Iowa Politics with Jeff Stein -- Fri. Oct. 09, 2026

Who wants the ball?

I'm Jeff Stein with today's Iowa Politics Report.

I saw the legendary Michael Jordan play basketball once in person.

It was back in 1984 and the U.S.

Olympic team was playing an exhibition in Iowa City.

Jordan was an up and coming college star at the time.

Now there's an old story that one time a coach was drawing up a play at the end of the game, which would have a different player taking the key shot.

Jordan complained, and the coach supposedly told him, Michael, there is no I in team.

To which Jordan supposedly replied, but there is in win, so give me the darn ball.

When the game is on the line, there are some people who want the ball, who are confident in themselves and their abilities, who feel they are the best chance for their team to win.

And that takes us to President Trump, crisscrossing the country these days with massive rallies in key states.

He feels he is his party's best chance to win, right down to declaring that voters should pretend he is on the ballot himself.

Democrats think that works for them because they believe the president's record is a poor one.

But among the voters Republicans absolutely need in order to hold on to a congressional majority, it is a plausible strategy.

Lots of those who voted for Trump aren't Republicans.

They are Trumpicans.

So if Trump is not on the ballot, they're not inclined to vote.

I've talked to you before about a similar phenomenon in the past.

Obama crats, those who voted for Barack Obama, but then stayed home when he was not on the ballot.

It's basically the draw of a charismatic figure.

For Republicans to maintain their slim majorities in Congress, they need support from traditional Republicans, the Trump base that will only turn out if they think they are helping their man, as well as a not small amount of independence.

That's an interesting coalition to try to build.

Some of the very independence a candidate needs aren't sold on Trump, so too much of him may hurt with that segment of the voting population.

But without him, you don't get the Trumpicans.

In an era of past-the-buck politicians, you have to say this about Trump, though.

He always wants the darn ball.

And that's the Iowa Politics Report for Thursday, October 8th on Twitter, Instagram, Gitter, Threads and Truth Social at Iowa Politics.

I'm Jeff Stein on News Talk 1540, KXEL.