Obama airs ad with Iowa butter lady
DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrat Barack Obama won over Iowa’s butter cow lady.
Norma ‘‘Duffy’’ Lyon, known for carving life-sized cows from butter for 46 years at the Iowa State Fair, said she’s backing Obama because he ‘‘doesn’t believe in a lot of gobbly-gook’’ and spends time listening to ordinary voters.
The Obama campaign began airing radio ads Wednesday in which Lyon praises the Illinois senator.
In addition to cows, Lyon has carved butter sculptures of Elvis, John Wayne, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘‘The Last Supper.’’ The state fair is a must-visit for presidential candidates, and many hopefuls get their photos taken while gazing at the carvings in a huge refrigerated case.
‘‘It’s the first time I’ve done this,’’ said Lyon, who retired last year. ‘‘He’s my candidate and I want to see him do well.’’
Lyon, who raises dairy cows and beef cattle with her husband near Tama, made her endorsement a week after Obama offered a rural plan that would aid smaller farms, expand the renewable fuels industry and establish incentives for organic production.
In the ad, Lyon said that approach appealed to her.
‘‘He wants to hear from the people,’’ Lyon said in an interview.