Essential Estrogen

Those who have flown over Cedar Rapids know the city is split by the Cedar River. Residents often use the river as a dividing line when they offer directions. The postal service, which places addresses into quadrants, uses the river as one of its primary dividing lines. And in the early 1900s city leaders, perhaps sensing the potential for divisiveness, began moving city services to May's Island in the middle of the river.

The current island -- designed to appear as a large battleship floating down the river, the only such structure in North America -- has remained immune to quadrant classification. This sense of neutrality is probably why organizers of the city's annual Freedom Festival use the island each year. It also might be the reason the 2008 presidential hopefuls steered clear.

On July 4th, Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton brought her husband, former President Bill Clinton, into town for a rally in Green Square Park on the east side of the river. At that same time rival Democratic hopeful Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut brought his entire family into town, parking the tour bus near the police station on the west side of the river. Whether by convenience or design, the paths of the presidential candidates did not cross.

Hay Bales and Barricades

The park, flanked by the modern Cedar Rapids Museum of Art on one side and downtown businesses on the other, was filled with American flags, hay bales, flatbed trucks (for the press) and, of course, people hoping to catch a glimpse of the former president and first lady.

Local staff had been collecting names and passing out tickets over the past week and their efforts did not go unrewarded. The park was packed with many people sporting "Hillary" stickers.

Bill Clinton was given first dibs on the microphone. He led those listening down memory lane.

"If you think about the way things were in the eight years when I had a chance to serve and now how every little thing has been turned on its head since I left office, we have a good comparison," he said. "Our way works better."

As smoothly as a Broadway show, Hillary Clinton picked up her husband's cues and asked the audience, "Wouldn't you like to be free of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney?" The audience erupted into applause.

Following short remarks, the music began and those who had gathered either rushed away to other activities or, more often, pressed four-deep at the barricades surrounding the stage area made out of hay bales.

Piggyback Rides and Fireworks

Those who want prime seating for the fireworks often show up on the west bank of the river in the first hours of daylight. A few tents and many blankets and tarps covered the ground as families sat in lawn chairs and lit sparklers.

This was the scene as the big, blue Chris Dodd for President bus pulled up near the Cedar Rapids Police Station. Dodd (pictured above with a daughter on his shoulders), his wife Jackie and daughters Grace and Christina didn't exit the bus to campaign theme music, but quickly began shaking hands and talking with supporters.

Once they began to make their way down the sidewalk and along the river toward the Third Avenue bridge, Dodd lifted his 6-year-old daughter, Grace, onto his shoulders for a piggyback ride. Iowa Rep. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, served as host, leading the senator through the crowd and making introductions.

While some festival goers made an obvious point of ignoring the politician, most were receptive. People of all ages stopped along the sidewalks for a few minutes to ask questions, say hello or have their photos taken with Dodd and Staed (also pictured above).

It took the group nearly two hours to walk the two blocks between the police station and the Third Avenue bridge. An attempt was made to count handshakes, but your reporter lost count shortly after 150.

"This is the type of campaigning I really enjoy," Dodd said before boarding the bus to travel to Veterans Memorial Stadium where the family watched the fireworks display. "When you meet people like this -- on the street and sidewalks -- they are candid. They tell me things I don't hear anywhere else, and those are things I need to know."