blackberry on a military aircraft, but with a catchy message: “Please Don’t Text & Drive.” |
| The Harkin steak fry began modestly back when he was a young member of Congress. Tickets cost $2 and the first such event included a few dozen friends and supporters of Harkin grilling their own steaks and sitting on bales of hay, talking politics. | The Harkin steak fry began modestly back when he was a young member of Congress. Tickets cost $2 and the first such event included a few dozen friends and supporters of Harkin grilling their own steaks and sitting on bales of hay, talking politics. |
| In the intervening years, the steak fry has become one of the signal political events on the fall calendar for Democrats. Bill Clinton will be making his fourth appearance as a featured speaker, the most of anyone who has appeared on the stage. In 2003 and 2007, Harkin invited all the party’s presidential candidates, though the 2003 event also included Bill Clinton. | In the intervening years, the steak fry has become one of the signal political events on the fall calendar for Democrats. Bill Clinton will be making his fourth appearance as a featured speaker, the most of anyone who has appeared on the stage. In 2003 and 2007, Harkin invited all the party’s presidential candidates, though the 2003 event also included Bill Clinton. |
| The last steak fry has drawn more than 250 current and former Harkin staffers, who have spent the weekend reminiscing and gossiping about the next presidential campaign at a nonstop series of gatherings. | The last steak fry has drawn more than 250 current and former Harkin staffers, who have spent the weekend reminiscing and gossiping about the next presidential campaign at a nonstop series of gatherings. |
| The roster includes Democratic strategists who have been pitted against one another here in caucus battles over many years, including the epic contest in 2008 that launched Obama and that dealt Clinton a devastating setback. | The roster includes Democratic strategists who have been pitted against one another here in caucus battles over many years, including the epic contest in 2008 that launched Obama and that dealt Clinton a devastating setback. |