It Takes More Than Ads To Win In Iowa

By Candy Crowley/CNN

DES MOINES, Iowa -- It's the grunt work of politics: recruiting volunteers, telephoning voters, keeping track of who's supporting you and who's not.

The TV ad wars may grab the voters' attention and start them thinking, but organization -- The Big O -- is what turns thought into action. "It's not any rocket science," says Marlys Popma, deputy campaign manager for Texas Sen. Phil Gramm's campaign. "Organization is just doing the same thing over and over again to keep your people motivated." (73K AIFF or WAV sound)

Organization turned Jimmy Who? into Jimmy Carter in the weeks leading up to the 1976 Iowa caucuses. In 1988, the Christian right stunned the status quo by getting out enough votes to give evangelist Pat Robertson a second place showing. Christian activists are busy here again this year.

"Remember that we want to get a person of moral, strong moral character in the White House,'' Christian Coalition activist Norlan Baker told a gathering recently. "We want...a person who represents our views."

Most of the GOP candidates do well on the religious litmus test, which is available in area churches and Christian book stores. "This is the first time we've been in a situation where...we have at least four candidates where a lot of our people are working within their campaigns, which is interesting," said Ione Dilley of the Iowa Christian Coalition.

That could be a mixed blessing, though. With so many candidates who pass the test, the power of the Christian right could be diluted, opening a door for less acceptable candidates.

The newcomer in this year's GOP field, Malcolm S. "Steve" Forbes Jr., has put together the best field organization that money can buy. Computer for computer, list for list, phone bank for phone bank, Forbes has the ground organization of a contender.

The question is, can money buy the kind of loyalty required to brave the Iowa winter to vote on caucus night?

In homes across Iowa, Senate Majority Leader Robert Dole (R-Kan.) has built up that kind of trust. He won in Iowa in 1988 and, with support for him seemingly soft this year, he needs a victory again. "We've all talked about recruiting five extra people to go with us (to vote)," said Terri Hasselman of Dole's field staff. "That's what's going to make the difference between a win and a landslide."

For former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, this is the first time around and, if activity is any gauge of turning voters out, he could be in contention, too. Conservative commentator Patrick Buchanan, fresh off a Louisiana caucus victory, has a less elaborate ground operation.

Of all the candidates, Gramm has been here campaigning the longest, and he used his time to build a capable organization, which he needs to reverse the setback he suffered at Buchanan's hands in Louisiana last week.

TIME This Week:

• Is Forbes For Real?

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