Obama in Iowa

Senator Obama talks to Story County Supervisor Jane Halliburton following a Rural Issues Roundtable in Tama, Iowa. Halliburton was one of several county officials to take part in the discussion. Rumor has it that the Obama campaign has done a great job reaching out to counties, and making them part of his roundtable policy events.



And for a little Iowa fun, butter cow sculptor Duffy Lyon created the Obama logo and presented it to the Senator at the event. (Yes, the entire thing is made from butter)

Restore the Partnership

Linn County Supervisor Linda Langston pins a RESTORE THE PARTNERSHIP button on Senator Chris Dodd.

Endorsements

We're over 270! Here's the latest:

Biden
Mary Maloney, Auditor - Polk Co, IA
Jim Hancock, Supervisor - Scott Co, IA
Roxanna Moritz, Supervisor - Scott Co, IA
Denise Dolan, Auditor - Dubuque Co, IA
James London, County Council - Pickens Co, SC
Damon Jeter, County Council - Richland Co, SC
Leon Lott, Sheriff - Richland Co, SC
Brad Morris, Clerk of Courts - Union, SC

Clinton
Sharon Bock, Clerk - Palm Beach Co, FL
Pat Frank, Clerk of Circuit Courts - Hillsborough Co, FL
Anne Gannon, Tax Collector - Palm Beach Co, FL
Sue Gunzburger, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Ken Keechl, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
John Rodstrom, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Katy Sorenson, Commissioner - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Diana Wasserman-Rubin, Commissioner - Broward Co, FL
Paul Beneke, Supervisor - Pocahontas Co, IA
Ric Gerard, Supervisor - Iowa Co, IA
Julie Haggerty, Recorder - Polk Co, IA
Jeff Heland, Supervisor - Des Moines Co, IA
Janet Lyness, Attorney - Johnson Co, IA
Kim Painter, Recorder - Johnson Co, IA
Sally Stutsman, Supervisor - Johnson Co, IA
Rita Vargas, Recorder - Scott Co, IA
Linda Yoder, Supervisor - Iowa Co, IA
Andrea Cabral, Sheriff - Suffolk Co, MA
Nancy Floreen, Council Member - Montgomery Co, MD
Jewel Ware, County Commission Chair - Wayne Co, MI
Colleen Landkamer, Commissioner - Blue Earth Co, MN
Joe DiVincenzo, County Executive - Essex Co, NJ
Brian Hughes, County Executive - Mercer Co, NJ
Joanne Rajoppi, Clerk - Union Co, NJ
Armondo Fontoura, Sheriff - Essex Co, NJ
Jerry Speziale, Sheriff - Passaic Co, NJ
Ralph Froehlich, Sheriff - Union Co, NJ
Chris Pappas, Treasurer - Hillsborough Co, NH
Chris Giuchigliani, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Rory Reid, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Paula Brooks, Commissioner - Franklin Co, OH
Don Cunningham, County Executive - Lehigh Co, PA
Bernice Scott, County Council - Richland Co, SC
Henry Darby, County Council - Charleston Co, SC
Teddy Pryor, Sr, County Council - Charleston Co, SC
Sergio De Leon, Constable - Tarrant Co, TX
Frutoso Garza, Clerk - Falfirrias Co, TX
Ysidro Gutierrez, Commissioner - Lubbock Co, TX
Alfred Isassi, Attorney - Kingsville Co, TX
Oscar Lopez, Sheriff - Alice Co, TX
Manuel Reyes, Treasurer - Eagle Pass Co, TX
Lucilla Reynolds, Tax Collector - Alice Co, TX
Jack Kennedy, Clerk of Courts -- Wise Co, VA
Barbara Favola, County Board Member -- Arlington Co, VA
Gerry Hyland, Commissioner - Fairfax Co, VA
Kathleen Falk, County Executive - Dane Co, WI

Dodd
Paul Livingston, County Council - Richland Co, SC

Edwards
Dennis Anderson, Sheriff - Polk Co, IA
Ron George, Sheriff - Keokuk Co, IA
Peter Hart, County Attorney - Palo Alto Co, IA
Tena Henkel, Recorder -- Monona Co, IA
Jan Horton, Treasurer -- Webster Co, IA
Kas Kelly, Supervisor -- Muscatine Co, IA
Steve MacDonald, Sheriff - Fremont Co, IA
Joel Miller, Auditor - Linn Co, IA
Terry Neuzil, Supervisor - Johnson Co, IA
Ernie Schiller, Supervisor - Lee Co, IA
Peggy Smalley, Treasurer - Audubon Co, IA
Ellie Snook, Supervisor - Poweshiek Co, IA
Pat Wegman, County Attorney - Chickasaw Co, IA
Donald Zeller, Sheriff - Linn Co, IA
Beth White, Clerk - Marion Co, IN
James DiPaola, Sheriff - Middlesex Co, MA
John O'Brien, Registrar of Deeds - Essex Co, MA
Brian Brdak, Commissioner - Macomb Co, MI
Ed Bruley, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
David Flynn, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Joan Flynn, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Paul Gieleghem, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Mark Hackel, Sheriff - Macomb Co, MI
Howard Heidemann, Commissioner - St. Clair Co, MI
Tim Killeen, Commissioner - Wayne Co, MI
Robert Mijac, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Sarah Roberts, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Tim Soule, Commissioner - Ingham Co, MI
John Switalski, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Kathy Tocco, Commissioner -Macomb Co, MI
Ted Wahby, Treasurer -Macomb Co, MI
Gail Dorfman, Commissioner - Hennepin Co, MN
Leo Lessard, Registrar of Deeds - Strafford Co, NH
Bill Mason, Prosecutor - Cuyahoga Co, OH
Cort Flint, County Council - Greenville Co, SC
Frank O'Leary, Treasurer -- Arlington Co, VA
Chris Zimmerman, County Board -- Arlington Co, VA
Jimmy Warren, Clerk of the Court -- Smyth Co, VA
Fred Parker, Treasurer -- Washington Co, VA

Giuliani
Michael Antonovich, Supervisor - Los Angeles Co, CA
Greg Cox, Supervisor - San Diego Co, CA
Don Knabe, Supervisor - Los Angeles Co, CA
Jim Coats, Sheriff -- Pinellas Co, FL
Jackie Colon, Commissioner - Brevard Co, FL
Rose Ferlita, Commissioner - Hillsborough Co, FL
John Morroni, Commissioner--Pineallas Co, FL
Loren Knauss, Supervisor - Pottawattamie Co, IA
Brian Lee, Clerk of Courts - Hampden Co, MA
Dawn Marie Addiego, Freeholder -- Burlington Co, NJ
Ralph Bakley, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Dan Beyel, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Carl Block, Clerk -- Ocean Co, NJ
Joan Bramhall, Clerk -- Morris Co, NJ
Douglas Cabana, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
John Callinan, Sheriff -- Cape May Co, NJ
Bill Chegwidden, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Jack Ciattarelli, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Denise Coyle, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Len Desiderio, Freeholder -- Cape May Co, NJ
Gene Feyl, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Rick Fontana, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Philip Haines, Clerk -- Burlington Co, NJ
John Inglesino, Deputy Freeholder Director -- Morris Co, NJ
John Kelly, Freeholder Director -- Ocean Co, NJ
James Lacey, Freeholder --Ocean Co, NJ
Margaret Nordstrom, Freeholder Director -- Morris Co, NJ
Joseph Oxley, Sheriff -- Monmouth Co, NJ
Peter Palmer, Freeholder --Somerset Co, NJ
William Polhemus, Sheriff --Ocean Co, NJ
Frank Provenzano, Sheriff -- Somerset Co, NJ
Bret Radi, Clerk -- Somerset Co, NJ
Jack Schrier, Freeholder -- Morris Co, NJ
Ralph Sheets, Vice Freeholder Director -- Cape May Co, NJ
Sal Simonetti, Sheriff -- Warren Co, NJ
Jerry Thornton, Freeholder -- Ocean Co, NJ
Robert Untig, Sheriff -- Sussex Co, NJ
Joseph Vicari, Freeholder -- Ocean Co, NJ
Bob Zaborowski, Freeholder -- Somerset Co, NJ
Susan Zellman, Freeholder -- Sussex Co, NJ
Darren White, Sheriff - Bernalillo Co, NM
Robert Larkin, Commissioner - Washoe Co, NV
Edward Diana, County Executive -- Orange Co, NY
Gregory Edwards, County Executive -- Chautauqua Co, NY
Joel Giambra, County Executive -- Erie Co, NY
Kathleen Jimino, County Executive -- Rensselaer Co, NY
James Molinaro, County Executive -- Richmond Co, NY
Thomas Santulli, County Executive -- Chemung Co, NY
Scott Vanderhoef, County Executive -- Rockland Co, NY
Robert Larkin, Commissioner -- Washoe Co, NV
Tim Callanan, Council Member - Berkeley Co, SC
Mary Flowers, Council Member - Colleton Co, SC
Mike Ryan, County Council -- Horry Co, SC

McCain
Hoss Mack, Sheriff -- Baldwin Co, AL
Wayne Gruenloh, Commissioner -- Baldwin Co, AL
Skip Gruber, Commissioner -- Baldwin Co, AL
Greg White, Commissioner -- Covington Co, AL
Mike Dean, Commissioner -- Mobile Co, AL
Don Stapley, Supervisor - Maricopa Co, AZ
Leroy Baca, Sheriff - Los Angeles Co, CA
Mary McCarty, Commissioner - Palm Beach Co, FL
Carlos Alvarez, Mayor - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Javier Souto, Commissioner -Miami-Dade Co, FL
David Gee, Sheriff -- Hillsborough Co, FL
Mark Sharpe, Commissioner -- Hillsborough Co, FL
Dennis Conrad, Sheriff -- Scott Co, IA
Joe McDonald, Sheriff - Plymouth Co, MA
Ruth Johnson, Clerk - Oakland Co, MI
Mike Anderson, Sheriff - Kalamzoo Co, MI
Dale Gribler, Sheriff - Van Buren Co, MI
Matt Lori, Sheriff - St. Joseph Co, MI
Bill French, Commissioner - Kalamazoo Co, MI
Jeff Heppler, Commissioner - Kalamazoo Co, MI
Bob Bezotte, Sheriff -- Livingston Co, MI
Bruce Woodbury, Commissioner -- Clark Co, NV
Maureen Barrows, Commissioner -- Rockingham Co, NH
Scott Carr, Sheriff -- Carroll Co, NH
David Sorenson, Commissioner -- Carroll Co, NH
Richard Foote, Sheriff -- Carroll Co, NH
Gerald Marcou, Sheriff -- Coos Co, NH
Bronwyn Asplund-Walsh, Commissioner -- Merrimack Co, NH
J.D. Colcord, Commissioner -- Merrimack Co, NH
Dan St. Hilarie, Attorney -- Merrimack Co, NH
Scott Hilliard, Sheriff -- Merrimack Co, NH
Donald Stritch, Commissioner -- Rockingham Co, NH
Bruce Woodbury, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Ed Carroll, Sheriff - Barnwell Co, SC
PJ Tanner, Sheriff - Beaufort Co, SC
Bill Blanton, Sheriff - Cherokee Co, SC
Lane Cribb, Sheriff - Georgetown Co, SC
Steve Loftis, Sheriff - Greenville Co, SC
Dan Wideman, Sheriff - Greenwood Co, SC
Ricky Chastain, Sheriff - Laurens Co, SC
James Metts, Sheriff - Lexington Co, SC
James Singleton, Sheriff - Oconee Co, SC
Chuck Wright, Sheriff - Spartanburg Co, SC
Rock Adams, County Council -- Spartanburg Co, SC
Billy Baldwin, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Wesley Blackwell, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Curwood Chappell, County Council -- York Co, SC
Ron Charlton, County Council -- Georgetown Co, SC
Randy Crenshaw, County Council -- Pickens Co, SC
Bob Grabowski, County Council -- Horry Co, SC
Jonny Jeffcoat, County Council -- Lexington Co, SC
Marion Lyles, County Council -- Oconee Co, SC
Bill McAbee, County Council -- Anderson Co, SC
Carl Schwartkopf, County Council -- Horry Co, SC
Buzz Shaw, County Council -- Darlington Co, SC
Mario Suarez, County Council -- Oconee Co, SC
Scott Singer, County Council -- Aiken Co, SC
John Wells, County Council -- Kershaw Co, SC
Bailey Humphries, County Council -- Cherokee Co, SC
Steve Kelly, County Council -- Kershaw Co, SC


Obama
John Dailey, Commissioner - Leon Co, FL
Addie Green, Commissioner - Palm Beach Co, FL
Jeff Coons, Commissioner - Palm Beach Co, FL
Lu Barron, Supervisor - Linn Co, IA
Wayne Clinton, Supervisor - Story Co, IA
Karen Fitzsimmons, Auditor - Scott Co, IA
Rod Sullivan, Supervisor - Johnson Co, IA
Don Zeller, Sheriff - Linn Co, IA
Christopher Rodgers, Commissioner - Douglas Co, NE
Ronald Chagnon, Commissioner - Strafford Co, NH
Jack Pratt, Commissioner - Cheshire Co, NH
Jon Cooper, Legislator - Suffolk Co, NY
Elie Mystal, Legislator - Suffolk Co, NY
Vivan Viloria-Fisher, Legislator - Suffolk Co, NY
Thomas Drayton, County Council -- Georgetown Co, SC

Richardson
Gloria Molina, Supervisor -- Los Angeles Co, CA
Michael Cryans, Commissioner - Grafton Co, NH
Chris Durkin, Clerk - Essex Co, NJ
David Adams, Treasurer - Richland Co, SC

Romney
Joe Arpaio, Sheriff - Maricopa Co, AZ
George Albright, Tax Collector - Marion Co, FL
Bruno Barreiro, Commissioner - Miami-Dade Co, FL
Ann Hildebrand, Commissioner - Pasco Co, FL
David Russell, Jr, Commissioner - Hernando Co, FL
Gary Wheeler, Commissioner - Indian River Co, FL
Sam Olen, Commissioner - Cobb Co, GA
Greg Adamson, Supervisor -- Scott Co, IA
Joni Ernst, Auditor - Montgomery Co, IA
David Jamison, Treasurer - Story Co, IA
Mike King, Supervisor - Union Co, IA
Mary Mosiman, Auditor - Story Co, IA
Frank Cousins, Sheriff - Essex Co, MA
James Cummings, Sheriff - Barnstable Co, MA
Tom Hodgson, Sheriff - Bristol Co, MA
Vaughn Beck, Commissioner -- Bay Co, MI
Karen Buie, Clerk -- Muskegon Co, MI
Bill Bullard, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
Jan Bunting, Commissioner -- Gratiot Co, MI
Sue Ann Douglas, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
David Gorcyca, Prosecutor -- Oakland Co, MI
Scott Haines, Register of Deeds -- Midland Co, MI
Eileen Kowall, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
James Leibeg, Commissioner -- Midland Co, MI
Jerry Nielson, Sheriff -- Midland Co, MI
L. Brooks Patterson, County Executive -- Oakland Co, MI
Mike Rogers, Commissioner -- Oakland Co, MI
Bret Witkowski, Treasurer -- Berrien Co, MI
Dan Collis, Sheriff -- Belknap Co, NH
Peter Heed, County Attorney - Cheshire Co, NH
Carol Holden, Commissioner - Hillsborough Co, NH
Bing Judd, Commissioner - Coos Co, NH
Dan Linehan, Sheriff -- Rockingham Co, NH
Toni Pappas, Commissioner - Hillsborough Co, NH
Jim Reams, County Attorney - Rockingham Co, NH
Chip Maxfield, Commissioner - Clark Co, NV
Jason Booth, Sheriff - Saluda Co, SC
Joe Dill, County Council -- Greenville Co, SC
Henry Fishburne, County Council -- Charleston Co, SC
Paul Thurmond, County Council -- Charleston Co, SC
Kim Wolfe, Sheriff - Cabell Co, WV


If you're a county official and you're supporting a presidential candidate, email krogers@naco.org to let us know!

Straw Poll Pics

A view from the balcony

Sam Brownback mingles in his tent

Mike Huckabee shows his guitar skills.

Mitt Romney, flanked by his family speaks to supporters at the Straw Poll

Campaign Quickies

More TV in Iowa:

Hillary Clinton

Bill Richardson

Mitt Romney

And Rudy Giuliani takes to the radio in South Carolina.


This weekend, it's the Dems turn to debate. You can watch it live on ABC's This Week. Check your local listings here.

Straw Poll results

Republicans from across the state of Iowa came together in Ames this weekend to show support for their candidate of choice. According to the Republican Party of Iowa, there were 33,000 attendees with over 14,000 votes cast for presidential preference.

The big news coming from the straw poll was not Mitt Romney winning it (the front-runner was the only top tier candidate to participate) but was the second-place finish of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. There was a tough fight for the second spot between Huckabee, Senator Sam Brownback and Governor Tommy Thompson. Thompson's sixth place finish led him to withdraw from the race on Sunday:

"I want to thank the people of Iowa who were welcoming and supportive as well as my volunteers and contributors from around the country," said Thompson. "I have no regrets about running. I felt my record as Governor of Wisconsin and Secretary of Health and Human Services gave me the experience I needed to serve as President, but I respect the decision of the voters. I am leaving the campaign trail today, but I will not leave the challenges of improving health care and welfare in America."

Here are the final results from the poll:

Mitt Romney 4,516
Mike Huckabee 2,587
Sam Brownback 2,192
Tom Tancredo 1,961
Ron Paul 1,305
Tommy Thompson 1,029
Fred Thompson 203
Rudy Giuliani 183
Duncan Hunter 174
John McCain 101
John Cox 41

Another round of ads

Romney does a Straw Poll specific ad while Obama releases another bio piece. Ron Paul is also up, hitting the airwaves for the first time.

Primary Shuffle

The South Carolina GOP has announced that it will move its primary from Feb. 2 to Jan. 19


Stay tuned for how this will affect the rest of the calendar...

Restore the Partnership

If you made it to NACo's Annual Conference in Richmond, you probably saw the little blue RESTORE THE PARTNERSHIP buttons at the general session.

The partnership refers to the past relationship between county and federal governments. For decades, the two had worked in tandem addressing the challenges facing the country. But in recent years, the partnership has been in decline. To combat this, NACo has launched the 2008 Presidential Election Project focusing on restoring the partnership and educating the candidates on county issues.

To ensure the project is a success, we need your help.

Attend events with the candidates. Talk to them about county issues and how the federal and county governments can work together. Wear your button and encourage them to RESTORE THE PARTNERSHIP.

If you don't have one and would like one, please call Kim Rogers at 202-942-4237 or email krogers@naco.org.

For decades, the c

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On the trail

Just a few shorts for this week:

10 days until the Iowa Straw Poll

Speaking of polls, things look good for Clinton

Biden releases his book Promises to Keep and is going on tour

Obama talks terrorism

Edwards is also doing policy today

Brownback and Huckabee go back and forth pre-Straw Poll while Thompson continues his 99 county tour of Iowa

Romney visits NH and releases his national finance chairs

Richardson takes to the airwaves on energy

Rudy rolls out healthcare