Muscatine, Ia. - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday told a small group of Iowa Democrats that U.S. policy in the Middle East can be compassionate as well as tough - while he also provided these influential voices in the leadoff caucus state with an up-close view of him as a presidential candidate. Obama told the Muscatine-area party activists that he supports relaxing restrictions on aid to the Palestinian people. He said they have suffered the most as a result of stalled peace efforts with Israel. | "Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people," Obama said. |
Obama was responding to a question by Sue Dravis, one of about 40 party leaders who met with him privately before a forum at West Middle School. The session in the school library - while more than 1,000 waited for Obama in the gymnasium down the hall - gave a glimpse of the candidate few Americans have seen, despite the intense media exposure he has attracted.
Since launching his campaign a month ago, Obama has headlined events around the nation and in key states such as Iowa. He has drawn large crowds of political activists and people hoping for a closer look at the candidate. His third trip to Iowa was no different, with capacity crowds meeting him in Dubuque, Clinton and Davenport on Saturday.
The turnout at Obama's campaign events has prompted questions about how the political celebrity will campaign for support in Iowa, where caucus backing often is earned through direct contact. "After some of the initial novelty of the campaign fades off, as we enter the summer months, we're going to have the opportunity to campaign in that fashion," Obama said in a Des Moines Register interview. Obama has tried to incorporate more intimate sessions with key party leaders in Iowa, as he did at each of his stops Saturday, as well as before his event later Sunday in Burlington.