We’ve been working toward this all year. Jan 3 is an auspicious date for us. The world is watching, and I can’t wait to show them what we’ve got. Democratic activists, volunteers and staff across this state have worked together to build this event.

Iowa Democrats are caucusing all across the state, corner to corner, in all 4 of our newly drawn Congressional districts. We will hear from the President and the other leaders of our Party. We will discuss our ideas and resolutions.

We will commit, organize and prepare for the next steps to success on Nov. 6, 2012. I can’t wait to get started!

DES MOINES – Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky released the following statement after the Obama for America campaign announced today that President Obama will be calling and live streaming via webcast into sites across the state of Iowa on caucus night, using the opportunity to organize volunteers and continue expanding its grassroots supporters. The news of the President’s caucus night plan was announced to Iowa supporters this morning via text message.

“Four years ago Iowans launched President Obama on the path to the White House by standing by him at the Iowa Democratic caucuses. On January 3^rd, 2012, Iowans will start the path to his reelection and Democratic victories at all levels. We could not be more excited to welcome his participation in our caucuses.

“We carried Iowa for President Obama in 2008 and we will use the caucus this year as another step in our ongoing effort to organize our volunteers and build a campaign that will win Iowa in November 2012 for the President. No matter what happens on January 3rd, one thing is for sure, on January 4th we will have the strongest grassroots foundation going forward.”

Iowans can commit to caucus online at TheCaucuses.com. The Iowa Democratic Caucuses will take place on January 3^rd, 2012. Registration will open at 6:30 PM and the caucuses will be called to order at 7:00 PM. Any members of the media who would like to attend a caucus location should contact Sam Roecker at (515) 782-1951 or sroecker@iowademocrats.org to request press credentials.

“On January 3^rd, Democrats from across the state will stand by President Obama as Iowa kicks off the 2012 election,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky. “The Iowa Democratic Party has already begun aggressively organizing around our First in the Nation Caucuses, and this will be an opportunity for supporters to get involved in the political process.”

With the precinct caucuses set for January 3^rd, the county conventions are set for March 10^th, 2012, district conventions on April 28^th, 2012, and the state convention on June 16^th, 2012. The Iowa Democratic Party has already launched TheCaucuses.com and an iPhone application where Iowa Democrats are encouraged to Commit to Caucus in 2012 and learn more about the process.

“Now that we have a caucus date set, we will continue to organize and work with our Democratic leaders across the state to prepare for this important event,” added Dvorsky.

“This is another first for the Iowa Democratic Party and we’re very excited to make it this easy for Iowans to get involved,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky. “Iowans know what’s at stake in this election and as we approach the First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses we’ll continue to use new technology and grassroots organizing to raise awareness and encourage Iowans to get involved.”

The application, IowaDems, is available as a free download in Apple’s App Store for the iPhone, or by clicking here. Current features include a feed of the latest Democratic Party news, volunteer sign up, a commit to caucus function, and a caucus locator. As caucus locations are finalized, the application will provide the user with their precinct’s caucus location and access driving directions on the iPhone.

The Iowa Democratic Party developed the application entirely in-house. An Android compatible version of application is also being developed and is expected to be available soon.

DES MOINES –Today the Iowa Democratic Party and Minnesota State Rep. Jim Davnie held a press conference call to discuss former governor Tim Pawlenty’s failed record on education.  The call comes in advance of Pawlenty’s address to college Republicans today in Des Moines. Under Pawlenty’s tenure, tuition increased 60 percent for Minnesota students, students left Minnesota colleges with record amounts of debt and the quality of higher education in Minnesota suffered.

Today’s call was also a warning to GOP hopefuls – you can run, but you can’t hide from your failed records and false rhetoric.

You can listen to full audio of the call here: http://iowademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Rep.-Davnie-on-Pawlenty.mp3

Norm Sterzenbach, Executive Director, Iowa Democratic Party

“We are going to aggressively point out the true record of the Republican candidates seeking the presidential nomination as they come to Iowa.”

State Representative Jim Davnie

“In the eight years that Governor Pawlenty was governor of the state, we saw the state stepping back from higher education – when he started about 13 percent of the state’s general fund spending was higher education, now it’s about 8 percent… Governor Pawlenty made it harder for Minnesotans to come into college out of high school, return to college when they want to get retrained and get back into the workforce — it’s harder, it’s more expensive and it takes longer. That’s a failed record as governor on higher education and I don’t think it makes him a strong candidate for President…

“If young voters look at Governor Pawlenty’s record – the steep tuition spikes we’ve seen here, the reduction in state support for higher education opportunities, the high debt load that students leave college with here and the low, almost nonexistent job development and job growth in Minnesota during his tenure all put together a picture that isn’t inviting to a young voter who wants to get an education, get engaged, get into the world and get a good job.  That’s not Tim Pawlenty’s Minnesota unfortunately.”

Rep. Jim Davnie has been a public school teacher since 1989 and serves on the Education Finance, Education Reform and Taxes committees in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

IDP Chair Sue Dvorsky

DES MOINES – The Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) has announced its 2012 caucus team for the First in the Nation Iowa Caucuses. This dedicated team will be responsible for executing strong organizing and messaging efforts across the state to build the foundation for Democratic victories at all levels in 2012.

Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky announced Caucus Director Brendan Summers, Field Director Dena Gleason, Communications Director Sam Roecker, Press Secretary Megan Jacobs, and Information & Technology Director Micah Honeycutt, as the 2012 caucus team.

“As First in the Nation, it is our duty to run an aggressive organizing and messaging effort centered around the Iowa Caucuses,” said Dvorsky. “This team is experienced and ready to do just that.”

Caucus Director Brendan Summers served as the Caucus to Convention Director for the IDP in 2008 and returned to the party last year as Convention Director. Prior to joining the IDP as Field Director in 2009, Dena Gleason served as Deputy Field Director for SEIU’s Change That Works campaign, Regional Field Director for President Obama’s general election campaign, and Field Organizer for Obama for America during the 2007-2008 Iowa Caucus campaign.

With increasing attention on the 2012 presidential candidates, the IDP communications department is also expanding, adding Megan Jacobs as Press Secretary.  In 2010 Jacobs served as the Communications Director for Congressman Chet Edwards’ (D-TX) reelection campaign and previously worked on the rapid response team at the Democratic National Committee and in the paid media department of the 2008 Obama campaign.  She joins Communications Director Sam Roecker, hired in June.

Micah Honeycutt will continue in his role as Information Technology Director for the IDP through the 2012 caucus. Prior to joining the IDP, he traveled across the country as a Data Manager for the Clinton campaign and served as the Midwest Data Lead for the Obama campaign during the 2008 cycle.

“Iowa will once again kickoff the presidential campaign and show the nation that Democrats are ready to reelect President Obama in 2012,” added Dvorsky.

Speaking to Radio Iowa contributor KJAN in Atlantic, Grassley said that out of potential candidates, “only two or three of them are qualified to be president.” He went on to indicate that some of the field likely could not win outside of Iowa, adding, “It wouldn’t do me much good to back somebody that won in Iowa if they can’t carry on the campaign elsewhere.”

Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky questioned why Grassley has not said which candidates are unqualified. “It’s amazing that Senator Grassley thinks there are so many unqualified candidates for the most important office in the country and he won’t share his opinion with his fellow Iowans,” said Dvorsky. “As the longest serving Iowa Republican, you would think members of his party would want his opinion and he’d want to ensure that an unqualified candidate didn’t make it through the caucus.”

Receiving wide national attention, inquiries to his office have gone unanswered.

HANNITY: Congressman King, why do I think I’ll be seeing you a lot — why do I think I’ll be seeing a lot of you in the next two years?

KING: Well, because one thing, we are going to repeal Obamacare and pull it out by the out by the roots, lock, stock, and barrel.

HANNITY: I was thinking more of a presidential election two years.

KING: That’s true too … I look forward to seeing you in Iowa.

Now that you’ve cleaned the vomit out of your mouth, let’s come up with some good campaign slogans in the comments section!

(Please keep it PG)

Photo courtesy of Maks Karochkin on Flickr.

“Iowans have always taken their role as First in the Nation seriously and it’s a privilege to hold that position once again,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Sue Dvorsky. “Since President Obama’s historic win in 2008 we have continued to organize and lay the groundwork for his successful reelection campaign that will begin with the 2012 Iowa caucus.”

DNC members also voted to hold the New Hampshire primary on February 14th, Nevada caucus on February 18th, and the South Carolina primary on February 28th, 2012. “I would like to thank Attorney General Tom Miller for his role on the DNC’s Change Commission and 1st Vice Chair Michael Kiernan for his work on the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee. Their work resulted in a smooth vote on the 2012 caucus and primary dates, securing Iowa’s place as First in the Nation,” added Dvorsky.