Presidential Politics: Kansas and Iowa

By Frank Morris

Kansas City, Missouri – Geographically, culturally and economically, Kansas and Iowa are a lot alike. But when it comes to presidential politics, the two states are a study in contrast. Kansas has voted for consistently Republican for generations, so candidates of both parties rarely campaign there, and even voters pay only glancing attention to presidential elections. In Iowa, where the candidates visit every small town, election issues and the candidates' positions are regular topics of conversation. Does all that attention invigorate politics in Iowa? KCUR's Frank Morris tried to answer the question in small town restaurants in Iowa and Kansas. He prepared this report as KCUR and other public radio stations across the nation asked the question, Who's Democracy is It? with a series of stories examining the democratic process in America.