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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: "Vote for me because I've
done it," he
said. "This is not about public policy
pronouncements . . . or writing policy papers . .
. It's all about leadership with me. I'm not just
someone who can talk the talk, I've walked the
walk," said
Wesley Clark. “Saudi Arabia is not
doing enough. It's high time that the Saudis gave
us concrete assistance to solve the bin Laden
problem that they were partly responsible for
creating," said
Wesley Clark. "On issue after issue,
this administration has acted on principle, has
kept its word and has made progress for the
American people," --
President Bush. "We had a movie made
about our 1992 campaign, so it's hard for me to be
critical about this cult of consultants,"
said James
Carville, strategist for Bill Clinton’s first
presidential bid. "But this is getting out
of hand." “I'm not the reason Dean
is doing so well,"
said Trippi,
whose Washington consulting firm has represented
the former Vermont governor for years. "All
of our supporters are. They just make me look
good." “We’ve got to continue
the tradition of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire
primary because it is the only way candidates with
no money — but with strong backing and who are
willing to put backbone and spine back into the
Democratic Party — have any chance at all,”
said Howard Dean
filling his papers to run in New Hampshire. “In fact, the people who
are so sure that the governor should start picking
his Cabinet are the very people who were only
yesterday telling us that he was merely a trifle
in the window of the boutique they call Vermont.
He has plenty of time, with ample room to make the
fatal misstep, to prove them right.”
-- writes Wesley
Pruden in the Washington Times.
Kerry told The
Associated Press on Thursday that his campaign
"will be better off moving ahead with people who
want to be there."
He claimed to
have barely known one of those who quit, Robert
Gibbs, who had been his chief spokesman since
January. “The Medicare
prescription drug benefit deal reached by
Republicans is a raw deal for America’s seniors
and a big windfall for the big drug companies. It
makes a dangerous move towards Medicare
privatization with new provisions to force seniors
into private HMOs and higher premiums for those
who stay in traditional Medicare.”
– John Kerry. "The Republican Medicare
drug bill is bad medicine for America's seniors.
The Republicans have consistently had the
corporate interests of the drug industry and HMOs
at heart, not the best interests of older
Americans,” --
Howard Dean. “I just think that speaks
volumes about how weak their candidates are,
especially the fact that Hillary's leading the
field, and she's not even in the race,"
-- Iowa GOP
spokeswoman Kristin Scuderi.
--On troops
doing their missions in Iraq: "We've gone
into people's homes at night, kicked in doors, we
don't speak the language, troops are nervous …
they have night-vision goggles on, the Iraqis
think they look through women's clothing with
these things — I don't think they do."
–From ABC’s
The Note.
As many Clark
supporters search for a signal from the Clintons
that their presidential campaign pick is Clark,
Segal said: "I don't think he has done
anything other than to indicate his strong
enthusiasm for Clark." --
From the
Washington Post. "I mean look, it's a crap
shoot. Where's the economy going to be? Where's
Iraq going to be? What is perceived in a factual
way that he is Dukakis revisited or he's Mondale
revisited, I think is not right. It's inaccurate.
And I think you've got to give the guy the chance
to prove it." --
Gerald McEntee, president of AFSCME, on his
reasoning for endorsing Howard Dean. (AP) "Now, about six weeks
into his candidacy, all Clark offers is that with
which he started, meaning an idea. ... His actual
human campaign performance has been a dud, beset
by misstep and diminishment,"
writes John
Brummett for the several Stephens newspapers of
Arkansas. "If we had dealt with
Eastern Europe the way we're dealing with the
Middle East, we would have had World War III,"
-- Wesley Clark.
* TODAY’S
OFFERINGS: *Clark takes caps
*Clark takes Baucus *Clark is appalled
*Clark skipping New Hampshire debate *Clark wrong
*Kerry’s top ten *Gephardt Michigan
endorsements *Michigan campaign
office *Edwards broadband *Lieberman Medicare
*Name I.D. counts *Confederate
flag
*Dean field director *Kucinich’s date
*Competing with Hillary *Insider dope
*President and dwarfs *The kidders
*Bad manners *Finally, finally,
finally, close on drugs *Iowa Homeland Security
* CANDIDATES &
CAUCUSES: Wesley Clark’s campaign is
opting in to federal campaign financing which will
cap his primary spending at approximately $45
million for the primary. For the Clark campaign,
the promise of quick cash outweighed the long-term
advantages. The campaign needs the money now, and
the possible $19 million matching funds is a quick
way to maximize contributions in a hurry. Clark has been raising money at
a fast pace and there was speculation that he
might forego spending limits. Clark is on a pace
that would see him raise nearly $10 million by the
end of the year. However, Howard Dean is on pace
to hit $25 million and John Kerry is likely to
make $20 million by the end of the year. Money on
hand is all the more important due to the fact
that after the Hampshire Primary, the remaining
states’ selections start going off like fireworks
on the 4th of July and the Democrat presumptive
nominee is likely to be picked by the middle of
March. Campaign Finance matches up to
$250 per individual contributions. Even $2,000
contributions are matched by a $250 contribution
by the Federal Election Commission. However,
opting in to the system means that candidates have
to abide by overall spending limits and individual
state spending limits. For example, Iowa’s
spending limit is approximately $1.3 million.
Candidates do exceed these limits by buying
services in adjoining states. However, there is
only so much that can be achieved through this
method. The
Associated Press is reporting that Senator Max
Baucus is going outside the Senate for his pick
for President: Sen.
Max Baucus of Montana will endorse retired Army
Gen. Wesley Clark for president rather than any of
Baucus’ fellow Democratic senators who are running
for the job, a spokesman said Wednesday… Baucus
"believes the Democratic Party needs to embrace
leaders like General Clark, leaders who put
partisan labels behind and focus on doing the
right thing,"[ Baucus spokesman Barrett] Kaiser
said. Baucus
is the second congressional tax writer to sign on
to Clark’s campaign, which already received the
backing of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., ranking
member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Baucus is the ranking member of the Senate Finance
Committee… He also joins Arkansas Sens. Mark Pryor
and Blanche Lincoln in backing Clark’s
presidential bid. Clark is from Arkansas. A General Accounting Office
report found that 94 percent of the Army National
Guard soldiers serving in Iraq have experienced
pay problems-including underpayment, three month
delays in pay, and loss of salary during
hospitalization. In a report aired on NBC last
night, one soldier said: "It distracted you from
the job at hand. You gotta worry about whether
your family has enough money at home to pay the
rent and put food on the table." "This is appalling and
unconscionable," Wesley Clark said. "This is how
we repay our soldiers for putting their lives on
the line?" Clark asked. "The very least this
administration can do is to make sure military
families can make ends meet." Wesley Clark will miss the Dec.
9 DNC-sanctioned presidential debate in New
Hampshire because of a long-scheduled New York
City fund-raiser, the Manchester Union Leader
reports. A Clark spokesman tells CBS News
that the campaign has a $1 million event in
Manhattan that night that Clark cannot miss. Communications director Matt
Bennett said the decision to skip the debate is
not an indication of any dialing back in New
Hampshire. "We are playing hard in New Hampshire,"
Bennett says, adding that the debate-skip was
"absolutely, unequivocally not" a signal of a
change in strategy, despite a report in Thursday's
Boston Globe that indicated the Clark campaign
hasn't caught fire in New Hampshire. Sen. John Kerry responded to
Wesley Clark’s plan to involve Saudis” "I
have great respect for General Clark, but his
proposal to rely on Saudi commandos to go into
Pakistan to find Osama bin Laden just won't
withstand scrutiny. President Bush let Osama Bin
Laden slip away in the first place at Tora Bora by
not relying on US troops but rather on Afghan
mercenaries who just one month earlier had been
fighting on the other side. The General’s
proposal, likewise, is flawed. Not only do the
Saudis currently have their hands full finding the
terrorists who are blowing up buildings in their
own capital, but with their support of the Taliban
and the blind eye they too often turned towards Al
Qaida, I fear operational collaborations with the
Saudis in Pakistan and Afghanistan would create
serious intelligence and security risks… “The
Administration can and must turn up the tempo of
operations against Al Qaida in Northern Pakistan
by intensifying our efforts with General Musharraf,
refocusing U.S. intelligence efforts on the border
areas, and making better use of the existing
collaboration between the U.S and Pakistan.” Sen. John Kerry seems to have
his press operations back on track with continued
releases even on his favorite subject -- beating
up Bush on the environment.
John Kerry today
promised to protect the environment and take on
the Bush administration’s cozy relationship with
corporate polluters and special interests. Fresh
off an appearance on late-night television, Kerry
released his own top ten list: George Bush's
Top Ten Polluter Pleasers.
1. New
roadblocks to improving fuel economy in
automobiles.
Reducing the transportation sector’s reliance on
oil is clearly the key to improving our nation's
energy security, yet Bush’s energy plan adds new
requirements to the fuel efficiency standard
setting process.
2. Does not
decrease American dependence on foreign oil.
Bush’s energy plan even strips out an agreement
supported by Democrats and Republicans to reduce
oil consumption by at least one million barrels
per day by 2013.
3. Does not
include accountability for developing hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles.
Bush’s energy plan provides billions of research
dollars for hydrogen with no accountability for
actually developing a fuel cell vehicle or
achieving oil savings or pollution reductions.
4. Delays new
protections from mercury pollution.
Bush’s energy plan delays a new EPA rule that will
set mercury thresholds for coal and oil-fired
power plants putting public health for children
and adults at further risk.
5. Letting
polluters off the hook.
Bush’s energy plan gives polluters a free pass for
contaminating groundwater with MTBE and other fuel
additives. This would mean that states and
thousands of communities around the country will
have no legal means of holding MTBE manufacturers
responsible for the massive water pollution they
have caused.
6. Rolls back
clean air protections.
Bush’s energy plan will waive anti-smog
requirements in polluted cities that missed clean
air requirements.
7. Exempts big
oil from the Clean Water Act.
Bush’s energy plan includes an exemption of oil
and gas exploration and production activities from
the Clean Water Act putting our drinking water
supplies at risk.
8. Support for
dirty energy sources, not renewables.
Bush’s energy plan supports more than twice as
many direct subsidies for dirty energy sources
such as coal, oil and gas, and nuclear as for
clean renewable energy such as wind, solar and
geothermal.
9. No
incentives to purchase fuel efficient vehicles.
Bush’s energy plan fails to provide adequate tax
breaks to help consumers buy fuel efficient
vehicles.
10. Opening up
sensitive lands to drilling by waiving
environmental regulations.
Bush wants to speed up energy exploration and
development at the expense of environmental review
and public participation putting our health of our
environment at risk. Rep. Dick Gephardt today
announced the support of five prominent Michigan
state senators, two state representatives and a
Wayne State University Governor in his bid for the
presidency. Michigan Democrats will play a pivotal
role in choosing the next Democratic nominee when
they vote in the earliest Michigan caucus in
history on February 7, 2004. Gephardt's Michigan
endorsements include:
·
State Senator Hansen Clarke –
Detroit
·
Senator Jim Barcia- Bay City
·
Senator Ray Basham- Taylor
·
Senator Mike Prusi- Ishpeming
·
Senator Burton Leland- Detroit
·
Representative Frank Accavitti- East
Pointe
·
Representative Steve Adamini-
Marquette
·
Wayne State University Governor
Richard Bernstein The
Detroit News reports that Gephardt is opening
a campaign office in the Motor City:
Gephardt, who plans to make a "major policy speech
regarding urban issues" in Detroit Nov. 25, has
been closely aligned with organized labor during
his political career, and hopes to capitalize on
that relationship Feb. 7… "Michigan is very
important (and) is going to be in a pivotal spot
in early February," Gephardt told The Detroit News
in a telephone interview… "We're working hard
there in a grass-roots fashion. We're setting up a
very active operation. We feel we have a very
active campaign of labor, African-Americans and
senior citizens." John Edwards called on the FCC
today to expand its unlicensed spectrum for
delivering broadband to rural areas: "The
FCC's decision to open spectrum for unlicensed use
is a good step in the right direction, but it does
not go far enough--especially in helping the rural
areas where broadband shortages are the most
serious problem. We need to open up more
low-frequency spectrum to help bring broadband to
every corner of America…. "The FCC can and must do
far more to ensure that every American has access
to broadband. Joe Lieberman issued the
following statement in response to President
Bush's comments today pressing Congress to approve
Medicare reform legislation:
"President Bush is right about one thing: seniors
have waited long enough for a Medicare
prescription drug benefit. But he is putting
pressure in the wrong place. Rather than urging
Democrats to abandon the real needs of seniors, he
should tell his fellow Republicans to stop their
assault on traditional Medicare. "I
supported the Senate prescription drug benefit
plan--unlike other Democratic candidates --
because I thought we needed to take a first step
to get seniors the lifesaving medicines they
desperately need. But now, Republicans in Congress
are tainting that compromise with partisan poison
pills. They are trying to force seniors into
private insurance plans and force through a
deceptive provision that could sharply increase
what seniors pay for traditional Medicare.
"Before the ink is dry on a final compromise, the
Republicans need to remember that our goal is to
honor our responsibilities to seniors, not cater
to right wing ideologues." Joe Lieberman’s website has a
press release that shows that Joe Lieberman is
leading in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio
and Wisconsin state polls. Lieberman who has
pulled out of Iowa and trailing in New Hampshire
was the leading candidate due to his high name
identification early on. Now, he is touting his
lead in all Northern states. A group of about nine students,
whom fellow students and Dean campaign staffers
identified as conservative activists, showed the
Confederate flag at Dean’s Dartmouth College
campaign visit. Dean for America today
announced that Tamara Pogue has been named the
campaign’s national field director. Pogue, who
joined the campaign in February, has been serving
as interim field director. Pogue will oversee the
day-to-day operations of the campaign’s field
staff across the country. "As we continue to build a
50-state campaign, Tamara has proven herself an
able leader of our field operations, and we’re
proud to have her help in building the greatest
grassroots campaign presidential politics has ever
seen," campaign manager Joe Trippi said. Pogue, a graduate of Bates
College, served most recently as campaign manager
for John Baldacci’s successful gubernatorial bid
in Maine. “…Kucinich is the progressive
in Congress, a leader of the antiwar effort, foe
of the PATRIOT Act, friend of labor, a
no-apologies lefty … Yet Dean, not he, has been
scoring with Democrats yearning for a kick-ass
candidate." -From ABC’s The Note. Dennis Kucinich fantasized to
Judy Wodruff in a Presidential debate regarding
his ideal mate. Now, PoliticsNH.com has taken the
candidate up on his offer, sponsoring a national
contest to help him find the perfect first lady.
The political site is posting profiles and
photographs of interested single women from all
over the world, and if Mr. Kucinich sees anyone he
likes the site will fly the lucky lady to New
Hampshire and treat the pair to dinner. Democrat candidates will have to
compete with Hillary for attention Saturday and
here’s how they hope to accomplish that: Six of
the party's presidential candidates will be
searching for their share of the spotlight
Saturday, and will spend the day leading up to the
dinner spread across the state campaigning. Rocker
Melissa Etheridge will perform for Howard Dean
supporters at a school in Des
Moines. Sen.
John Kerry of Massachusetts will spend Saturday
morning playing hockey with Des Moines
firefighters. Sen.
John Edwards of North Carolina will tailgate with
University of Iowa fans in Iowa City prior to the
Minnesota football game.
Hundreds of Dick Gephardt's supporters will knock
on doors in Des Moines, with a goal of visiting
10,000 homes.
Meanwhile, Hillary will be selling her book. The
Associated Press has a story on the growing
influence of campaign consultants: But
the consultants' culture is part of the problem
too… More than ever, political professionals are
maintaining business ties outside their campaigns,
a practice that leads to split loyalties and
conflicts of interest, say Democratic and
Republican consultants who are beginning to
condemn their own lot.
* ON THE BUSH
BEAT: President Bush visited Disney
World and demonstrated that his opponents are
dwarfs when it comes to fund-raising. The Bush
campaign brought in an estimated $2.6 million from
the Sunshine State. The Bush/Cheney campaign is
now at or above the $106 million it raised four
years ago. The
Associated Press reports on an exchange
between Gov. Jeb Bush and his brother the
President:
Introducing his brother as "Mr. President"
appeared to give Jeb Bush pause. "I still haven't
quite got used to it yet," he said, to much
laughter. The
president fought back. "Thanks, Jeb, I mean
governor," he said, promptly jabbing his brother
for being "a modest fellow" who nonetheless has
tried to claim credit for the Florida Marlins'
baseball championship. "I
told him he doesn't have any idea what it take to
run a championship baseball team," said the
president, once the owner of the lackluster Texas
Rangers. "He reminded me — I don't either."
* THE CLINTON
COMEDIES: Bill Clinton continues to do
what no President has done here-to-fore. No it is
not about sex, it is about continuing to be
President when you are not.
Reuters reports that President Clinton
announced a new direction for American foreign
policy while visiting Seoul, S. Korea. "I
would include an agreement between the United
States and North Korea on non-aggression because I
don't think our country would ever be aggressive
against anyone who did not violate an agreement
first," Clinton said. "I don't think that we'd
lose that much by giving them an agreement that
requires good conduct on their behalf," he said.
* NATIONAL: The country has been treated to
more headlines of close on passing drug benefit
legislation for seniors than bin Laden has issued
statements. However, it looks like a deal is being
struck despite Sen. Edward Kennedy’s not being
involved. The plan:
·
A test for private insurance to
compete with the Medicare allowing insurers to
compete directly with traditional Medicare for
three years in four metropolitan areas and one
largely rural region.
·
Provide prescription-drug coverage
for Medicare beneficiaries for the first time in
the program's history. The benefit would cost
seniors about $35 a month plus an unspecified
annual deductible.
·
Major incentives, worth an estimated
$15 billion, for employers to retain the health
insurance they offer retirees. The reason for the progress on
the bill seems to be the White House and
Republican leadership in the House and Senate
taking over the deal making. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary
Tom Ridge praised Iowa’s terrorism preparedness
Thursday while warning Iowans that the heartland
is not immune from threats. “The homeland will be safe when
all the hometowns are secure,” he said in a speech
at the headquarters of the Iowa National Guard, a
facility that also houses the state’s emergency
command center.
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