This past weekend, I was invited to accompany John and Elizabeth Edwards as they toured the great state of Iowa.
Little did I know how grueling a schedule it was to be, and that I was about to embark on an unparalleled journey.
Here's an overview.
On Friday, August 17th, I departed from Newark, New Jersey, on a 6:00 AM flight to Des Moines . After barely catching my connecting flight in Detroit, I arrived in Iowa around 9:30 that morning, and was greeted at the baggage claim area by David Cooling, an Edwards' staffer.
David drove me to the "John Edwards for President State HQ," in downtown Des Moines , where I was joined by 30 other supporters from throughout the country to hear Rob Tully (former Iowa Democratic Party Chair, and Iowa Campaign Co-Chair), speak about the great strides John is making in that state (and elsewhere in the country) -- despite some media coverage to the contrary.
After a quick lunch with Rob, and Fred Baron , National Finance Chair, we headed off on a 2 hour and 40 minute bus ride to Wapello, Iowa -- where John was scheduled to have a community meeting with the residents.
His presentation was to take place directly in front of the town's courthouse, and while we waited for the locals to assemble, I took a quick tour of the court's facility. (Unlike here in the Big Apple, there were no magnetometers, no security personnel, and no locked doors. Visitors had free reign of the place. Think: Inherit the Wind )
When the event began at 6:00 PM, I was struck by the warmth with which the people of Wapello embraced John. It was invigorating to see their smiles and to share their excitement as these citizens interacted with the man who was likely to be the next President of the United States.
Although we were certainly smack in the middle of farm country, the concerns voiced by those present were no different from those shared by all Americans. They ranged from ending the war in Iraq , universal health care , tax simplification , tax reform , ending poverty , improving food safety , to ending our dependency on foreign oil (to list just a few of the many themes that were discussed that early evening).
John answered all of the questions posed to him directly and eloquently. And if the repeated ovations and applause were any indication, all present were extremely receptive to his message.
Some 90 minutes later, after John had pressed the fleshed, signed autographs, and spoke to virtually all of the attendees on a one-on-one basis, we boarded the campaign bus for a 1 hour 20 minute ride to Iowa City, Iowa , home to the University of Iowa .
We checked in at the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel, where I barely had time for a quick shower before an 9:30 PM dinner with John and Elizabeth, and Congressman David Bonoir , Campaign Manager.
[Expect to see John's numbers shoot up in the polls as the mainstream media's unhealthy fascination with the current front-runners, Hillary and Obama, begins to wane. Ultimately, the facts and figures bear out that John is the most electable Democrat .]
The most poignant moment of the day came after dinner, when Elizabeth read a few passages from her book, Saving Graces .
Here's just a bit of what she read to us that evening:
But for a moment, I want also to say a little about this man I was so fortunate to marry nearly thirty years ago. As we sat in that [hospital] room, he took my hand in his, and his fingers spun the $11.00 wedding rung on my finger. He watched it turn, and I spoke first.
"It's been a long journey."
"It's not over," he answered, but he didn't, couldn't, look at me at first. His fingers just turned the rung around and around. Then he lifted his face, and his eyes found mine. "Will you marry me again?" he asked. "This summer, on our anniversary, will you marry me again?" We had talked about renewing our vows, but this wasn't that same idle conversation. This was urgent, pleading, and full of love. A real proposal.
"Can you take thirty more years?" I asked, knowing it was somewhere beyond reason to say such a thing.
"More than you know," he said.
Watching John's eyes tear as Elizabeth read from her book was quite moving and a moment I will not soon forget.
And, despite the personal challenges ahead, Elizabeth's energy and spirit are virtually unbridled, and her unwavering commitment to her husband and his campaign to be our country's next President, should serve as an inspiration to us all. She is truly an amazing individual.*
Around 11:00 PM, it was time for bed.
The schedule for Saturday called for an early morning departure to the Port of Dubuque , where John was to meet with countless hundreds of additional voters at a local amphitheater.
We were slated to be on the road for some 15 hours, yet, I could barely wait for what was in store.
(To be continued ....)