Political experts say the phenomenon of “early” voting has changed the dynamics of modern campaigns. Ann Selzer is president of the company that conducts the “iowa Poll” for The Des Moines Register.  Both political parties in Iowa are engagined in a battle for those marginal voters who may not be enthusiastic about the two major parties, but can be convinced to vote early. And Chris Larimer, a University of Northern Iowa political science professor, says campaigns are using different strategies to reach different voters. Drake University political science professor Art Sanders says the campaigns are focused on finding “unlikely” voters. Sanders, Larimer and Selzer made their comments during taping of the “Iowa Press” program. Early voting in Iowa began on September 25th. Campaigns are telling voters if they cast their ballots early, they’ll stop getting campaign calls and mailings. Prospective voters for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst are also being invited to participate in telephone conference calls with rising stars in the G-O-P who encourage early voting.

(Radio Iowa)