DES MOINES-- In a close election, Obama for America - Iowa continues to rely on its grassroots operation to carry the President across the finish line. That's why supporters across the state will gather again tonight to watch President Obama lay out the clear choice in this election at the last presidential debate of the campaign. In continuing to use the debates as an opportunity to bring supporters together, Obama for America - Iowa is hosting 67 watch parties in neighborhoods across the state. OFA's supporters are continuing to use the debates to engage their family and friends on the choice in this election between two visions for our country: one that moves us forward with an economy built from the middle-out or one that moves us backwards with an economy that writes off our middle-class and returns to the same failed top-down economics of the last decade.  Iowa's early vote started on September 27^th and ends November 5^th.

To attend a watch party in Iowa, please review the information below:

Monday, October 22, 2012

8:00PM CST

Des Moines Debate Watch Party

WHERE: Cooney's Tavern

3708 Beaver Avenue

Des Moines, IA 50310

Cedar Rapids Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Cedar Rapids Office

2857 Mt. Vernon Rd SE.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Iowa City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Iowa City Office

321 Market St, Suite 106

Iowa City, IA

Sioux City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Sioux City Office

4106 Morningside Ave

Sioux City, IA

Council Bluffs Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Council Bluffs Office

1851 Madison Ave, Suite 200

Council Bluffs, IA

Waterloo Debate Watch Party

WHERE: 220 East (Art Gallery)

220 E. 4th St.

Waterloo, IA

Mason City Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Mason City Office

219 North Federal

Mason City, IA

Ames Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Ames Office

413 Northwestern Ave #103

Ames, IA

Burlington Debate Watch Party

WHERE: OFA-IA Burlington Office

900 Osborn St

Burlington, IA

Davenport Debate Watch Party and Sign Making Party

WHEN: 7:00 PM

WHERE: OFA-IA Davenport Office

1706 Brady Street, Suite 205

Davenport, IA

###

DES MOINES - On Monday, OFA-IA and Massachusetts elected officials will launch the "Wrong for Massachusetts, Wrong for Iowa" tour to discuss Mitt Romney's failed policies, record, and lack of bipartisan collaboration as Governor of Massachusetts. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone, State Senator Marc Pacheco, Melrose Mayor Robert Dolan and North Adams Mayor John Barrett will criss cross the state sharing firsthand experiences of Mitt Romney's failed record as Governor of Massachusetts.

Mitt Romney's policies as Governor were wrong for Massachusetts and they would have been devastating for Iowa. During Romney's term as Governor, the state fell from 36^th to a dismal 47^th out of 50 in job creation, while the U.S. economy continued to grow. By the end of Romney's term as Governor, the state lost 40,000 manufacturing jobs, twice the national average and the third worst record in the country.  Additionally, Romney raised taxes and fees on the middle class and businesses in Massachusetts while pushing through a tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited 278 wealthy citizens.  Under Romney, the debt burden per person grew to the highest in the nation. Romney cannot escape the simple fact that under his leadership, Massachusetts's economic performance was one of the worst in the country in all key economic measurements- including  job creation.

Mitt Romney has consistently misled voters on the campaign trail by touting his ability to work in a bipartisan fashion. Romney's record presents a stark contrast to his claims. Romney's office was rarely open to state legislators and Mayors. His style was reportedly marked by "disinterest in bipartisan collaboration" and "disengaged". As Governor, Romney often put his presidential ambitions ahead of his responsibilities to Massachusetts. The New York Times recently reported that during his four year term, Romney spent more than 400 days away from Massachusetts to cement his inevitable run for President.

President Obama has laid out a clear path to move our nation forward by investing in education, manufacturing, energy, innovation and infrastructure, and by reforming the tax code and paying down our debt in a balanced way that ensures everyone pays their fair share. President Obama has proven that he can deliver for the American people. He has rescued the auto-industry, ended the war in Iraq, and passed health care reform. Mitt Romney would return us to the same top-down failed policies that crashed our economy and hurt the middle class and would serve as a rubber stamp for Congressional Republicans' extreme agenda.

On Wednesday, October 24, President Obama will kick-off his America Forward! Tour with a grassroots event in Davenport, Iowa at the Quad on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.

EVENT LOCATION: The Quad on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds (2815 West Locust Street, Davenport, IA 52804)

DOORS OPEN: 8:00 AM CDT, Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Ticket Distribution Information for Members of the Public: Tickets are available for President's event in Davenport, IA. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entrance. One ticket per person will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To pick up your ticket, visit one of the following locations beginning on Monday, October 22, 2012 at 9:00AM CDT:

OFA-Iowa Davenport Office

1706 Brady Street #204

Davenport, IA 52803

OFA-Iowa Bettendorf Office

1630 State Street

Bettendorf, IA 52722

OFA-Iowa Blue Grass Office

114 South Mississippi Street

Blue Grass, IA 52726

United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Debra L. Scorpiniti will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2012, general elections. AUSA Scorpiniti has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Iowa, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.

The Department's long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 6, 2012, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Klinefeldt stated that AUSA/DEO Scorpiniti will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 515-473-9300.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 515-223-4278.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.

###