Obama for America; Story County Democrats Open Headquarters

Story County Democrats and Obama for America publicly celebrated the opening of its headquarters Sunday without protesters or negative signs, just a lot of seemingly happy people packed into a former printing office behind .

More than 100 people came to the event in which Christie Vilsack, who faces Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron, for Iowa's new 4th District, and Sen. Tom Harkin spoke.

Elizabeth Purchia, of Obama for America Iowa, took the size of the crowd as a good sign. Iowa is a battleground state and she said the campaign is counting on a strong ground game to win the presidential election.

“I'm excited to see this many people here in July,” Purchia said.

Early voting begins Sept. 27 so for volunteers the election is less than 100 days away.

Harkin took the podium and spoke primarily about the affordable health care act, recently upheld by the Supreme Court. The bill hasn't been popular posing a challenge for Democrats in the coming election.

“It's going to be a big issue. A Democrat running this year for election or re-election should pick up on this right now: Be positive about it. Be affirmative about it and why it's good for America,” he said.

Harkin said polls show that 70 percent of people are against it, but Harkin said when the bill is dissected people are in favor.

The bill prohibits insurance companies to set lifetime limits on coverage, requires insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions and preventative health care, extends benefits to dependents until the age of 26, and offers discounts on prescription drugs for seniors. Harkin said 70 percent of people are in favor of those measures, which the affordable health care act achieves.

Harkin said Republicans like King and Mitt Romney want to repeal the act and compared the fight for the bill to the fight for Social Security and Medicare.

“We are on the right side of history and I can tell you by November people of this country will know it because they will want the things in the affordable health care act for them and their families,” Harkin said.

Vilsack told the group that she was there to thank volunteers in advance and that both she and King were in a sense applying for a new job.

She said she views the job as a teacher would. The 39 counties she will represent are like her students and she wants to learn as much about them as she can and as quickly as possible so that she can help them reach their maximum potential in the time that she has. She said King however seems to be pushing his own agenda.

“King sees his job as a way to promote his own personal profile and national ideology,” Vilsack said.

Vilsack said King's votes for the Ryan budget that critics say slash Social Security and Medicare and his votes against Pell grant funding prove that.

Vilsack said King has never represented 48 percent of the new district. Vilsack has never done so as an elected official but she has as the first lady of Iowa back when her husband, Tom, now U.S. Secretary of Agriculture was Iowa's governor.

And most importantly she said she offers a choice that western Iowa didn't have in King's previous elections. She said none of his opponents have had the name recognition or resources she does.

One of the most important resources she has she said is her legion of volunteers.

“I want to thank all of you in advance,” Vilsack said.

When the speeches were over Harkin and Vilsack took opposite sides of the room speaking with supporters, smiling and shaking hands.