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)

First Lady Michele Obama spoke to a crowd of over 12-hundred at Drake University Friday afternoon, urging students and supporters to “show up” and “get to work” to elect Bruce Braley to the U.S. Senate. A satellite voting station on the Des Moines campus remained open for 45 minutes after the First Lady’s speech ended and some in the crowd said they were planning to go vote. During her 23-minute speech Obama reminisced about campaigning with her husband in Iowa for the 2008 and 2012 elections and she warned President Obama’s agenda would be stymied if Republicans win the U.S. Senate. Obama mispronounced Braley’s name as “Bailey” seven times before the crowd got involved as she was reciting a web address. The crowd cheered and applauded. Within half an hour of the event’s conclusion, Republicans had claimed the domain name “VoteBruceBailey.com” and linked it directly to the campaign website for Joni Ernst, Braley’s Republican opponent. The Braley campaign handed out cards at the rally, asking for more volunteers to sign up to canvas neighborhoods and turn out voters.

(Radio Iowa)

The Missouri River will be rising at least three more feet over the coming weeks as the U-S Army Corps of Engineers prepares for next year with above-normal releases from Gavins Point Dam. Jody Farhat (FAR-hot), chief of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division in Omaha, says the increased releases now will help lower the risk of flooding next season. Along with flood control, Farhat says excess water will extend the navigation season. She says it will also mean an increase in hydropower generation. Farhat says the Corps is holding public meetings on October 28th in Pierre, South Dakota, and on October 29th in Council Bluffs for people who are interested in the water management operations.

(Radio Iowa)