EXPLANATIONS
Political commentator Mark Shields tells this story as reported in Psychology Today (Nov. ’84). The weekend before a Presidential election,(not the 1984 one, obviously. Ed.) a lowly Democratic Party hanger-on in the Second Ward of a small town in Iowa worried about the outcome. “Our voters don’t know there’s an election coming up,” he complained to the ward committeeman. “We need a truck with a big sign and music to get people to notice.” The committeeman brushed him off, but the man persisted; finally the committeeman gave in: “Here’s a hundred bucks to rent a truck from your brother-in-law down at the garage, if that’s what you want to do.” Off rushed the man, and on Saturday afternoon, as Iowans shopped, the truck rumbled by, music blaring, placards urging a vote for the Democratic Party. On Tuesday Democrats across the nation swept into office, winning the Presidency, 15 U. S. Senate seats, 10 governorships, including Iowa’s, the local Congressional district as well as…
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