John Edwards

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

January 1-15, 2004

Edwards’ different kind of campaign

Kicking off 2004 with a bang, Senator John Edwards and his family today set off on a statewide tour from New Hampshire’s southern border to Coos County and back, culminating on a major speech on the steps of Nashua’s City Hall Saturday at 3pm.

“I’m going to work my heart out for every vote in New Hampshire, and I’m deeply grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who are joining me in this drive to bring real change to our country,” said Edwards.

Edwards began the trip by rallying a group of several dozen supporters as they began a city-wide door-to-door canvass in Nashua announcing Saturday’s speech.

Edwards used the kick-off as a chance to call for the final month of the campaign to be a real debate of ideas, not the negative attacks that have characterized the other candidates’ campaigns thus far.

“We’re all angry at what George W. Bush has done to our country, our values, and our way of life,” Edwards said. “We all know what we’re running against -- now we need to tell the American people what kind of future we’re running toward.”

“These past few weeks, I’ve seen attack ads on Iraq. Attack ads on Medicare. I’ve even seen attack ads on attack ads,” said Edwards. “The American people know better. They know that when politicians are yelling at each other, their voice isn’t being heard. That’s why I’m running a different kind of campaign – a campaign about my positive vision for bringing real change to America, and about my detailed plan for getting it done.”

The statewide tour takes Edwards, his wife Elizabeth, and their three children from Nashua through Tilton, Littleton, Lancaster, and Gorham on Friday and returns through Conway, Dover, and Portsmouth on Saturday before culminating in a speech at Nashua City Hall at 3pm.

After a year of introducing himself to New Hampshire voters, Edwards will use tomorrow’s speech as an opportunity to outline his vision for change, differentiate himself from the other candidates, and ask New Hampshire voters for their vote in the primary at the end of this month.  (1/2/2004)

Missed in Rhode Island

Rhode Island delegates are probably not in the cards for Sen. John Edwards. Rhode Island Secretary of State Matthew Brown said Edwards, a North Carolina senator, had 918 valid signatures, with 321 questionable. He needed to file 1,000 signatures to get on the ballot. The Boston Globe reports Edwards’ campaign’s response:

"Obviously, we are disappointed that the board would throw out the signatures of registered Rhode Island voters who want to see John Edwards on the ballot because of technicalities," said Roger Salazar, a spokesman for Edwards. (1/2/2004)

Edwards: health care

The Washington Post covers Sen. John Edwards’ carrier building move of championing the Patient’s Bill of Rights that is an oft mentioned issue of his campaign:

Edwards has a vivid memory of the day in 2000 that Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) summoned him from the Senate floor and escorted him to the entrance to the leader's office, where Kennedy was waiting. They told him they wanted him to take the lead in negotiating a bill with Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who had been crusading for a patient-protection law as part of his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. Edwards recalls that Daschle said to him: "There is going to be a lot of work involved. . . . Is that something you want to do?" Edwards replied with one word: "Absolutely." (1/2/2004)

Edwards trucking on

The Manchester Union Leader reports on Sen. John Edwards stopping at a dinner in South Carolina, talking to people in retail politics and still not moving up in the polls or increasing his possibility of winning the nomination. (1/3/2004)

Edwards spin or traction?

Sen. John Edwards put in a good appearance in the Register Debate and will be delivering a speech in Iowa today outlining his plan to change the country. He also campaigns in Iowa tomorrow; and Wednesday morning, he is off to South Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, and in New Hampshire the rest of the week. (1/5/2004)

• “Q. How long will John Edwards' campaign last? At least another month. That would be the day after South Carolina's Feb. 3 primary, long considered a must-win. The primary brings the Democratic presidential race into the South and gives candidates their first exposure to African American voters.” – Charlotte Observer, S. Carolina. (1/5/2004)

Edwards in S. Carolina

The Edwards for President in South Carolina campaign today announced that hometown friends and family from Oconee County have formed a traveling group - "Oconee on the Road for Edwards"-- and will accompany Senator John Edwards at campaign events throughout South Carolina in the final month before the February 3rd primary.

"It's always good to be back in South Carolina," said Edwards. "And being here with friendly faces from my birthplace of Seneca and across Oconee County make my visits feel even more like home."

"We couldn't be more proud of our native son John Edwards," said Charles Hamby, Chairman of the Oconee County Democratic Party and a charter member of the traveling Oconee group. "John Edwards got his start in Oconee County, and we plan to be right there with him all the way to the White House."

Members of "Oconee on the Road" will join Edwards on Wednesday, January 7th for campaign stops in both Spartanburg and Greenwood. The group will also accompany Edwards as he returns to South Carolina to campaign later this month and into early February.

Edwards was born in 1953 at Oconee Memorial Hospital and spent his early years living in Seneca with his parents, Bobbie and Wallace. (1/6/2004)

• "When politicians are yelling at each other about what someone said yesterday or seven years ago, I can promise you one thing — they are not listening to you," John Edwards said.

• I would argue that the only two candidates running a national campaign are me and Howard Dean," said John Edwards. "I am in this for the long haul and it is clear that he is, too."

• "At this stage of the game (in Iowa), with the caucuses two weeks away, every day is important," said Kim Rubey, a spokeswoman for the John Edwards campaign. "The support you pick up every given day and the events that transpire will ultimately build to your performance on caucus night."

(1/6/2004)

John Edwards

Would repeal the Bush tax cuts that aid the wealthiest 2% of Americans. Wants to limit the top rate on capital gains to 25% for those earning $350,000 or more. Advocates tightening corporate tax regulations. (1/6/2004)

Edwards: fix No Child Left Behind

Senator John Edwards (D-NC) Tuesday laid out a comprehensive education reform agenda that goes beyond merely fixing No Child Left Behind to changing America's two school systems and providing equal educational opportunity to every child.

"Nearly 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education, we still have two school systems, not divided by race but by income,” Edwards said. "Now we are all angry at George Bush for putting photo ops ahead of progress and slogans ahead of solutions. But we have to do more than just fix No Child Left Behind. As a nation we need a comprehensive plan to change our schools so that all teachers can teach and all students can learn.”

In a speech at Metro High School in Cedar Rapids Tuesday, Edwards said he shared his Democratic opponents' anger about President Bush's poor implementation of No Child Left Behind, but that real change needs to go much further.

Over the last year and a half, Edwards has laid out the most detailed and comprehensive agenda of all the candidates to lift up all schools. Edwards' plan would:

·        Bring an Excellent Teacher into Every Classroom. Edwards will increase teacher pay, particularly where there are shortages. He will create scholarships for future teachers who commit to teaching in underserved areas and help current teachers improve their skills. Edwards will double the national investment of $3 billion a year in teacher quality.

·        Reform America's High Schools. Edwards will shrink high schools, build new ones and break up bigger ones so that adults know their students. He will beef up high school curricula and require schools that participate in his College for Everyone program to expect every child to complete a college-prep curriculum. Edwards will expand programs that help low-income students prepare for college and will ask every college to adopt at least one high-poverty school. He will also help schools promote community service.

·        Create After School Centers. Edwards will create voluntary, high-quality after school centers at or near every school, building on successful programs at schools and non-profit agencies like the Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs.

·        Fix and Fund No Child Left Behind. Edwards will update the benchmarks used to grade schools and teachers so that federal and state officials have the flexibility to focus on the schools that are truly failing and keep quality teachers in specialized fields. Edwards will convene a commission of educators to evaluate the strengths of the law and point out the places where it can be improved. Edwards will also keep No Child Left Behind's promise to fund schools, particularly in special education.

Edwards explained how his blueprint for education reform would, over the next decade, put an excellent teacher in every Iowa classroom, allow 15,000 more Iowans to graduate high school and 25,000 more to graduate from college. It also will give an additional 150,000 Iowa students the opportunity to attend a high-quality after school center.

"Our answer to what George W. Bush did to our schools shouldn't be just about anger,” Edwards said. "We need to lift our schools up and make them everything they ought to be. And I am the only candidate in this race who offers this positive agenda to bring our schools into the 21st century.”  (1/7/2004)

Edwards on immigration

Sen. John Edwards released the following statement in response to President Bush's new immigration proposal:

"President Bush's election-year plan violates our country's most fundamental principles: We are a nation of immigrants who are equals, not second-class guest workers, and we believe in equal rights and equal treatment for all. President Bush's plan would move millions of people into a second-class status with no real promise of citizenship. This is wrong for Latino immigrants, and it is wrong for all Americans who believe in America's promise of equal justice for all.

"The right kind of immigration reform will ensure that immigrants who work hard, pay their taxes, and play by the rules have the opportunity to become permanent members of the American community." (1/8/2004)

Edwards on taxes

Senator John Edwards issued the following statement today on middle class taxes:

"It's amazing what happens when politicians get close to election day. Those who say we can't afford it, suddenly say we can. I have consistently proposed changes in the tax code to help working Americans buy a house, save for college or put something away for retirement. The working poor and middle class are struggling, and they need all the help they can get. When working Americans have the chance to save a little every week to buy a house or help their son pay for college, it can make all the difference. I know that personally and want every American to have the same opportunities that I had. The American people won't have to guess what I'll do as president. They know, and I haven't changed my mind."

Tomorrow, in Manchester, NH, Senator Edwards will unveil "Real Change for America's Families," his package of proposals to end America's two tax systems, strengthen the middle class, and help working families. The booklet will feature several families from New Hampshire and across the country, who will join Edwards at the event. (1/8/2004)

Edwards on country of origin labeling

Sen. John Edwards called for the passage of country of origin (COOL) labeling while campaigning in Iowa. "Today, President Bush and his big agribusiness donors are blocking the country-of-origin labeling that family farmers need and deserve. Unfortunately, this is all too typical of the Bush administration, where corporate donors get what they want and family farmers lose every single time. Tom Harkin is right: It's time to stop the diversions and legislative tactics and implement country of origin labeling immediately," Edwards said. (1/8/2004)

Edwards’ new ads

The Edwards for President campaign announced today that it is running two new 30-second television ads in Iowa. The ads, "Better Life" and "Two Americas," highlight Senator Edwards' background and his proposals to bring real change to America.

"When you remember where you came from, you'll always know where you're going and what you need to fight for - real change that will give today's families a chance to give their kids a better life," Edwards says in "Better Life." "As president, that's what I'll fight for every day."

The ads echo the call that Edwards has been making on the campaign trail for one America that works for all of us. Edwards says under George Bush, America has become divided-with one America that is doing well and another that is living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to get by. Edwards will create one America by taking on the insiders and big corporations and strengthening the middle class and helping working families.

"Together, you and I can change America and make it work for all of us," Edwards says in "Two Americas."

"Better Life" and "Two Americas" began airing today and will run in markets throughout Iowa.  (1/8/2004)

Caucus strategy

Iowa Democratic Caucuses are about the election of delegates to the County Convention; where more delegates are elected to District and State Conventions; where delegates are elected to the National Democratic Convention. The process of electing those delegates on Jan. 19 is about creating a viable group that qualifies to receive one of the delegates that are allotted to their precinct. The allocation of delegates is based on dividing the number of Democrats in the county into the size of the Democrat County Convention. Then each precinct’s number of registered democrats is divided by that number and that is how many delegates will be elected from that precinct.

One of the challenges for the candidates is to get their supporters to recruit from other non-viable groups or to join other groups, in order to better position their candidate in the results.

Several campaigns are developing ways to swing support in some of the 1,990 precincts on caucus night -- to benefit their own candidate or to hurt someone else’s, according to a Boston Globe story about the caucuses:

At headquarters for Howard Dean, advisers are working on an automated system that would let precinct captains dial in early tallies. Knowing how Dean is faring statewide would allow the campaign to advise its supporters to throw Dean votes in some precincts to another candidate.

Dean’s campaign is not the only campaign playing that game:

"It's fair to say every campaign is going to have a strategy for caucus night" of how to manipulate votes once an early tally has taken place, said Rob Berntsen, the Iowa caucus director for Senator John Edwards of North Carolina. "It's going to be a very, very important period. . . . We've got to be prepared." (1/9/2004)

The push is on

Howard Dean was rescued by what was called a tourniquet endorsement by Sen. Tom Harkin. Dean’s numbers have been eroding under withering attacks by his opponents. He has stemmed that tide first with Bill Bradley’s endorsement and now by the Iowa Democrat Godfather Tom Harkin. Harkin and Al Gore campaigned in Iowa to bolster the faithful and breathe life into the stalled Dean campaign that had begun to show slippage in Iowa, New Hampshire and nation wide.

“If we are going to take our country back, we’re going to have to take our political system out of receivership,” Gore said. “We’ve got to take our country back from the special interests.”

Harkin said, “I’m going to spend the next nine days — day and night — doing what I can to ensure that Howard Dean wins the Iowa caucuses.”

Dean did take a side trip to Illinois to stir up the AFSCME union there. Dean addressed an Illinois convention of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Although the union is backing him already, Dean said he must energize rank-and-file members

Dick Gephardt is in a political life or death struggle and has closed in on Dean’s lead to within the margin of error in polls. Dean leads Gephardt 25 percent to 23 percent, with Sen. John Kerry at 14 percent and Sen. John Edwards right behind at 13 percent, according to a Reuters/MSNBC/Zogby poll. Gephardt continues to predict he will win Iowa.

There is much in this campaign that is now going under the radar screen of public view. There will be a barrage of direct mail hitting Iowa’s mailboxes in the coming days. Dean has already sent out a direct mail piece specifically against Kerry on the issue of electability. The mailer references Kerry is hurting in his home state of Massachusetts and if his home state will not support him he can’t beat Bush. The NY Times reports on some of the mailings:

“Howard Dean Tried to Deny Supporting Republican Medicare Cuts — But He Got Caught," blares one glossy mailing from Representative Richard A. Gephardt recently sent to voters. On its cover: a clench-jawed Dr. Dean with the tabloid-style headline "CAUGHT."

A mailing from Dr. Dean says Senator John Kerry is "Bad for Iowa Farmers." Mr. Gephardt and Mr. Kerry, another mailing from Dr. Dean asserts, "are running one-state campaigns" and stand no chance against President Bush.

One of the aspects of mailings are the targeting of audiences.. women of a certain age on an issue… Catholic communities like Dubuque, Carroll and Sioux City and farmers in certain size counties as examples. This is the time that a message is honed for a particular audience and the opposition doesn’t know what is happening and can’t respond in time.

One of the key factors besides creating viable groups is the turnout aspect of the campaign. There are really only two campaigns -- Dean’s and Gephardt’s, that have full-blown capabilities of identifying and turning out their voters. Kerry has some capabilities but not even close to the other two, and Edwards has the least of the top four candidates.

Dean’s inability to beat George Bush remains a key part of his opponents’ themes. Both Kerry and Gephardt carried that theme on the Sunday Talk shows and in their stump speeches as well. Gephardt stresses political experience and Kerry stresses foreign policy experience. Gephardt pushes hard, saying voters will not elect Dean over Bush because of his constant misstatements.

"They look at who has steady hands, experience, doesn't make mistaken statements every day that have to be clarified the next day," Gephardt said.

Both Gephardt and Kerry came short of saying that Dean could not beat Bush if nominated and both said the reason they were seeking the nomination was to beat Bush.

Kerry brought in the star power of Sen. Edward Kennedy to campaign for him in eastern Iowa. Kennedy was asked about the differences between his and Kerry’s vote on the war according to Reuters:

"If he (Kerry) had been president we wouldn't be at war in Iraq," Kennedy told reporters after addressing a rally of a few hundred people organized by the Kerry campaign.

Kerry also received the endorsements of Iowa newspapers: the Quad City Times in Davenport; The Iowa City Press Citizen; and the Burlington Hawkeye. The Quad City Times in endorsing Kerry said that he was an extraordinary individual, but most important of all he listens:

He ponders questions, asks follow-ups and answers thoughtfully. He appears to be continually learning, whether it is the kite-surfing he took up a couple years ago, the guitar lessons he has put on hold during this campaign, or asking our opinion on Mississippi River lock expansion.

Kerry could be facing trouble from John Edwards campaign, which is only a few percentage behind Kerry in the latest poll. Edwards received the Iowa’s largest newspaper’s -- the Des Moines Register -- endorsement. The paper said it was his time. Edwards has been plagued by questions of being too young. The Register said in the editorial:

John Edwards is one of those rare, naturally gifted politicians who doesn't need a long record of public service to inspire confidence in his abilities. His life has been one of accomplishing the unexpected, amid flashes of brilliance.

Edwards is handicapped by not having the money or organization Kerry has. This tightening of the race makes not only first and second a race, but it is shaping up that third and fourth between Kerry and Edwards could be equally exciting. This could ruin Kerry’s bump out of Iowa and take him out of the race entirely.

Interestingly, Kerry could get some help from from an unlikely source – Howard Dean. There is a move to offer excess votes to Kerry in the caucus to keep him alive to take votes from Wesley Clark in New Hampshire. Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen writes about it in his column:

There's talk in his campaign of trying to help Kerry win second place here. The gambit goes like this: Once Dean sees he has won the most delegates at a caucus, any extra Dean supporters will be shifted to Kerry's preference group to help Kerry beat Gephardt for second. The idea is that an unexpected second-place showing for Kerry in Iowa would help boost Kerry against Wesley Clark for second place in New Hampshire, and Clark is the guy Dean fears most in the contests down South.

Meanwhile, Dean is renewing his attacks on President Bush and Washington. Dean slammed the President regarding his plan to come up with a new space vehicle that could take America to Mars. At one stop where he said the President wanted to go to Mars a member of the audience shouted at Dean, “ send him.” Dean replied, "I have news for you. The president already is on Mars. He has no connection to what's going on in ordinary communities anywhere."

Dean also treated a Republican who challenged him at an Oelwein, IA stop with his much waited for public anger. The Republican rose to ask that candidates quit the bashing of Bush.

"Please tone down the garbage, the mean-mouthing of tearing down your neighbor and being so pompous," said Dale Ungerer, a 66-year-old retiree from Hawkeye.

Dean began by calmly replying: "George Bush is not my neighbor."

However, when Ungerer stood and tried to interrupt, Dean shouted: "You sit down. You had your say. Now I'm going to have my say."

Dean did just that by offering his typical Bush bashing tirade that indicated his Christian teachings weren’t about loving his neighbor, according to Reuters:

"George Bush has done more to harm this county right here with unfunded mandates, standing up for corporations who take over the farmers' land, making it impossible for middle class people to make a real living, sending our kids to Iraq without telling us the truth first about why they went," Dean said.

"It's not the time to put up any of this 'love thy neighbor' stuff ... I love my neighbor, but I'll tell you I want THAT neighbor back in Crawford, Texas where he belongs."

After leaving the meeting Unger was questioned by most of the reporters who had been following Dean. "This is the president of the United States," he said. "I don't think that's being a good neighbor to ordinary working people."

In the end, it’s all about delegates. It’s all about being in Boston in late July and winning a majority of the 4,325 delegates to lead the Democrat party against Bush. And the first votes in electing delegates to that convention are cast on January 19 … in Iowa.  (1/12/2004)

Black & Brown debate

Eight Democrats gathered for the Black and Brown debate and Al Sharpton nailed Howard Dean on the issue of race. Dean had made the statement earlier in the campaign that he was the only candidate talking about race to white audiences. Sharpton challenged Dean on his record of hiring minorities in top cabinet posts while Governor of Vermont (Dean’s record reveals a great big zero…). It resulted in a heated exchange between the candidates:

"If you want to lecture people on race, you ought to have the background and track record," said Sharpton.

"I will take a back seat to no one in my commitment to civil rights," Dean said, pointing out he had the most endorsements from members of the black and Hispanic congressional delegations.

"I think you only need co-signers if your credit is bad," Sharpton responded later when he had the chance.

It didn’t stop with Sharpton and Dean. Carol Moseley Braun took on Sharpton as well.

“You can always blow up a racial debate and make people mad at each other. But I think it's time for us to talk about, what are you going to do to bring people together?" she said.

Sharpton referenced the fact of Dean lecturing Democrats on race throughout the campaign, adding: "I want him to be accountable since he brought up race. That's not racial hysteria; that is accountability."

Sen. John Kerry leveled some of his harshest criticism at President Bush once again making the case that the war on terrorism isn’t a war but a police law enforcement effort:

“This president is actually playing to the culture of fear in our country. The war on terror is far less of a military operation and far more of an intelligence-gathering, law-enforcement operation…. And in order to fight an effective war on terror, we need unprecedented cooperation with other countries. The very thing this administration is the worst at is they push other nations away from us.”

One of the more humorous lines came when Rep. Dennis Kucinich was asked his opinion about going to Mars as President Bush is expected to suggest:

“You know, first of all, I've been wondering why the president would, while we're still in Iraq, talk about gong to the moon and going to Mars. Maybe he's looking for the weapons of mass destruction still.”

Sen. Joe Lieberman fumbled in this debate and was not up to the shorter time frames of the debate format. He had a proposal to ask all the other candidates to sign a letter to President Bush to enforce the new voter law but he couldn’t get his question out in time and looked foolish.

Dean also had trouble with the format – he wanted a ‘plant’ from the audience to answer his question and was denied.

Clearly Edwards was the candidate who gained the most from this final debate -- if anyone did. However, with no one breaking away from the pack or committing a disastrous mistake, the candidates emerged from the final debate still locked in a tight race to the Iowa Caucuses finish next Monday night.

[For the full transcript, go to the Washington Post.]  (1/12/2004)

Edwards ending poverty

Sen. John Edwards sounded the themes of Lyndon Johnson and called for the lifting of 10 million Americans from poverty:

"We really live in two Americas: one America for the powerful insiders and the privileged few, and another America for everybody else," Edwards said. "And no one on the outside suffers more than 35 million men, women, and children who live in poverty. Millions work 40 hours a week, millions more work less because they can't find a job, and still the American dream is out of their reach. They aren't looking to their government for a handout, but some help up and out of despair and into the middle class."

Edwards noted that 3 million more Americans are living in poverty since President Bush took office, including 1.2 million children. Instead of offering help to these Americans, President Bush has cut taxes for the rich and provided big giveaways to his friends in corporate America.

"I believe that our country has a moral responsibility to ensure that Americans who are working hard and playing by the rules should never live a life that fails to beat back history's timeless enemies: hunger, despair, and poverty. They should share in the same middle class experience that I had growing up," Edwards said.

Focusing on America's core values of work, savings, learning and responsibility, Edwards' plan to lift 10 million Americans out of poverty includes:

Work. Unlike President Bush, Edwards will reward and encourage work by expanding the earned income tax credit and the child credit for poor workers. His proposals help both parents and workers without children, and include relief from the heavy marriage penalty that falls on the working poor. These steps will offer as much as $500 per year to millions of Americans earning less than $15,000. Edwards will also increase the minimum wage and will create new jobs in struggling communities by offering billions of dollars in new venture capital. Finally, Edwards will guarantee free health care for every person in poverty and offer generous subsidies for lower-income Americans to purchase health care, so that poor families will not have to worry about losing their health care if they enter the workforce.

Saving. Edwards will help poor families save money for their future. He will offer millions access to no-fee banking accounts, pass federal legislation to stop abusive fees and penalties from payday lenders and predatory lenders, increase support for community development financial institutions, and offer tax credits that help poor families save or buy a home.

Education. Education is the great equalizer in our society and the key to opening doors of opportunity. To help adults reach their full potential, Edwards will improve job-training programs and expand support for adult literacy. He will help children get ahead at every step of the way by ending America's two school systems. He will expand early childhood education opportunities, invest in our teachers, create quality afterschool programs, and expand access to higher education.

Responsibility. Edwards believes that everyone must do their share. He will support efforts to ensure that fathers take responsibility for their children, including vigorous child support enforcement so that money paid by noncustodial parents actually goes to the families in need.

Edwards also supports responsibility from the government. He has paid for every initiative he proposes, and today, he offers two new measures that will raise revenue and encourage responsibility in corporate America. To make sure that corporate executives and high-level insiders look out for the long-term, he will eliminate the favored treatment of executive compensation that is "pumped and dumped": stocks and options will be taxed as ordinary income, not capital gains, unless the executives have held them for a substantial period. In addition, Edwards will crack down on executive pension abuses and tax as ordinary income all executive perks.

"It will not be easy, but creating lasting change never is," Edwards said. "Poverty has kept too many Americans down. It's kept this country from reaching its full potential, and it is time for you and me to make a difference and lift 10 million Americans out of poverty and into the middle class."  (1/12/2004)

Edwards endorsed

John Edwards' campaign in Iowa announced today that State Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald has endorsed Edwards for President. Fitzgerald, who has served as state Treasurer since his election 1982, is currently Iowa's longest continuously serving statewide elected official.

"I have watched all the candidates closely, and considered them carefully," Fitzgerald said. "It's my judgment that John Edwards is the best choice for Iowa and for the whole country. Edwards understands the issues in Iowa and has laid out a detailed plan of real solutions for how we address the nation's problems. He has what it takes to win against George Bush in 2004, and I hope Iowans across the state will join me in standing up for Edwards on caucus night."

The Edwards' campaign also announced the endorsement of Linn County Democratic Party Chair Joel Miller on Monday. Miller is a resident of Robins and was recently re-elected to his second term on the Robins City Council. He has been chair of the Linn County Democratic Party since 2000. (1/13/2004)

Edwards: Nation divided

Sen. John Edwards continued his class warfare message while campaigning in Iowa. His two America theme is running heavily in his TV ads as well. The message is mixed with the constant theme of Howard Dean’s anti-Washington message. With Edwards, the code phrase is ‘Washington insiders.’

Edwards message in Sioux City, Iowa, was that America is divided into two countries -- one populated with those who have easy access to anything they want, the other with those who have to work hard for everything. Edwards said the rich and the government insiders shouldn't have a tax code, public school systems or health care plans that are unavailable to hard-working common people like those in Sioux City.

"This democracy does not belong to that crowd of insiders in Washington. It belongs to you," he said to applause. (1/13/2004)

• "The way to win is through hard work, determination, and commitment," Minnesota Timberwolves NBA player Fred Hoiberg said in a statement. "These words describe John Edwards' life."  (1/13/2004)

Iowa battleground

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin appeared on Iowa Public Television for a one on one interview with Des Moines Register political columnist David Yepsen and critiqued the race for President and revealed some of his reasons for endorsing Howard Dean. The inferred message and reason for endorsing Dean probably came back when he offered advice to Wesley Clark to not pass up the Iowa Caucuses. He told Clark that if Howard Dean wins Iowa and New Hampshire that Dean will be unstoppable.

The prospect of choosing an early nominee and ending the bloodletting that is going on clearly was a big factor in Harkin’s decision to endorse Dean. Harkin admitted that he had a difficult time choosing who to endorse and that many Iowans were asking him who should they vote for. So, he has come into the arena and is lending his weight to Dean through direct mail letters and phone calls to friends urging them to support Dean.

Harkin believes that Dean has a better organization on the ground in Iowa than Dick Gephardt.

While Dick Gephardt was making a speech in New York about the world is a dangerous place and Dean isn’t capable of handling the job, Dean was releasing a new TV ad in Iowa while he was in Vermont doing satellite interviews with local television stations in Arizona, Oklahoma and New Hampshire. The ad in Iowa follows the red meat anti war rhetoric that launched him into the lead:

"Where did the Washington Democrats stand on the war?" the narrator of the Dean ad asks. "Dick Gephardt wrote the resolution to authorize war. John Kerry and John Edwards both voted for the war. Then Dick Gephardt voted to spend another $87 billion on Iraq."

"Howard Dean has a different view," the ad says.

Gephardt’s message was, “We're deciding whether foreign policy is reduced to bluster and recycled Cold War taunts or whether we have a real and sustained commitment to break the cycle of poverty and ignorance."

Dean had stand ins helping out in Iowa yesterday. Actor Martin Sheen and Hollywood director Rob Reiner were doing media and crowd appearances as they flew around Iowa.

"As the acting president of the United States," Sheen roared to thunderous applause, "I am here to announce that next Monday, January 19, is Howard Dean Day in America!"

Dean is in Iowa again today beginning a bus tour of the state. The media crush is beginning to grow exponentially. Clearly the story will build with the lead story being between Gephardt and Dean and whether Gephardt stays alive after Iowa being the question along with can anyone stop Dean.

On that front, it is going to become even harder after Sunday when Howard Dean makes a trip to go to church in Plains Georgia with Jimmy Carter. Carter is going to say nice things about Dean, and it is likely to be some of those words will be said in a religious context. How is Wesley Clark going to stop Dean in the South again?

Hopefully, Dean will not show up in a Playboy interview after the visit. However, Dean is the cover of the Jan. 16 Rolling Stone magazine and there is an interview.

The third seat out of Iowa is still a question. Register columnist David Yepsen is frequently quoted for having said there are three tickets out of Iowa: first class for first place; second class for second; and stand by for a third place finish. The race for third place is still in doubt, which means that Kerry could be in serious trouble. Edwards has been catching fire and has even come under attack from Dean lately. Edwards acknowledge the attack yesterday.

‘The reason we have got so much traction and such an extraordinary response in Iowa is because I've focused on a positive, uplifting message," Edwards told a crowd in Manchester, New Hampshire. "And it's ironic that that message is working and therefore I'm being attacked."

Edwards is handicapped in Iowa because he doesn’t have the organizational effort going for him the way that Sen. John Kerry does. So, the race for third may not be a fair fight in Iowa provided that Kerry stays on message and keeps the wheels on his campaign.

Part of the disparity that may play out between Kerry and Edwards is the Veterans who Kerry is directing an organizational appeal towards.

A source close to Kerry says the effort to organize veterans is "unprecedented in Iowa." The vets are "hard to identify, hard to find, and hard to bring to the caucus process." The Kerry campaign has veterans calling other veterans -- the vets respond better to fellow veterans calling them than to some 19-year-old, a senior campaign aide says. This senior aide says "it doesn't take that many voters to shift a precinct." Kerry's campaign claims 10,000 vets will caucus for him on Monday.

Iowa seems to have its own version of MoveOn.org’s amateur ad campaign contest. However, it is not television ads but radio. Dale Todd of Cedar Rapids is organizing a "draft Clark" movement in the state aimed at encouraging caucus-goers to select Clark. He has raised enough money to put a ad on some of the major radios in Iowa. You can cover the state with buys on 16 radio stations for about $50,000 a week for saturation. They did not report how much money they had to spend. However, they did release what the ad will say.

"You can caucus for Wesley Clark for president," the ad says. "That's right, you can caucus for Wesley Clark. And let's get real, Democrats. Are we going to nominate a candidate who can capture our imagination but can't actually beat George Bush?"

Sen. Tom Harkin said that he thought Democrats could get behind Dean after he wins the nomination. It doesn’t look like that will be a ‘hundred percenter…’  (1/14/2004)

Poll watching

The latest MSNBC, Reuters, Zogby poll shows: Kerry 30%; Dean 22%; Clark 14%; Edwards 7%; and Lieberman 7%.  (1/23/2004)

Negative campaigning

Peter Jennings tried to get Joe Lieberman to criticize Howard Dean and John Kerry, to which Lieberman replied, ‘nice try.’ Everyone was gun shy from the fallout from the negative campaigning in Iowa. Edwards is also riding a popular perception of being Mr. Nice. The American public cannot expect that negative campaigning will suddenly vanish from the political scene after Iowa. The reason is: negative campaigning works.

It has long been understood that not only does the recipient of negative campaigning go down in support, but those delivering the negative message about the opponent lose support as well. Howard Dean was attacked relentlessly by Rep. Dick Gephardt prior to the Iowa Caucuses. Both of these candidates watched their support erode as Senators John Kerry and John Edwards went up in support and eventually came in number one and two in Iowa.

The key to running in a multiple field is to stop your attacks with enough time to rebuild your positives -- something Gephardt failed to do.

The NY Times covers how the campaigns have changed their TV ads to not be the one who fails to switch in time to a positive ad.  (1/23/2004)

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