Howard Dean hits all 99 Iowa counties today (the first candidate to do so, of course) and ends his tour in, appropriately, Howard County. To celebrate, someone wrote this kid’s book.
There once was a doctor named Howard. Long ago before he was people-powered, he diagnosed the nation and saw great frustration, so he set out to heal what he could.
He traveled to Iowa, the land of the Caucus, and began a run for the White House. Back in February, ’02 Dean met Counties Johnson and Linn, he’s now been back again and again.
One year later it looked bleak as can be. The doc had no cash, staff, no embeds or Jodie. But the asterisk soon became a shooting star, Dave said “Dr. Howard has come so far.”
By May, ’03, Dean’s cash started to mount, he instructed his staff to meet every Iowa county. Howard took the stage with Harkin to Hear it From the Heartland and Davenport heard it from Howard.
The crowds kept listening and cheering and growing. The Doctor listening, expanding his knowing. Wherever he went he was a “must see” and the state was abuzz– even state GOP!
In Delaware, out of 190, they say, sixty caucusers showed in a tiny caf�! Then a Davenport crowd of two hundred took shape to watch Doctor Howard on VHS tape!
Things surely picked up, he was feeling a breeze, With supporters in all 99 state counties. But the staff wouldn’t rest – they brought out the big gun –the popular four-wheeled bus called McFun.
From “Get-on-Board” — 27 counties, 6 days, To tripling support for the big MeetUp craze. The D.M. Reg Poll showed the doctor on top, And the long-shot good Doc wasn’t such a long shot.
The Doctor ate well at the Iowa State Fair, And surprised us that night when he let down his hair. Duffy Lyon, the sculptress of butter-cow fame told the world she would jump on the Good Doctor’s train. He was pleased as can be, but that sure didn’t stop him.
From playing the blues so that no one could top him. He blew his harmonica, strummed his guitar, And reporters were saying, “Wow, he’s a rock star.”
So his staff kept working and Howard kept traveling and together they made a September to Remember. Supporters they tripled, staff they doubled, and competition they paid no mind.
Finally, finally every county gets their due. From Pottawattamie to Allamakee Dean’s been talkin’ community. All got a visit, but only one shares his name. A little bit of coincidence and a whole lot of clever gives Howard County the fame.
Howard in Howard is clever for sure, but it would never have been without Howard the doctor in search of a cure. Howard last year, Howard in March. Howard in Linn and Johnson and Polk. Howard in Lyon and Van Buren, and Greene. Howard restoring the American Dream.
