I was encouraged by the attitude of the candidates and their supporters at the straw poll. It was pretty positive and I had a number of pleasant exchanges with supporters of other candidates. A number of the candidates talked about conducting a campaign free of the nastiness of past years - a great cause for hope. Maybe we'll be able to leave our TV's on during commercials without turning purple with rage at the ugliness of political smear ads. Maybe fewer people will die of stroke and heart attacks from the sudden rise in blood pressure during those despicable "facts" thrust on them during their favorite family programming! I don't know about the rest of you but I'm tired of seeing a candidate pray out of one side of his mouth and order his lackeys to air the most embarrassing still of his opponent eating a chicken wing out of the other. Peggy Murdock Ames ----------------------------------------------------------------- To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]