Obama Tries New Tactics To Get Out Vote in Iowa

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Obama's Closing Argument

The Post's Shailagh Murray assesses the closing days of Barack Obama's Iowa campaign, noting that the senator is going 'a little soft, a little hard.'

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"We really were trying to get to women where they live," Oliver said.

The group decided not to send out-of-state volunteers to knock on doors in Iowa. "It just felt wrong," said Maren Hesla, director of the group's Women Vote program. Instead, Emily's List sent names of targeted women to the American Federation of Teachers, a Clinton supporter, which sent its own literature promoting her.

All the organizational work is just a prelude to what will happen the night of the caucuses, which won't even begin until 6:30 p.m. Anything from bad weather to a sick child could prevent someone from leaving home, and that's why campaigns have been urging Iowans for months to bond with like-minded supporters at barbecues, house parties and mock caucuses. And that's why the ground armies are arranging rides and babysitters, and the candidates are returning again and again to Ottumwa, Davenport and Mason City.

The key of keys, Hildebrand said, is to knock on doors.

"Working the ground, going from house to house, talking to supporters and those leaning towards us and to undecided voters, is what we'll do all day Thursday," he said. "Nothing beats that door-to-door contact."

Staff writer Matthew Mosk and staff researchers Alice R. Crites and Madonna Lebling contributed to this report from Washington.