As the latest opinion polls show a close U.S. Senate race in Iowa, representatives of Joni Ernst’s campaign have requested detailed information about ballot-counting and recounting procedures in at least five Iowa counties that have often produced Democratic vote margins, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reports today. In Johnson County, which includes the Iowa City area, the auditor was asked to provide
(1) all election training manuals, and any documents stating: (2) the SOP for counting ballots (absentee, Early and normal ballots); (3) for handling absentee ballots; (4) listing each and every polling place (early and normal); (5) all aspects of the recount process, (6) a copy of all requests for documents served by Bruce Braley’s campaign; and (7) all documents provide to the Braley campaign, the state party, the DNC or the Dem Sen. Campaign Cttee.
Erin Jordan and Chris Earl reported that auditors received similar requests in Linn County (Cedar Rapids area), Polk County (Des Moines area), Woodbury County (Sioux City area), and Clinton County (just north of the Quad Cities).
A public records request from a political candidate isn’t unusual, but the volume of materials Ernst’s campaign is seeking right before an election isn’t typical, several auditors said. [Ernst’s senior adviser Derek] Flowers asks auditors to notify him if they can’t provide the materials within five days – which may be a challenge for some counties.
“It’s going to take some time we don’t have, because the people who would do it are getting ready for the election,” said Linn County Auditor Joel Miller.
[Johnson County Auditor Travis] Weipert said he did not think his office would be able to compile all the requested materials before Nov. 4. His staff are consulting with Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness, he said.
Looks like Ernst’s team are trying to set the stage to claim there was voter fraud in high-performing Democratic areas. I don’t recall any previous statewide recount in Iowa. The recount after Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race in 2008 was an ugly mess.
4 Comments
Caught a break and at a good time.
This morning, Ernst finally gave the Democrats a break. Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu took to Facebook to announce that the Republican had stood up the paper as it put together its candidate endorsements.
We get Des Moines Register and that is a big one.
How in God’s great universe is this woman close?
Is Joni Ernst afraid of newspaper editorial boards? After much negotiating, she was scheduled to meet this morning with writers and editors at The Des Moines Register, but last night her people called to unilaterally cancel. She has also begged off meetings with The Cedar Rapids Gazette and The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald.
Is Ernst that sensitive to the kinds of criticisms that invariably will come in such a high profile U.S. Senate race? Is she afraid of the scrutiny? Sure, it’s stressful, but all the other candidates for Congress are doing it to get their messages out, including Steven King, the target of frequent editorial criticism. Would Ernst similarly thumb her nose at the press while serving in the Senate?
The cancellation happened not long after the DMR’s editorial board pronounced Ernst “naive” for saying that a Personhood Amendment to the Constitution was a “statement” with no policy impact. And Basu’s account is confirmed by the newspapers. “Braley met with our editorial board for more than an hour,” reported the Cedar Rapids Gazette in its endorsement of the Democrat. “Ernst’s campaign failed to make time in her schedule.” Today, the Iowa Democratic Party clipped video from KMEG14 in northwest Iowa — the state’s strongest Republican region — that wrist-slapped Ernst. “After half a dozen attempts, including emails and phone calls to Joni Ernst’s camp,” said reporter Jen Austin, “we were unable to schedule a sit-down with the Republican candidate.” The result: A friendly and unchallenged profile of Braley.
Ernst’s unavailability works for Democrats in two ways. One: It allows Braley to prove, interview-by-interview, that he can put words together without accidentally insulting farmers or poultry owners. (This took some doing.) Two: It gives the incumbent party the chance to re-introduce Ernst as a radical candidate who’s been getting a pass for months.
okoboji-mike Thu 23 Oct 1:18 PM
The Storm Lake Times endorsed Braley
http://www.stormlake.com/artic…
cocinero Thu 23 Oct 2:05 PM
Woodbury?
I’m not sure that’s a good example of a strong county for Democrat votes.
john-thompson Thu 23 Oct 4:33 PM
the Sioux City area
can produce a lot of Democratic votes even if the Democrat doesn’t carry the whole county.
desmoinesdem Thu 23 Oct 6:31 PM