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Iowa 2004 presidential primary precinct caucus and caucuses news">
Iowa 2004 presidential primary precinct caucus and caucuses news, reports
and information on 2004 Democrat and Republican candidates, campaigns
and issues Iowa
Presidential Watch's
IOWA DAILY REPORT
... QUOTABLE: "I know something about
aircraft carriers -- for real," said John Kerry. "But Clark has an appeal
and credentials that other Democratic candidates
don't," Huffmon
added. "Clark has the chops. ... Here is a
guy who has the credibility to talk about military
and foreign affairs in a way we haven't seen
Democrats do in a long time,"
said Scott
Huffmon, a political scientist at Winthrop
University. "We're in the South, and
this state is working class. Kerry has a lot of
trouble here shaking his liberal, Northeast,
Boston Brahmin image,"
Huffmon said.
Dennis Goldford,
a Drake University political science professor,
said Kerry's campaign "has stalled out
quite a bit. I don't think he ever expected a
challenge from Dean, certainly not here in Iowa."
Replacing the
campaign manager "can make a meaningful
difference,"
Goldford said, "but it certainly puts up in
neon lights, ‘My campaign is in trouble.’ " "I think there's a new
phase of the campaign now … and I made the right
decision for my campaign. I'm very confident we're
going to win this race,"
said John Kerry. "She
[Mary Beth
Cahill] is as talented and savvy as any
presidential campaign manager out there, but her
greatest attribute is that her only agenda is to
win. After being courted by several presidential
races over the last year, she's joining Kerry
because he is the only one that can beat George
Bush in the general election,"
said an anonymous political observer who knows her
well. “It's somewhat absurd for
Dean to assert we have a one-state strategy. In
fact we're doing well in a lot of early states,"
Bill Burton, a
spokesman for Gephardt's Iowa campaign said. "In some ways, our
campaign is campaign finance reform. It's just the
way it's supposed to work, ordinary people taking
their government back,"
Dean said. Dean
made his decision to skip federal matching funds
after an online vote of his supporters
overwhelmingly favored opting out of the public
finance system.
George
Stephanopoulos, host of ABC's "This Week," says
that "just about every major Democratic
insider I spoke with at the end of [last] week, if
I could come up with one word to describe them, it
would be depressed — depressed at the prospect of
Howard Dean getting the nomination"
for president. “Dean plays to the hearts
of only partisan Democrats and, in the end, Dean's
essentially "negative" and "a disaster waiting to
happen,” said
Clark senior staff to ABC. "Because we know we will
win South Carolina,"
one senior
Edward’s aide said, the reaction to Clark is
simple: Bring it on, General. "I think he's
[Clark]
very, very bright" and will "ultimately be judged
as a man of extremely high character," said
Retired U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks. "I just want to make sure
that we have the strongest candidate who can win
and I think this process that we're going through
is going to give us that candidate… We will then
do our damnedest to get that candidate elected,"
said AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney.
… TODAY’S
OFFERINGS: Smooth, Kerry How embarrassing Kerry’s veterans message Challenging the
Commander-in-Chief Edwards’ new ad Gov Barnes for Edwards Dean’s campaign reform S.C. book drive Dean takes side in
lawsuit Was Dean Smart? Dean for D.C. statehood? Gephardt’s troubles Gephardt’s critical
voice Clark’s hospitality Will veterans revive
Clark? Long-term health care Kucinich goes ethnic Liberals congregate Fear Giving Drinking moment Bush Veterans’ Day Bush’s sister in NH One-man protest Dumping Rumsfeld Bush target
* CANDIDATES &
CAUCUSES: Sen. John Kerry’s handling of
breaking the news to the campaign staff about
changes at the top was anything but smooth
according to an Associated Press story: In a
conference call Sunday night, Kerry enraged much
of his staff by mispronouncing the name of a top
staff member at least once, and could be heard
eating as he broke the news of Jordan's firing,
which he called a "one-day story." Stung by his
attitude, several aides said they were considering
quitting the campaign. More
staff abandoning the Kerry campaign at this time
could result in Kerry’s predictions in Iowa not
coming true: Asked
how his campaign would change, Kerry told
reporters in Iowa, "Watch over the next few weeks
and you'll see it. You guys watch, we're doing
great." ABC’s The Note is running
Kerry’s former campaign manager Jim Jordan’s draft
he apparently intended to send to his successor,
Mary Beth Cahill: TO: MBC Congratulations — you are
inheriting a great national staff, a great Iowa
staff, a great New Hampshire staff, and Judy
Reardon's agita. There ARE, however, some things
to watch out for to make sure the machine
continues to hum. 1. At the slightest provocation,
particularly during live television interviews,
The Candidate will throw the staff under the bus.
For instance, I was once sacrificed on "Meet the
Press" for some on-the-record criticism of HoHo
that in retrospect reads in tone and substance
like a Connie Morella press release compared to
what The Candidate is now saying about Dean. 2. Make some sort of deal with a
Boston-area milk company to get Michael Whouley's
picture on cartons. We have to find the guy. 3. The Candidate is in Iowa
today; may I suggest no custard stops? 4. The corollary of "Let The
Spouse Be the Spouse" is "Let Chris Black Be Chris
Black." You'll know what I mean shortly if you
don't already. 5. I have no fu***** (REDACTED)
idea what Cam is doing, but The Candidate seems to
believe he is the second coming of Tad Devine. 6. Jeanne Shaheen seems smart,
ruthless, and knowledgeable about how to win New
Hampshire. But, then, I gather you two have been
spending some time together lately, so you
probably knew that. 7. If you can find a way to get
the national political press corps to hold HoHo
accountable for the things he says, more power to
you. Most of them don't much like The Candidate,
and don't cut him a break — ever. And I think
there is a connection between those things. 8. You'll be tempted to ask the
research shop to get you a memo on The Candidate's
achievements in Congress. Save yourself some time
and don't. 9. Often, we line up
endorsements and come up with a plan about how to
unveil them for maximum strategic effect.
Remember: this works best if the endorsers don't
just blurt out their support whenever they feel
like it. Also, if you set up endorsement press
conference calls, remind the endorsers not to
trash the significance of their own endorsements.
10. Getting into Canada requires
proper ID. (Actually, that one belongs on a
different list — ignore it … .) 11. Bob Shrum was right — "The
Courage to do What's Right" is a really effective
campaign slogan. 12. Going to war publicly
against the Boston Globe might make you
feel good, but it won't effect what is the most
relentlessly negative coverage of any presidential
candidate EVER by a hometown paper — and I mean
the news page. Don't even get me started on the
op-ed page. 13. Your friend Jill Alper
should run the world — see if you can make that
happen. 14. You'll be wondering what the
fourth-quarter fundraising number will be like.
It's not something I want to commit to paper. Just
have Gibbs practice in front of a mirror: "We'll
have enough resources to get our message out." 15. I think we finally have an
answer on the Iraq vote that works. As John Sasso
always says, "8th time's the charm." 16. Best to get The Candidate to
stop musing in public about decisions that he
hasn't made yet. And, since we have budgeted to
take those matching funds, make darn sure that The
Candidate is fully ready to write a personal check
before you let him make any announcement. In fact,
I'd suggest having the check in hand — certified.
17. Finally, have fun. There are
still a lot of people in the party like you who
believe that The Candidate is the party's best and
only hope of beating George Bush, and we have all
seen moments and flashes in which John is That
Man. Your task, in the few short
weeks you have, is to somehow make him perform at
that level each and every day. There's no evidence
it can be done, but you gotta try. You and New
Hampshire can make The Candidate The Comeback Kid. Sen. John Kerry’s website offers
a message to veterans on Veterans’ Day:
"When I
was in Vietnam I learned a lot about the promises
that soldiers make to each other. The Marines have
a promise to never leave behind their dead. In
this country, as citizen soldiers, we need to make
the commitment to each other that we will never
leave our veterans behind..." -- John Kerry
On the eve of Veterans Day, the
veteran John Kerry previewed a new ad that asks
the question: who can challenge the Commander in
Chief? The ad also features President Bush
declaring an end to major combat in Iraq in his
flight suite on board the aircraft carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln. The Associated Press is reporting
the content of the ad is: Bush
is shown congratulating troops on the carrier as
an announcer describes Kerry as "a leader on
national security, a decorated combat veteran" who
can take on Bush on national security issues with
more credibility than his rivals. "He's
fighting for you against the Bush tax cuts,
giveaways for corporations and the wealthy. And
his health care plan covers the uninsured and
holds down costs," the ad says. The
announcer asks: "Who can take on George Bush and
change the direction of the nation?" The
campaign reports that the airwaves of Iowa and New
Hampshire will soon be bombarded with the ad.
Senator Kerry campaigns in Arizona today. He
appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He's in
New Hampshire on Wednesday and Thursday, and Iowa
on Friday and Saturday. Sen. John Edwards is running a
new television ad in Iowa and New Hampshire. While
it was predicted that TV ads would begin to have
more of an edge this one doesn’t. It is still an
introduction to the voters of where Edwards stands
on issues: “You
deserve to know what my ideas are, what my vision
for the country is, and how it is I plan to get
there," Edwards tells citizens gathered in a town
hall attributed to New Hampshire. An announcer’s voice cuts in
with, "John Edwards believes America's challenges
require more than what can be said in 30-second
ads." The ad asks viewer to visit Edwards' web
site to find out more or write to his campaign for
a copy of his plan. All of Edwards ads can be
viewed on his website. ATLANTA, GA: Former Georgia
Governor Roy Barnes Monday announced that he has
endorsed Senator John Edwards (D-NC) for
president. Barnes was elected as governor of
Georgia in 1998. Though he was outspent
two-to-one, he won the election with 53 percent of
the vote. Here is Barnes endorsement statement: "I've
gotten to know John, and I've seen him on the
campaign trail. I am convinced that he is the best
person to take on George Bush next year," Barnes
said. "John has that rare combination of
intelligence, charisma and personal courage that
will allow him to compete in Georgia, across the
South, and across the country." The
Charlotte Observer also reported Edwards
contrasted himself with Howard Dean’s position on
gay marriage: He
[Edwards] would let states decide whether gays and
lesbians could get married within their borders.
And if he were a governor? "I would not (allow
them)... I don't support gay marriage." He does
favor partner benefits and adoption rights for gay
couples…. Edwards headed home to Raleigh Sunday
evening for a rally of more than 200 African
American supporters. Black voters were a crucial
component of his 1998 Senate election…. The
Edwards campaign plans to deploy supporters from
the rally and others as busloads of "Traveling
Tarheels" to key primary states, starting with
Iowa next weekend. Howard Dean, after destroying
the current campaign finance system, stated that
his campaign is real reform and that his
election will be about ordinary citizens gaining
control of the political system. Both Democrat and
Republicans did not agree. Dean’s Democrat
opponents accused him of flip-flopping, and the
Republicans accused him of taking special interest
money. "We'll have real campaign
finance reform if I become president," Dean said.
Reform, Dean contends, includes a revised system
of public financing that places "real" spending
limits on candidates. "The table is going to be
equal," he said. . Sen. John Edwards' wife,
Elizabeth, plans to launch a book drive for
children later this week in South Carolina. The
goal is to collected 2,004 donated books to
benefit after-school and other educational
programs in the early presidential primary state.
The Edwards campaign has launched a similar
endeavor in Iowa, home of the first caucuses.
Elizabeth Edwards is scheduled to appear in
Greenville on Thursday to kick off the effort in
the Palmetto State. She also plans to attend a
Democratic rally that day in Spartanburg. Howard Dean reacted to a New
York Times story that administration lawyers have
argued that Iraqi assets frozen in bank accounts
in the United States are needed for Iraqi
reconstruction. They also argue that a judgment
won by the former American prisoners should be
overturned, according to his press release: "On
the eve of Veteran's Day, we have learned that
President Bush is blocking troops tortured in the
first Gulf War from recovering due compensation
for their horrible suffering. As we prepare to
commemorate the heroism of the patriotic Americans
who have served and sacrificed for our country, I
am stunned by the hypocrisy of the Bush
Administration and their betrayal of our troops,"
Governor Dean said.
"Instead of blocking the compensation rightfully
owed to these war heroes, the President should
freeze the profits of Halliburton and his other
cronies who are benefiting most from the $87
billion to rebuild Iraq. I call on Congress to
ask: if the recent $87 billion allocation does not
provide for our veterans who fought in Iraq--where
is this money going?" he added. Governor Dean is in Iowa today.
On Wednesday, SEIU and AFSCME are scheduled to
make a joint announcement in D.C. about an
endorsement for Dean. He campaigns in New
Hampshire on Thursday and then back in Iowa for
the weekend. The
Washington Times has a story that portrays
Dean as perceptive about the Democrats’ Southern
problems: "I was
surprised Mr. Dean was that perceptive, but he
wasn't in the way he said it," said Marty Wiseman,
director of the John C. Stennis Institute for
Government at Mississippi State University. As it stands right now, Howard
Dean is joining Dennis Kucinich, Carol Moseley
Braun and Al Sharpton -- all are expected to
compete in Washington, D.C. Jan. 13 primary. (If
any has a change of heart, the deadline to
withdraw is Nov. 15.) One of the prerequisites for
participating in the primary is support for D.C.’s
statehood. Howard Dean’s endorsement by two
major unions spells trouble for Dick Gephardt in
his must-win state Iowa, according to an
Associated Press story: While
Gephardt claims the loyalty of organized labor, he
faces the reality that two of the most politically
sophisticated and effective unions in the state
have concluded he can't win, and have cast their
lot elsewhere. Dean is
expected to receive the endorsement of the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees and the Service Employees International
Union. Iowa’s AFSCME's Council 61 represents more
than 20,000 state workers. Iowa has 1,500 SEIU
members. Both of these unions know how to be
politically effective in Iowa politics. Bill
Carrick, a senior strategist for Gephardt, told
ABC News that none of the recent Dean news will
change their strategy. "There is no magic campaign
rabbit that we're going to pull out of a hat."
Another campaign source said they feel they are
right on track and predicted wins in Iowa and
February 3 states Missouri, North Dakota, and
Oklahoma and "that's four of the seven states up
until then." February 3, he said, is an
"advantageous lineup" for Gephardt. Rep. Dick Gephardt continued to
wage war on job losses in criticizing President
Bush on his visit to S. Carolina yesterday. In so
doing, he also revived his criticism through
mention of NAFTA and China trade deals:
“During the last year, under President Bush's
failed economic policies, South Carolina has been
hit by the largest per capita job loss in the
country. The state's economy has been devastated
by bad trade agreements like NAFTA and the China
trade deal that President Bush and many of my
opponents in this race have supported. Instead of
traveling to a thriving BMW plant, the president
should visit the shuttered textile mills and
factories that have been forced to close their
doors and lay off thousands of workers because of
these bad trade agreements. While the president is
in South Carolina today, he should explain what he
is going to do to bring these 74,000 jobs back. Yesterday as President George W.
Bush visited Arkansas, Wes Clark's home state in
anything but the spirit of southern hospitality,
Clark said: "Welcome to Arkansas, where we are
still waiting for the economic recovery you've
been boasting about."
Communications Director Matt Bennett suggested,
"Mr. Bush, maybe next time you come to Little Rock
you can pick a more affordable place to eat. I
recommend the Whole Hog Cafe, but they're known
for their ribs-and you seem to prefer baloney."
Clark’s
campaign further stressed the latest labor figures
showing that Arkansas is still losing jobs. Last
month, the state unemployment rate jumped to 6.2
percent-the highest level in more than a decade. “The
average income in Arkansas is $23,512 and the
price of admission to the President's fundraiser
lunch is $2,000 a plate. So the average Arkansan
won't be able to attend,” the release stated. S. Carolina may be the first
place that Wesley Clark can get some traction. The
South’s long tradition of military service coupled
with Clark’s Arkansas residency may help in the
Feb. 3 Primary. Clark has spent a large share of
his time in the state and the Associated Press is
reporting favorable impressions from the state’s
veterans. The AP also revealed in today’s story
that Clark is targeting the veterans: During
a recent campaign stop, Clark talked about his
pride in being a veteran. "I'm going to reach out
to veterans' organizations through local
communities, through the media and with my hand
outstretched to thank 'em," Clark said after
addressing a standing-room-only crowd at the
University of South Carolina's law school. Clark
is in New Hampshire Tuesday through Friday. In a visit to Havenwood Senior
Home in New Hampshire, Sen. Joe Lieberman
suggested the ending of the asset test for seniors
with low income to qualify for Medicaid payments
for long-term health care. Lieberman was working
the senior vote in New Hampshire yesterday. To
help ease that burden, Lieberman's plan would:
·
Give taxpayers a long-term care
insurance tax deduction to help cover the cost of
premiums. Private long-term care insurance is one
of the best ways for Americans to prepare for the
day when they will need additional assistance.
Lieberman would enable middle-class Americans to
deduct half the cost of insurance premiums,
whether or not they itemize their taxes.
·
Encourage long-term care insurance
policies to be offered under employer benefit
package "cafeteria" plans and flexible spending
accounts. Lieberman would give workers more access
to long-term care policies by pushing employers to
offer them in benefit packages at work, and he
would allow workers to set aside part of their
salaries pre-tax to pay for long-term care costs.
·
Provide a tax credit for family
caregivers. To help these often overlooked and
under-supported caregivers, Joe Lieberman will
give people caring for relatives a tax credit
worth up to $3,000 to cover some of the cost of
this care.
·
Eliminate the outdated assets test
for seniors in the Medicaid program. Today,
low-income seniors have to spend themselves into
the poor house to meet an indefensible assets test
of $2,000 per individual to qualify for long-term
care benefits under Medicaid. Joe Lieberman will
extend access to long-term care and other Medicaid
benefits to an additional two million needy
seniors by ending this assets test.
Kucinich goes
ethnic Rep. Dennis Kucinich announced
two new websites. One is for Blacks and the other
is for Latinos. On his
African Americans site, there are quotes from
actor Danny Glover and Congressman John Conyers.
It also offers the following issues as reason to
support Kucinich:
·
A Study of the Best Means by Which
to Make Reparations for Slavery
·
Immediate Statehood for the District
of Columbia
·
Abolition of the Racist Death
Penalty
·
An End to the Racist War on Drugs
·
Tougher Gun Control Laws
·
Creation of Affordable Housing and a Crackdown on
Predatory Lending
·
Protection of Workers' Rights
·
Universal Health Coverage The
Latino site is in Spanish and appears to be his
main page. Liberal’s continue to flock in
endorsing Dennis Kucinich’s campaign. While some
pundits have tried to write Dennis Kucinich out of
the presidential race, he keeps gaining grassroots
support and the support of celebrities. Today the
campaign announces a host of new endorsements: Tim
Reynolds of the Dave Matthews Band, Ani DiFranco,
and Michelle Shocked have joined a list of
musicians endorsing Dennis Kucinich that already
includes Willie Nelson, Pete Seeger, and many
others. Joaquin Phoenix, Shelley Morrison, and
Staceyann Chin have joined a list of actors and
performers endorsing Kucinich that already
includes Danny Glover, Ed Asner, James Cromwell,
Mimi Kennedy, Hector Elizondo, Roy Scheider,
Elliot Gould, and many others. Wendell Berry, Jack
Nelson-Pallmeyer, and Michael Males have joined a
list of authors endorsing Kucinich that already
includes Howard Zinn, Studs Terkel, Barbara
Ehrenreich, and many others. Berry also joins a
growing list of leading environmentalists backing
Dennis.
* ON THE BUSH
BEAT Fear of Dean could be a prime
motivation for unexpected large amounts of money
to flow into the Bush campaign. A similar event
occurred when Richard Nixon faced the ultra
liberal campaign of George McGovern. Dean, like
McGovern, is promising everything to everyone and
promising to raise taxes to do it. The
Washington Post has a story on the possible
effects of Dean’s foregoing campaign spending
limits: "As
Dean consolidates as the front-runner, you have a
whole new motivation for people to give beyond
just affection for the president," a senior
campaign adviser said. "Our people will see we're
running against a Bush-hating ultra-liberal and
they'll say, 'I've got to raise another 20K for
the guy.' " While President Bush was
visiting the BMW manufacturing plant in Arkansas
the subject of beer drinking came up. The
NY times carries coverage of the event: "We're
the only American beer keg manufacturer in North
America," [Steve Thies, the president and chief
executive of the Spartanburg Steel Products Inc]
boasted to the president, in front of a few
hundred employees of BMW and Spartanburg Steel. "I
quit drinking in '86," Mr. Bush shot back, to
laughter. Then looking out over the audience of
workers and reporters, he said, "I bet some of the
people out here use the product. I'm not going to
point out which ones." Mr.
Thies could not resist a quick one-liner. "Well,"
he told the president, "we did notice a dip in
demand at that point in time." After an initial
gasp, the crowd roared. "But probably no
relationship," Mr. Thies added. President Bush will participate
in a wreath-laying ceremony Tuesday morning at
Arlington National Cemetery in observance of
Veterans Day, reflecting on sacrifices being made
by U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and honoring soldiers of wars past. Doro Bush Koch, sister of
President George W. Bush, will be in the Granite
State on Thursday to file paperwork entering the
President into the New Hampshire Presidential
primary.
*NATIONAL: Assistant U.S. Senate Minority
Leader Harry Reid of Nevada protested on the floor
of the Senate on Monday for eight and a half hours
because of what he called callous treatment of his
Democratic colleagues by the Republican majority.
"You can only be slapped around so many times,"
said Reid, 63, irked by Republican plans to clear
the chamber's schedule for a 30-hour debate later
this week on blocked conservative judicial
nominees. "Around here, we have to work together."
Senate Republicans have been upset over the
Democrats unprecedented filibuster of Bush
judicial nominees and have planned the 30 hour
debate. Rep. Charlie Rangle wants Sec.
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld gone, according to
Reuters. "This
resolution would make official what so many
members of Congress already believe -- that the
soldiers in Iraq, and America's foreign policy
would be helped greatly if Donald Rumsfeld would
leave," Rep. Charles Rangel of New York said in a
statement. Rangel said he so far had 25
co-sponsors to the resolution who were "willing to
stand up and say what so many policy makers know,
that the first step to bringing our troops home is
to send Donald Rumsfeld home." One of the world’s richest men,
George Soros, has targeted President Bush for
defeat. The
Washington Post story displays the deep extent
to which Soros is tackling this latest project: "It is
the central focus of my life," Soros said, his
blue eyes settled on an unseen target. The 2004
presidential race, he said in an interview, is "a
matter of life and death." The
story relates how Soros sees visions of Hitler and
Communist dictators in Bush’s style. However,
Republican’s see ownership of the Democrats in
Soros: "It's
incredibly ironic that George Soros is trying to
create a more open society by using an
unregulated, under-the-radar-screen, shadowy,
soft-money group to do it," Republican National
Committee spokeswoman Christine Iverson said.
"George Soros has purchased the Democratic Party."
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