>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on December 21-23, 2007.
On December 21 [he plans a town hall meeting at the RiverCenter in Davenport; a town hall meeting at Northwest Junior High School, Main Gymnasium in Coralvillecanceled due to weather conditions]; he did a meet the candidate at Washington Junior High School gymnasium in Washington.
On December 22 he did a meet the candidate at Oskaloosa Middle School gymnasium in Oskaloosa; a town hall meeting at the Warren County Administration Building auditorium in Indianola; a meet the candidate at Winterset High School cafeteria in Winterset; a rally at Prairieview School Commons in Waukee; and an Evening with Barack at Urbandale Holiday Inn in Urbandale.
On December 23 he made an off the record stop at West End Diner in West Des Moines; did a meet the candidate at Nodaway Valley High School in Greenfield; a meet the candidate at C.G. Therkildsen Activity Center in Harlan; and held a rally at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on December 13-18, 2007.
On December 13 he participated in the Des Moines Register Democratic Presidential Debate in Johnston; held a town hall with Gayle King (best friend of Oprah Winfrey) at Grand River Center, Exhibit Hall in Dubuque; and held a town hall meeting at Ohnward Fine Arts Center in Maquoketa.
On December 14 he held a meet the candidate at Monticello Berndes Center in Monticello; a economic roundtable ("Reclaiming the American Dream") at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids; a meet the candidate at Delaware County Community Center in Manchester; a meet the candidate at Lakeside Ballroom in Guttenberg; and rallied at Oelwein Middle School gymnasium in Oelwein.
On December 15 he did a meet the candidate at Miller’s Event & Auction Center in Independence; a town hall meeting at Hoover Middle School gym in Waterloo; a meet the candidate at New Hampton Elementary School gym in New Hampton; a meet the candidate at Charles City Middle School gym in Charles City; and a rally at Roosevelt Middle School gym in Mason City.
On December 16 he held a town hall focused on tax fairness for the middle class at the Algona High School Commons in Algona; a meet the candidate at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg; a meet the candidate at the Regional Wellness Center gym in Estherville; and a meet the candidate at Spirit Lake Elementary School in Spirit Lake.
On December 17 he did a meet the candidate at Spencer Community School's auditorium (Old Middle School) in Spencer; a meet the candidate at Storm Lake High School in Storm Lake; a meet the candidate at Cherokee Community Center in Cherokee; a meet the candidate at Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars; and a rally at Sioux City Orpheum Theater in Sioux City.
On December 18 he held a foreign policy forum at the Holiday Inn Conference Center, Des Moines Airport in Des Moines.

>Sen. Barack Obama campaigned with Oprah Winfrey in Iowa on December 8, 2007.  They held a rally at Hy-Vee Hall B in Des Moines (according to news reports  over 18,000 attended, making it the biggest event of the campaign in Iowa thus far); and a rally at US Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids (then to South Carolina and New Hampshire on December 9).

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on December 3-5, 2007.  Mid-afternoon on December 3 he held a roundtable discussion at Grand View College, Humphrey Center in Des Moines.  On December 4 he participated in the NPR News-Iowa Public Radio Debate at the State of Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines; rallied at Grinnell College, Concert Hall at Harris Center; and rallied at the University of Iowa, Field House in Iowa City.  On December 5 he spoke on national service at Cornell College Small Multi-Sport Center in Mt. Vernon; rallied at University of Northern Iowa, West Gymnasium in Cedar Falls; and held a town hall meeting at Wartburg College's Neumann Auditorium in Waverly.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on December 1-2, 2007.  On December 1 he spoke at the Heartland Presidential Forum hosted by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Citizens for Community Change at Hy-Vee Hall; and participated in the Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum at North High School.  On December 2 he met with retired admirals and generals, hosted by Human Rights First, at the Suites at 800 Locust in Des Moines; received the endorsement of Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie in a press conference at the State Historical Society in Des Moines; and held a rally at Howe Hall Atrium at Iowa State University in Ames.  To Boston.

November (4 visits, 11 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on November 24-25, 2007.  On November 24 he held a town hall meeting at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs; a meet the candidate at Dunlap Livestock Auction in Dunlap; a meet the candidate at Harlan Community Middle School in Harlan; and a meet the candidate at Audubon Elementary School in Audubon.  On November 25 he held a roundtable discussion on health care at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines; and a community meeting at North High School, Small Gym in Des Moines.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on November 18-19, 2007.  On November 18 he did a press conference with UAW members followed by a town hall meeting at Excelsior Middle School gymnasium in Marion; spoke at a fundraiser for Congressman Bruce Braley at the Rotary Reserve in Cedar Falls; held a meet the candidate at Grundy Center High School commons in Grundy Center; and held a meet the candidate at Allison-Bristow Community School multi-purpose room in Allison.  On November 19 he did a meet the candidate at Clarion-Goldfield Elementary School gymnasium in Clarion; and did a policy roll-out press conference followed by a town hall meeting at Iowa Central Community College's Applied Science and Technology - South Building in Fort Dodge.

>Sen. Barack Obama spoke at the United Auto Workers conference at the Grand River Center in Dubuque, Iowa on the morning of November 13, 2007.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa from November 6-11, 2007 including a “Change We Can Believe In” tour throughout the eastern part of the state.
On the evening of November 6 he held a town hall meeting at Kirkwood Community College's Michael J. Gould Recreation Center in Cedar Rapids.
On November 7 he delivered a major policy speech on Reclaiming the American Dream at the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency in Bettendorf; held a town hall meeting at the Muscatine Center for Social Action in Muscatine; held a town hall meeting at the Port of Burlington in Burlington, and did a meet the candidate event at the Rodeo Fairgrounds, Larry Roberts Pavillion in Fort Madison.
On November 8 he did Coffee with Barack Obama at the Old Armory in Fairfield; a roundtable discussion and town hall meeting at Agassiz Elementary School in Ottumwa; made an unannounced stop in Albia where Joe and Dien Judge showed him around town, including a stop at Smitty's Sandwich Shop where he bought a tenderloin to go; did a Coffee with Barack Obama at CB & Q Freight House in Chariton, and held a town hall meeting at the Skate Pit in Knoxville.
On November 9 he held a working women's roundtable at the East Side Library in Des Moines; taped Iowa Press at IPTV studios in Johnston; and held a town hall meeting at West Middle School in Sioux City.
On November 10 in Des Moines he spoke at the Iowa Farmers Union’s 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit at Downtown Marriott; rallied with Grammy Award winner John Legend a Hy-Vee Hall C; and spoke at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
On November 11 he appeared on NBC News' "Meet the Press" from WHO studios in Des Moines.

October (6 visits, 10 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 29, 2007.  He held "A Conversation with Barack" town hall event at the Cedar Rapids Public Library in Cedar Rapids; and participated in the Iowa Presidential Dialogue hosted by MTV and MySpace at Coe College in Cedar Rapids.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 27, 2007.  He attended a coffee, hosted by Ankeny Area Democrats, at the Ankeny campus of the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny; held a seniors town hall discussion at East Side Senior Center in Des Moines; spoke at the League of Rural Voters 2007 Summit on Agriculture and Rural Life at Iowa State University Scheman Education Center in Ames; did a meet the candidate event at Perry High School Commons in Perry; and spoke at a fundraiser for Sen. Rich Olive followed by a short meet and greet at the gym (Community Center) in Randall..

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 16, 2007.  He unveiled his rural policy agenda, Real Leadership for Rural America, at the farm of Sally Williams in Fairfax; walked through downtown Vinton; held a town hall meeting to discuss his rural agenda at the Benton County Fairgrounds Show Barn in Vinton; held a town hall meeting to discuss his rural agenda at Festhalle Barn at Amana Colonies in Amana; and held a town hall meeting to discuss his rural agenda at Cedar County Fairgrounds Mathew's Building in Tipton.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 12-14, 2007.  On October 12 he delivered a speech marking the fifth anniversary of the congressional vote on Iraq at Drake University's Old Main in Des Moines; held a town hall meeting at Warren County Fairgrounds Show Ring in Indianola; held a town hall meeting at Newton YMCA in Newton; and did an Evening with Barack Obama at UAW Local 893 in Marshalltown.  On October 13 he held a canvass kick-off at East High School in Des Moines and went door to door (Des Moines Register: "in the 1400 and 1500 block of Hutton Street on Des Moines’ east side"); and in the evening he spoke at the Sisters on Target annual banquet at the Downtown Holiday Inn in Des Moines.  On October 14 he hosted an interfaith forum on climate change at Des Moines Public Library in Des Moines.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 4-5, 2007.  Arriving from Chicago on October 4, he held a town hall meeting at the Boys and Girls Club of Black Hawk County gymnasium in Waterloo; a meet the candidate event at the Buchanan County Fairgrounds in Independence; and a rally at Luther College in Decorah.  On October 5 he held a rally at Mikkelson Park Shelter # 6 in New Hampton; a meet the candidate event at the Charles City Family YMCA gymnasium in Charles City; and a town hall meeting in the Activity Center at Northern Iowa Area Community College in Mason City.   plus stop at Oelwein Obama County Leadership Committee event

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on October 2-3, 2007.  On October 2 he delivered a foreign policy speech at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines; and a foreign policy speech at the Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Coralville.  On October 3 he held a foreign policy town hall meeting at the University of Iowa IMU-Second Floor Ballroom in Iowa City; and a town hall meeting at the Washington County Fairgrounds Show Barn in Washington.  Then to Chicago.

September (5 visits, 7 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on September 22, 2007.  He held a town hall on middle class tax relief at Clarke Community High School Auditorium in Osceola; a meet the candidate at Creston Middle School Commons in Creston; and a meet the candidate at Gottsch Park in Shenandoah.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Ames, Iowa on September 21, 2007.  He held a "Time for Change: A Conversation with Barack Obama on Political Activism" event at Iowa State University adjacent to Curtiss Hall; and hoed a “Senior Town Hall Meeting” – bringing together senior citizens and high schools seniors, at Ames City Auditorium in Ames.  (...then to Chicago)

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on September 16, 2007.  He dropped by a pre-steak fry rally at Pickard Park Campgrounds in Indianola; and spoke at the 30th Annual Harkin Steak Fry at the Balloon Fields in Indianola.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on September 12-13, 2007.  On September 12 he delivered a major policy speech on turning the page in Iraq at Ashford University's Durgin Educational Center in Clinton; and held a town hall meeting on Iraq at LeClaire Park Bandshell in Davenport.  On September 13 he held a town hall meeting on Iraq at First Ward Park in Maquoketa; a town hall meeting at Lawrence Community Center in Anamosa; and a town hall meeting at Alliant Amphitheater, Port of Dubuque in Dubuque.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on September 4-5, 2007.  On September 4 he held a rally at Waukee Public Safety Facility – Fire Station  in Waukee; a meet the candidate event at Guthrie Center High School football practice field in Guthrie Center; and an Evening with Barack Obama at Carroll Recreation Center Theater in Carroll.  On September 5 he did a coffee with activists at the home of Stephanie Frederick in Sac City; a meet the candidate event at Circle Park in Storm Lake; and a meet the candidate event at the Spencer Family YMCA in Spencer.

August (2 visits, 6 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on a five-day trip billed as the "Road to Change" from August 15-19, 2007.  (Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama joined him on August 15-17).
On the afternoon of August 15 he did a discussion about transparency in government at Overman Park in Cedar Falls; and participated in  the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Presidential Forum at the Five Sullivan Brothers Center in Waterloo. To Omaha.
On August 16 he did a foreign policy discussion at Kirn Junior High School gymnasium in Council Bluffs; with his family did a potluck at the Cass County Fairgrounds Show Barn in Atlantic; and visited the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, including riding the bumper cars and the Big Ben ride.
On August 17 he was the keynote speaker at the grand opening celebration of VeraSun Energy's biorefinery in Charles City; held a rural policy summit at South Tama County High School in Tama; and was the keynote speaker at the Cerro Gordo, Winnebago and Hancock County Democrats' Fourth Annual Democratic Wing-Ding at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.
On August 18 he held an energy security discussion at Waverly Light and Power headquarters in Waverly; made an OTR stop at a roadside corn stand in the Waverly area; dined with ten Iowans selected for "Grilling with Barack" at the home of Gretchen and Nick Lawyer in Marion; and addressed labor leaders at the Hawkeye Labor Council Forum at Hawkeye Downs Expo Hall in Cedar Rapids.
On the morning of August 19 he participated in the ABC News/Iowa Democratic Party Debate at Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium in Des Moines; and stopped by the debate watch party at Planet Subs in Des Moines following the debate.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Western Iowa on August 6, 2007.  He did a meet the candidate event in The Round Barn at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds in Le Mars; and an afternoon with Barack Obama at Irving Elementary School in Sioux City.

July (6 visits, 8 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama held a town hall meeting at Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on the morning of July 30, 2007.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on July 27-28, 2007.  On July 27 he held a Rural Issues Forum at the Van Fossen Farm in Adel; and a block party at Cedar Bridge County Park in Winterset.  On July 28 he held a Saturday in the Park by the Heritage Carousel at Union Park in Des Moines.

>Sen. Barack Obama addressed the banquet at the AFSCME Council 61 15th Biennial Convention at the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa on July 21, 2007.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on July 14, 2007.  He did a meet the candidate event at the Lions Shelter at Oelwein City Park in Oelwein; a house party at the home of Tom and Michelle Gifford in Elkader; a meet the candidate event in the gym at West Delaware Community Middle School Gym in Manchester; and attended the First Congressional District Committee's workshop reception at Northeast Iowa Community College Cafeteria in Peosta.

>Sen. Barack Obama held "A Conversation with Iowans about Jobs and the Economy" including the cost of the Iraq war at Des Moines Area Community College Urban Campus in Des Moines, Iowa on the morning of July 10, 2007.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on July 3-4, 2007.  On July 3 he did a meet the candidate event at Hawthorne Elementary School in Keokuk; a house party at the home of Lois and Frederick Crane in Mount Pleasant; and an evening in the park at Fairfield Town Square in Fairfield.  On July 4 Obama, wife Michelle and their two daughters attended an Independence Day celebration at Smokey Row Coffee House in Oskaloosa; an Independence Day celebration at the home of Dan and Heather Vroom in Pella; an Independence Day celebration at Beaverdale Park in Des Moines; and the Iowa Cubs game against the New Orleans Zephyrs at Principal Park in Des Moines.

first six months of 2007 (12 visits, 20 days)
June (3 visits, 3 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on June 18, 2007.  He started in Des Moines (no public events); did a meet the candidate event at BC Berg Middle School in Newton; stopped by Maid-Rite Restaurant in Newton and talked with local diners; and did an evening event in the cafeteria at Ottumwa High School (originally planned for Central Park but moved due to weather).

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on June 16, 2007.  He addressed the Iowa United Church of Christ (UCC) statewide conference at Iowa Central Community College's Decker Auditorium in Ft. Dodge; held a potluck at West Twin Park in Webster City; held a health care roundtable on cutting prescription drug costs at Bethany Manor in Story City; and held a potluck at the farm of Michael O’Brien in Boone.

>Sen. Barack Obama rallied supporters at a canvass kick-off at Lincoln Elementary School in Dubuque, Iowa on June 9, 2007, one of more than two dozen Walk for Change canvass events across the state.

May (3 visits, 5 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on May 28-29, 2007.  Arriving from New Hampshire, he attended a Memorial Day reception with veterans at the Golden Leaf Banquet Hall in Davenport on the evening of May 28.  On the morning of May 29 he delivered a health care speech at University of Iowa Medical Campus's Medical & Education Research Facility (MERF) in Iowa City, event hosted by the University of Iowa Students for Barack Obama.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on May 10-11, 2007.  On the evening of May 10 he did a meet the candidate event at Simpson College's Hopper Gymnasium in Indianola; and on the morning of May 11 he held a town hall meeting with seniors at Polk County Central Senior Center in Des Moines.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Waterloo, Iowa on May 6, 2007.  He spoke to local community activists over breakfast at the Walter Cunningham Center for Excellence; and attended services and delivered brief remarks at the Antioch Baptist Church.

March-April
>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on April 21-22, 2007.  On April 21 he was the keynote speaker at the Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) annual Leadership Training Conference at the Foxboro Conference Center in Johnston.  On April 22 he held an Earth Day rally at The Pentacrest at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on April 4-6, 2007.
On April 4 he met informally with a small group of veterans at the Elks Lodge in Mason City; and rallied at North Iowa Area Community College gymnasium in Mason City.
On April 5 he did an invitation only health care forum at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City; a meet the candidate event at Algona High School cafeteria in Algona; a meet the candidate event at VFW Post 5240 in Dakota City; a meet the candidate event at the Opera House at Fort Museum in Fort Dodge; and a meet the candidate event in the Continuing Education Building at Marshalltown Community College.
On April 6 he met with Story County activists for coffee at the Country House in Colo; toured the Iowa Veterans Home and met with residents in Marshalltown; and did a meet the candidate event at Marshalltown Community College's Continuing Education Building in Marshalltown.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on March 31-April 1, 2007.  On March 31 he held a town hall forum at Iowa Western Community College's Kanesville Arena in Council Bluffs; did the “Hope, Action, Change” community kickoff event at Onawa Community Library (this was streamed live at www.barackobama.com, and was the basis for a nationwide day of community gatherings including of supporters in each of Iowa’s 99 counties; Michelle Obama joined supporters at the home of former legislator Willie Glanton in Des Moines); a meet the candidate event at Denison High School in Denison; and did a small house party in Ida Grove in the evening.  Overnight in Sioux City.  On April 1 he attended services at Mt. Zion Baptist Church; did a couple of meetings; and held a town hall forum at Morningside College in Sioux City.

>Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on March 10-11, 2007.  On March 10 he held a town hall meeting at Loras College Fieldhouse in Dubuque; a meet the candidate event at Clinton Community College in Clinton; and a rally at North High School Gym in Davenport.  On March 11 he did a meet the candidate event at West Middle School in Muscatine; rode on a school bus with a group of 20-30 firefighters from Muscatine to Burlington; and did a meet the candidate event in the Loren Walker Arena at Southeastern Community College, West Burlington Campus in Burlington.  In conjunction with the major scheduled events, Obama held a number of smaller meetings with local activists and community leaders.

February
>Sen. Barack Obama met privately with Iowa House and Senate Democrats at the State Capitol, then held a town hall meeting at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines,Iowa on the evening of February 21, 2007.

>After formally announcing his candidacy in Springfield, IL on the morning of February 10, Sen. Barack Obama visited Iowa on February 10-11, 2007.  On the afternoon of February 10 he held a town hall meeting at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids; and in the evening he did a community meet-and-greet at Central Middle School Gymnasium in Waterloo.  On February 11 he started delivering breakfast remarks at the home of Tom and Patty Friend in Iowa Falls; did a press conference, then rallied with students and community in Beyer Gymnasium at Beyer Hall at Iowa State University in Ames; and headed on to Chicago and New Hampshire.

January
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2006 (3 visits: 3 days)
>Sen. Barack Obama rallied with gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver and other Democratic candidates at the Downtown Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City, Iowa on the evening of November 5, 2006.

>Sen. Barack Obama appeared with 1st CD congressional candidate Bruce Braley at Eisenhower Elementary School gymnasium in Davenport, Iowa on September 30, 2006.  (Earlier in the day he spoke at a fundraiser for IL-17 congressional candidate Phil Hare at Plumbers & Pipefitters Hall in Rock Island, IL).

>Sen. Barack Obama was the special guest at Sen. Tom Harkin's 29th Annual Steak Fry at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Indianola, Iowa on September 17, 2006.
 
 

Copyright © 2007, 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action