Gathman was his precinct's point man for Dole in 1988 and 1992, but no more. Dole can't beat Clinton, says Gathman, and that's what's most important. Next Monday, Gathman and his wife will host their precinct's Republican Caucus in their living room. The results of Gathman's caucus meeting and that of 2,141 other caucus sites spread over Iowa's 99 counties will determine which Republican candidates win state's convention delegates. The folks who turn out to see Republican Presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander are well-heeled and younger than those at the Gramm rallies in Northeastern Iowa.
Few farmers are here.
For a town of 73,000, most of the 150 people who show up for tonight's rally appear urbane. They might even pass for a crowd of upscale Democrats. Alexander's spin is a left turn from Gramm's. His talk is general, almost Socratic. He's the wrong person to have in the White House when we're trying to teach our children right from wrong.