Primary Debates and Forums--Harkin Forums

"Hear It From The Heartland" Forums

Sunday, April 6th - Sen. John Edwards
Iowa State Historical Building, Des Moines
Sunday, May 18th - Gov. Howard Dean
The River Center, Davenport
Saturday, June 7th - Sen. Bob Graham
Iowa Western Community College Student Center, Council Bluffs
Saturday, June 21st - Sen. John Kerry
Music Man Square Streetscape, Mason City
Sunday, July 13th - Rep. Dick Gephardt
National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, Dubuque
Sunday, July 27th - Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Indian Hills Community College Main Facility, Ottumwa
Sunday, August 3rd - Amb. Carol Moseley Braun
Waterloo Center for the Arts, Waterloo
Wednesday, August 6th - Rev. Al Sharpton
Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City
Sunday, September 21st - Sen. Joe Lieberman
Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids
Monday, October 6th - Gen. Wesley Clark
Iowa Central Community College, Fort Dodge

Overview: Organized by Sen. Tom Harkin "to promote an open conversation between Iowa Democrats who are likely to attend their precinct caucuses and the candidates for president."

Sponsor: Organized and paid for by Harkin's federal leadership PAC, To Organize a Majority PAC (TOM PAC).

Candidates: Carol Moseley Braun, Howard Dean, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt, Bob Graham, John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich, Joseph Lieberman, Al Sharpton; Wesley Clark.

Format:
Senator Harkin will welcome the candidate and welcome the guests. Senator Harkin will then give brief opening remarks and introduce the presidential candidate.
Presidential candidate will then give their remarks. Once remarks are given,
Senator Harkin will moderate a question and answer session with the audience, approximately forty-five (45) minutes
Senator Harkin will stop the Q & A session to allow the presidential candidate five (5) minutes for closing remarks.
Forums are to be held in facilities that can hold between 100-150 people selected by TOM PAC.*
[See memo for full details].

Video of several of the forums can be found online at the websoapbox.com website.

*TOM PAC reports the audience for the Edwards forum was approximately 400.