To quote a politically employed friend in Washington: "Unfortunately, this is a very important development."

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) needs to make a cultural connection with the rural caucus-goers of Iowa, a state that will make or break his presidential campaign.

So Obama has enlisted Duffy Lyon, a farmer famous for sculpting cows out of butter at the Iowa State Fair, to give him tractor cred on the radio, amid the farm news and pickin’ music.

CONTINUED »