Steak 'fry'? But they're grilled..
Steaks on the grill at the Iowa 'Steak Fry' on Sunday. Courtesy: CNN's Mike Roselli
INDIANOLA, Iowa (CNN) - Sunday marks the 30th annual Harkin Steak Fry, a fundraiser for Iowa's Democratic Senator Tom Harkin, who said he expects between 8,000 and 10,000 people to show up. This year, the cash all goes to Harkin's upcoming re-election bid.
But on the eve of the big event CNN caught up with the senator to ask him why they call it a "fry" if the steaks are cooked on a grill.
"You don't fry it. These are grilled steaks, and I dont know the answer to that question," Harkin said Saturday at the University of Iowa/Iowa State University football game in Ames. "Somewhere way back someone dubbed it a steak fry and it stuck and nobody can ever remember why that name ever came in to being but we still call it a steak fry."
As far as the current crop of Democrats goes, Harkin said anything can still happen.
"To put it in sports analogy, its a jump ball. For the Democrats, there are three that are kind of bunched up together. That's Clinton, Obama and Edwards, and then you have all the others behind them. But you add everybody up I mean you still only got 50-60 percent of the caucus-goers."
But he added that he'd like to see someone do something big.
"I always like to see things new, and I like to have them kind of make some news with something, but you never know. I think there will be a lot of attention placed on this."
- CNN Iowa Producer Chris Welch
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I'll bet back in the day, they cooked steaks in a skillet like they did out west over a campfire as BBQ grills were hard to carry on a horse!!! Sounds like a fun ole time just chewing the fat with the locals.
This is a non-story about Senator Harkin saying nothing about the presidential election. Thanks for playing.
Damn demon-cratz are awlways lye 'n bout sumpton...
Totally newsworthy. Keep it coming. Thanks CNN!
If you wanted to see "to see someone do something big," and you "always like to see things new, and "like to have them kind of make some news with something,", you should have invited the rest of the democratic candidates: namely, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel. This is not fair politics. It is a disservice to not only Iowans, but to the American people who are watching C-Span and want to know how each candidate is going to address the issues. And we want the candidates that crooked and biased people support to be in office? Very distressing.
Another reason to wonder why we think Iowa is such an important key state in the elections. Hmmmmmmmm.
I wish I could afford steak. I have to eat ground beef because all my money goes to pay medical bills and basic expenses.
I'm glad you get to have a big party to raise money to get the power but what are you going to do for me when you get it.
30th Annual! Damn! I wish I could afford steak. I am lucky to have ground beef because all my money goes to pay my family's medical bills, gas for my car and basic expenses.
I'm glad you get to have a big party to raise money to keep the power but what do you ever do for me when you get it?
Oh yeah, did you pay for those front row tickets to the University of Iowa/Iowa State University football game? Or did you get them "comp'd from lobbyists?
Chris needs something else to do
Tom Harkin is like any other two-termer plus public "servant" – he should be gone. If he wants to have a party he should pay for it with his own money.
AXUALLY THE TERM IS FLAME BROIED,
I went to the event today, and it was a great day! I think all the candidates did a spectacular job laying out their plans, without just dogging on the current administration. Oh, and the steak was excellent. Obama 08!
If all politics where done like the Iowa caucuses we might actually end up with a decent candidate. You set down in January with your neighbors and look them in the eye and say this person should be president and this is why.
And this is news-worthy why, exactly? It's a politician having a grill-out. Like millions of us do during the summer, except we don't extort money when we do it. When a politician does a huge grill-out like this for, say, the homeless of NYC or something that'll make a difference, then let us know.