Iowans passionate about politics ahead of caucus

TOLEDO, Iowa (Reuters) - One Iowa woman baked cookies emblazoned with John Edwards' likeness and passed them out at parties, while another sculpted Barack Obama's head out of butter to display on caucus night.

Less than a week to go before the January 3 Iowa caucuses, scores more in this snow-covered farm state are knocking on doors, making endless phone calls and using business meetings and family dinners to try to build support for their preferred presidential candidate.

Many Americans in the Midwest shun political debate among friends and family.

But in Iowa, where U.S. voters are the first to weigh in on who should be the Democratic and Republican nominees for the November 4, 2008, presidential election, passionate partisanship has become a part of daily life.

Husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors are all discussing, debating, and sometimes disagreeing over whom to support come caucus night.

"It's a great feeling to convert someone," said Sally Ortgies, 41, a West Des Moines parks department official. Ortgies has worked to sway everyone from her secretary to her sister to caucus for former North Carolina Sen. Edwards.

Ortgies is so taken with Edwards, a Democrat, and his support of universal health care and work against poverty, that she carries campaign literature in a purse to hand out to friends and strangers.

Sydni Grauberger has volunteered to help round up votes in Melbourne for Democratic Sen. Obama of Illinois, who is trying to become the first black president. She said she has lobbied about 200 people so far, knocking on doors and making persistent phone calls.

UNDETERRED

Sometimes the efforts aren't welcome -- a longtime family friend hung up on her last week. Still, Grauberger, who waved a red "Stand for Change" sign at an Obama rally in Marshalltown on Thursday, is undeterred.

"This is a major important thing, to get out there and make your voice heard," she said.

Norma Lyon, a 78-year-old farm wife from Toledo, so likes Obama that she has sculpted a likeness of his head out of 23 pounds (10 kg) of butter and plans to take it with her to caucus.

Hjalmar Hellberger, who helps his son run the family jewelry business in Marshalltown, said he is pushing for Republican Mitt Romney.

Hellberger, 83, said he talks all the time to friends and associates about the former Massachusetts governor, though he said he is careful not to alienate prospective customers.

Hellberger voted for President George W. Bush in 2004 but has been "mad as hell" about his choice ever since, and believes Romney is the man to put the country back on track.

Those who have sided with a candidate still have plenty of opportunities to sway others to their side as many voters say they remain undecided.

Retiree Gary Schubert of Rock Rapids said he was trying to decide between Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He said his neighbors would likely help him make up his mind about which Republican to choose come caucus night.

Kathy Davis, 60, of Ames, also is still undecided. But like many Iowans, she said, she relishes the opportunity to weigh in on presidential politics.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," she said. "We are the luckiest people in the country."

(Additional reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Xavier Briand)