by John Chase
WEST DES MOINES--As general manager and co-owner of one of the Des Moines’ areas most popular concert venues, Chris Cardani has become one in-demand guy.
Almost every week for the past few months, Cardani has been in contact with nearly every presidential campaign running in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses. Everyone from Republican “rocker” Mike Huckabee to Democrat Joe Biden has rented his Val Air Ballroom for some event.
“I try to stay unbiased,” Cardani said before Wednesday night’s last political event of the season, a short John Mellencamp concert followed by a rally for Democrat John Edwards. “Business is business. I try to help them all.”
Over the past few years, the art deco-styled Val Air has turned into a prime locale for concerts in Des Moines. Although it’s a quaint room (maximum capacity: 2,750 people), the place still gets major national acts from Bob Dylan to Chicago rockers Wilco, who are scheduled to perform there in March.
When it opened in 1939, the facility didn’t have much of a roof—on purpose. It was an open air ballroom with a roof only over the hardwood dance floor, the stage and the bar areas. All the rest was covered by “drop” sides that were lowered to keep out rain but raised during the summer.
Jazz and big band were the performers of the day. But by the 1950s and early ‘60s, and following a fire, the Val air got a roof and the jazz was replaced by rock music.
But this fall and winter brought the politicians calling. Just this week, Huckabee, who plays in a band, was joined on stage with actor Chuck Norris. Joe Biden rented the hall for an event and Hillary Clinton recently hosted a private dinner for many of her Iowa volunteers.
Barack Obama was supposed to have a concert-rally here with soul performer India.Arie, but she cancelled.
In his position, Cardani gets an even more close up look at the candidates and their campaigns than other Iowans, who are renowned for getting great access to presidential contenders.
But just don’t ask him who he’s voting for.
“Can’t tell you,” Cardani joked, though acknowledging he is a Democrat. “I’ve got a business to run here.”
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Have questions about the results of tonight's Iowa caucuses, what's next in the race for the White House or anything related to Election 2008? E-mail them to us and we'll answer as many as possible during our video chat scheduled for 12:30 pm central time Friday.
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Comments
"HILLARY DOWN 10 POINTS"
WHAT WHO TOLD MY WIFE SHE COULD GET OFF WORK EARLY TODAY? WHAT UNION ALLOWED OUR WIVES TO GET OFF TO VOTE? STOP THE TRAINS, STOP THE BUSES, STOP, STOP, STOP. WE CANNOT HAVE A WOMAN FOR PRESIDENT.
WHO IS GOING TO STAY HOME AND WONDER WHY THERE IS NO HEAT, HEALTHCARE, SOCIAL SECURITY, WATER, AND 5.00 FOR A GALLON OF UNLEADED GAS.
WHO IS GOING TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY STOCK PORTFOLIO WAS CONSOLIDATED AND I'M BROKE. WHO IS GOING TO LET ME KNOW ANYTHING SEEN ON CSPAN 15.
STOP THE VOTE, STOP THE VOTE UNTIL SHE IS SAFE AT HOME IN THE KITCHEN OR UPSTAIRS TIED UP IN THE CLOSET.
Posted by: Roger Morris | January 3, 2008 4:34 PM