Ready for Hillary trying not to overshadow Harkin tribute

CEDAR RAPIDS - Iowans hoping for another Clinton presidency are being careful not to let their Ready for Hillary enthusiasm overshadow Sen. Tom Harkin's 37th and final annual steak Fry.

But it might be hard to see the Harkin for the Hillary hoopla when an expected crowd of 5,000 Democrats gather Sunday at the iconic political event, which serves as an unofficial kickoff to election season.

Iowa's five-term Democratic senator will be serving up grilled steaks from 1:40 to 4 p.m. at the National Balloon Classic Field in Indianola. Harkin, who will retire when his term ends in January, also will be serving pulled chicken and a vegetarian option along with baked beans.

The highlight of the menu, however, is likely to be a big helping of politics in the form of his guests: former President Bill Clinton and former first lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It's the former president's fourth appearance; and former secretary of state's second. She was there in 2007 when then-Sen. Barack Obama and other potential 2008 Democratic presidential nominees were Harkin's guests.

It's also her first public appearance in Iowa since losing the 2008 Iowa precinct caucuses to Obama, which adds fuel to the speculation that she will run for president in 2016.

That speculation threatens to overshadow the tribute to Harkin, a 40-year veteran of Congress and a major benefactor of the Iowa Democratic Party and Democratic politicians all over the state.

Ready for Hillary, which is more of a draft movement than a campaign organization, will be on hand to sign up as many Clinton supporters as possible. Its goal is make sure she has the best, most up-to-date list of supporters and contributors when she enters the presidential race, according to Seth Bringman of Ready for Hillary.

The group will be prominent on the grounds with its Winnebago Ready for Hillary bus and countless volunteers inside and outside the event, Bringman said.

Ready for Hillary is trying to keep the focus on Harkin, according to Bringman.

'We want to do our part to thank Sen. Harkin,” Bringman said. 'That's why we're here.”

The group has been calling and texting Iowans to encourage them to buy steak fry tickets and 'celebrate Tom's remarkable career of public service to the great state of Iowa,” added former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell.

Ready for Hillary supporters will be there, she said, 'thanking Tom for his service, organizing Iowa Democrats for the 2014 elections, and enjoying some steak, of course.”

Ready for Hillary is working to make sure its volunteers 'are engaged to help Democrats come out on top,” Bringman said. 'It's an opportunity to support Iowa Democrats in the U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races and up and down the ballot.”

In addition to a crowd of about 5,000, steak fry organizers have credentialed more than 150 media, including several international organizations.

While reporters will be looking for signs from Clinton that she is running, Derek Eadon, Midwest coordinator of Ready for Hillary, says he has no reason to speculate her presence is a sign one way or another.

'It is encouraging to see her back in Iowa,” he said.