Opinion: An unexpected caucus campaign casualty

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OK, it was the last full day of campaigning for the Iowa caucus. Some 500 Iowans and a California spy --The Times’ Maria LaGanga -- were ducking the cold by packing the school gym in Davenport, eager to see the famous speaker, this youngish fellow named Barack Obama. He was going to give them a pep talk about canvassing on caucus day.

But something was wrong. Very wrong.

There was no podium. The usual ‘Stand for Change’ sign was missing. And the candidate had to climb up on a box.

This morning, Obama said, ‘we have to improvise a little bit.’

Why? Well, it seems, the candidate explained, that en route to the morning event the campaign’s equipment truck had run into a deer. ‘Awwwww,’ the crowd collectively moaned.

Yes. ‘And we feel bad for the deer,’ said Obama. The crowd agreed. ‘And we feel bad for the truck.’

And what’s worse, neither would have been covered under Obama’s universal health care plan.

-- Andrew Malcolm