Jennifer Jacobs

jejacobs@dmreg.com

Today's 37th and final Harkin Steak Fry was a momentous occasion for Iowa Democrats, who came together to celebrate U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin's 40 years of achievements as a federal lawmaker, and to welcome Hillary Clinton back to Iowa after a long, tension-tinged absence.

Here's what Clinton, who became U.S. secretary of state after she lost her 2008 presidential bid, accomplished with her first Iowa visit in nearly seven years:

1. She planted a flag for 2016.

Her mere appearance in the first-in-the-nation voting state sent a strong signal that she's wants to keep her name at the top of the contention for a Democratic presidential bid.

"I'm sure she wasn't coming to lay on the beach at Okoboji to get a tan," said Jim Ross Lightfoot, a GOP political consultant and former Iowa congressman. "People with ambitions like hers come to Iowa as the first phase of a run for president. It is a requirement of national politics 101."

And she got the reaction she likely hoped for, Democrats said.

"There is a palpable enthusiasm for Hillary to throw her hat in the ring," said Jeani Murray, a Democratic strategist and former Iowa Democratic Party executive director.

But Clinton made it a quick in-and-out visit. She granted no interviews with reporters here – likely because it might have made her seem too hungry if she milked the press coverage, political strategists said.

2. She remedied a long Iowa absence. It had been 2,446 days since her stinging loss to underdog Democratic competitor Barack Obama – and she had ignored Iowa since.

"I'd say she accomplished getting the 'hasn't been back in the state since caucus night 2008' monkey off her back," said Iowa political analyst Jeff Stein. "Now people will stop counting they days, provided she returns fairly soon."

3. She didn't just wave from the balcony.

After the speeches, both Hillary and Bill Clinton waded into the audience to mingle with the Iowans who will likely be some of the key voters in the next Iowa caucuses. Several political strategists said that sent the message that she's interested in who Iowans are as people and wants to engage with them in a personal way.

4. She highlighted issues Iowa Democrats care about.

Her two biggest applause-getting lines were on abortion and jobs. She talked about how "women should be able to make our own health care decisions." She said "equal pay means you should get equal pay for equal work." She said Iowa needs good-paying jobs – and needled Republicans opposed to a federal minimum wage.

5. She praised Tom Harkin on a day when emotions for the retiring U.S. senator were running high.

"I thought it was smart of Hillary to keep the spotlight on Senator Harkin. This was his day," Murray said.

6. She spotlighted a critical race.

Harkin's seat is in jeopardy. His designated protege, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley of Waterloo, is in an awkwardly close race against state Sen. Joni Ernst, a little-known Republican who unexpectedly caught fire in Iowa. It's a seat that national Democrats likely need to win to maintain control of the U.S. Senate.

Clinton made references to farming and the military when he related how Braley's mother went back to school to get a teaching degree after his father was badly injured in a grain elevator, and how Braley "went to bat for Iowa's National Guard members and won them the pay they deserved."

7. She fired up activists.

Clinton's presence revved up the "Ready for Hillary" organizers and supporters of various other down-ballot Iowa candidates. For example, there's a legitimate opportunity to flip a Republican-held U.S. House seat in the Staci Appel vs. David Young race in the Des Moines area.

"Look, I get excited about presidential campaigns, too," she said to laughs. "But those campaigns only happen every four years."

Members of congress and staff officials will have a big say in the quality of health care, schools and other issues, she said.

"Use the enthusiasm Iowa is so well known for in a presidential year and channel that into these elections."