“So what keeps you going in the race?”

By: Ashlyn DeLoughy

I walk into a public school about 15 minutes from our hotel in Des Moines with my backpack and tripod in hand. As we (the team of journalists I was with) walked down the school hallways, we were quickly greeted by two women at the check in. They were eager to see us arrive and to hear our stories. We begin to set up our cameras and mingle with the directors of the event. It’s not until I sit down with my notebook that I realize where I actually am. 

A passionate musician plays the keyboard on the left side of what is a “mini riser” type of set up. There are five stools in the center and a bright blue and orange backdrop that reads, “Faith. Hope. Love. I will vote Common Good! A change for election day.” 

The audience chatters amongst themselves. An older woman knits a green scarf while a mother and her elementary-school aged son take their seat in the back row. Quickly, the whole audience joins in on the musician’s singing. People are clapping and nodding their heads to the beat of the music. Smiles are everywhere. And then as the music comes to an end, enters Doug, one of the directors of the event. He leaps in the center of the stage and welcomes everyone to the Faith, Politics and Common Good forum featuring both Bill Weld and Marianne Williamson. 

There were a lot of different conversations at this event and because of that at times I felt so lost, yet so fascinated. This was like something I’ve never experienced before and it informed me so much about a demographic that is not often talked about at all: faith voters. 

After attending this event, I realized that this group of voters feels trapped between what they know about their own political parties and what they believe about the world around them. It’s inspiring to see a group of people hold their personal values and beliefs so close to them, yet sad to see them feel disconnected with the root of our American government. 

The whole atmosphere was so intriguing, but perhaps the highlight of my night was being able to actually talk to Marianne Williamson at the end of the event and get the last interview with her before she announced her suspension of her presidential campaign. 

After being in the room during the event, I felt that so many people were exhausted with everything that’s been going on in modern day politics. With that, I wanted to know where Marianne’s head was in regards to her campaign. I wanted to know if she felt so defeated at this point too, especially with the caucus just days away. 

So I asked, “What keeps you going in the race?” 

And she responded, “”I’m in the race to the extent to which I wake up in the morning and my heart tells me I’m in the race.” 

I can only help, but wonder if Williamson woke up this morning thinking about the student journalist who asked her what her motivation was and she realized that maybe it just wasn’t there anymore.