John Edwards

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

March 2003

… Biden, Hillary, Edwards, Kerry, Lieberman – voted the party line yesterday in opposing cloture motion to cut off filibuster on the judicial nomination of Miguel Estrada. That’s not surprising, but Iowa Pres Watch wanted to get it on the record. (Only one senator missed the vote – Dem candidate Graham, who’s recovering from surgery.) (3/7/2003)

…Bad news for the Dem aspirants if Hillary runs. The Quinnipiac poll says she would get 37% in the Democrat field with Gephardt a distant second 13%, Lieberman 12% and Kerry at 8%. Without Hillary, Lieberman gets 21%, Gephardt 17%, Kerry 12%, Edwards 8%. Moseley (No Hyphen) Braun 7%, Graham 6%, Sharpton 5%, Dean 4% and Kucinich 2%. (3/7/2003)

… Senate roll call vote this week – a resolution expressing support for the Pledge of Allegiance. It passed 94-0 (with Graham absent due to medical recovery), but among the other five “not voting” were two Dem presidential wannabes – Edwards and Kerry…Missing the Senate vote on the Pledge of Allegiance resolution may be the least of Kerry’s problems, especially among Irish voters as he sorts out his own ancestry. Despite Kerry’s insistence (after it was reported he had a Jewish grandfather) he never claimed to have Irish ancestors, the Boston Globe reported yesterday the Congressional Record – 3/18/86 – quoted Kerry as telling his Senate colleagues, “For those of us who are fortunate to share an Irish ancestory, we take great pride in the contributions that Irish-Americans…have made to building a strong and vibrant nation.” (3/7/2003)

…Several media outlets indicate five Dem presidential candidates – the five low-rung candidates: Dean, Edwards, Kucinich, Moseley (no hyphen) Braun and Sharpton – will accept public campaign financing (taxpayer dollars) for their campaigns. John Kerry, the richest Dem prospect, will delay decision on public funding for a couple months – or possibly tap into wife Teresa Heinz Kerry’s fortune. 3/8/2003

… Edwards still in D. C., delivered “official” Democrat response to skits at the annual Gridiron dinner last night. If he was serious about the Dem nomination, he’d been better off shaking hands at a bar in Dubuque, Iowa City or Burlington last night. 3/9/2003

… Hillary, Edwards and Lieberman voted for a provision to make contraceptives more available as Senate Dems continued efforts to whittle away at the “partial abortion” bill. Kerry did not vote on the amendment. Graham and Biden – both recovering from recent surgeries – were absent. The vote was 49-47. (3/13/2003)

…  Edwards, proving he can find new ways to appeal to voters – even those not born yet – has proposed a $2,500 tax credit for parents who take time off work to care for newborns during a speech yesterday at George Washington University. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/13/2003)

… Under the headline “Kerry is the Granite in New Hampshire Democratic Primary Poll,” a Suffolk University news release reports the Mass. Sen “holds a commanding lead.” A survey of 496 likely Dem voters – in an exclusive 7NEWS-Suffolk University poll – gave Kerry 32% with Lieberman 17 %.  Dean, the former VT gov earlier assumed to be a regional favorite, had 10%, followed by Gephardt 6% and Edwards 2%. Three others each got 1%. That leaves 30% undecided…Also from the 7NEWS-Suffolk poll, about one-third (32%) of the likely Dem voters expect GWB to win a second term, 45% are undecided. (Yes, the poll identifies these folks as “likely Democratic voters.) Eleven percent expect Kerry to be the next president, while Dean and Lieberman each register 3% support when it comes to naming the ultimate 2004 winner. (3/14/2003)

… Only two announced Dem presidential candidates – Lieberman and Graham, who just returned to the Senate on Wednesday after surgery – showed for the Senate partial-birth abortion final vote. They, along with Hillary, joined 30 others in opposing the partial-birth ban. With a 64-33 (64 supporters included 48 GOPs, 16 Dems) vote, only three senators AWOL – Biden, Edwards, Kerry. (3/14/2003)

… Survey conducted by Research 2000 for KCCI-TV 3/10-3/12 indicates Gephardt (22%), Kerry (20%) and Lieberman (16%) are bunched together at head of Dem presidential pack. Edwards was fourth with 8%, followed by Dean (6%) and Sharpton (1%). KCCI said Graham, Clark, Moseley Braun and Kucinich all registered less than 1%. Twenty-seven percent were undecided.  (3/15/2003)

… They haven’t been in Iowa for a week, but Kerry and Dean haven’t lost their touch for irresponsible, reckless rhetoric. They are probably feeling more at home on the Left Coast, however, since – according to the San Francisco Chronicle – they both “ramped up criticism” of GWB and called “the president an inept diplomat who has bungled the nation’s foreign policy” during California appearances. Edwards was also in the state for fundraising events with – whom else? – trial lawyers in San Francisco and L. A. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/15/2003)

… Things turned a bit nasty yesterday at California Dem state convention as Dean named opponents by name. L. A. Times coverage reports Dean criticized Edwards and Kerry – by name – for supporting Congressional resolution authorizing military force against Iraq. Quotes Dean as saying, “I don’t think we can win the White House if we vote for the president’s unilateral attack on Iraq and then come to California and say we’re against the war.” Never fear, however, cuz Dean pledged to support Edwards or Kerry if either gets the Dem nomination. (3/16/2003)

…Edwards drew boos from the party faithful at the CA Dem convention when he said: “I believe that Saddam Hussein is a serious threat, and I believe he must be disarmed including the use of military force if necessary.” He criticized the president, however, for failing to attract more world support for the Iraq-Saddam opposition. Edwards said: “It is a test of presidential leadership to lead in a way that rallies others to our cause. This president has not done that.” (3/16/2003)

… Four senator-candidates – Edwards, Graham, Kerry, Lieberman -- were on deck and voted against the latest cloture motion to end filibuster of the Estrada judicial nomination. Edwards, was AWOL for the votes. Also opposing the effort to proceed with debate on nomination – potential presidential draftee Hillary and prospective candidate Biden. The motion was approved 55-45 – with four Dem sens joining GOP – but needed 60 to end filibuster. (3/20/2003)

… The Senate rejected a proposal yesterday to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), but prior to the vote Kerry – apparently never seeing an issue (or opportunity to disagree with the Bush administration) he could resist – described ANWR as “a national treasure.” Kerry said the refuge’s oil would only reduce imports by 2% -- “God only gave us 3% of the world’s oil. The Middle East has about 65%…the destruction of the wilderness does not solve America’s problem.” The amendment, sponsored by CA Dem Boxer, to prohibit drilling was approved 52-48 with eight GOPs voting with most Dems to oppose drilling, while five Dems supported drilling. Among co-sponsors on the Boxer amendment: Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards (3/20/2003)

… latest New Hampshire survey showing Dean’s virtually tied with Kerry in battle of regional favorite sons. American Research Survey poll, conducted 3/16-3/19, indicates Dean gained 6 points over past month – although Kerry still leads with 23% to Dean’s 22%. Gephardt third (15%), Lieberman fourth (12%), 20% still undecided. Other Dem candidates in low – very low – single digits with Edwards leading that group with 3%. (That’s right 3% -- but it’s better than the 0% received by Kucinich, Sharpton and Clark, who’s doubtlessly getting better numbers for his current gig as CNN military analyst.) Interesting sidebar: 99% of respondents were “aware” of Hart, but he received only 2% on the ballot support question. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/22/2003)

…Edwards has more problems than his New Hampshire (3%) poll numbers, especially in his home state North Carolina. The News & Observer of Raleigh reported yesterday: “Nearly three months after U. S. Sen. John Edwards entered the presidential race, more North Carolina voters continue to disapprove of his White House bid than approve…” A poll by the newspaper – margin of error +/- 4% -- indicated 43% of “regular voters” approve of Edwards’ presidential bid, while 49% disapprove and 8% not sure. Ironically, as News & Observer Washington Correspondent John Wagner wrote, “Those numbers have improved only slightly since January, when 39 percent approved, 47 percent disapproved and 14 percent were unsure.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/22/2003)

… The U. S. senators seeking Dem nomination further reinforced their anti-taxpayer credentials Friday by supporting efforts to reduce the proposed tax cut from $726 million to $350 million. The amendment (to the 2004 budget resolution) was defeated on a 62-38 margin with the four announced Dems – Edwards, Graham, Kerry, Lieberman – supporting it. Prospective Dem candidate Biden also voted for it, but Grassley, Harkin and Hillary joined 59 other senators to defeat the effort. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/23/2003)

… From this morning’s Des Moines Register: Thomas Beaumont reports, headline “Candidates tangle over Iraq…John Edwards and John Kerry dispute deception accusations by Dean” Beaumont coverage of Dean campaigning in Des Moines yesterday, “Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean on Monday accused rivals John Edwards and John Kerry of being intentionally deceptive about their positions supporting the Bush administration’s war in Iraq.” (3/25/2003)

… Gore supporters do everybody a favor – highlight poll numbers indicating Gore is “still the strongest challenger” against GWB, but he’d still lose if election held now and besides he’s not even running. (Iowa Pres Watch Note: So, where does that leave the other Dem wannabes?)  DraftGore.com – slogan: “Now More Than Ever” – says mid-March Zogby International poll shows Bush would get 51% with Gore at 42% and, “All other Democrats lag behind Bush by 12 points or more.” The 1,129 respondents were “asked to indicate a preference between George Bush and each of several likely Democratic contenders.” Gore was preferred over Bush by 42% of respondents, followed by Hillary Clinton (39%), Richard Gephardt and Joe Lieberman (38%), John Kerry (36%) and John Edwards (32%). In addition, DraftGore.com said: Gore also “enjoys the greatest support” among Democratic voters (74%), followed by Clinton (70%), Gephardt (70%) and Kerry (65%) (3/26/2003)

… Wall Street Journal’s Al Hunt – in “Politics & People” column yesterday – indicates “party insiders see four candidates with a realistic shot to win” the Dem nomination: Gephardt, Lieberman, Edwards and Kerry. Hunt notes the four all supported Iraq authorizing resolution last fall and weighs their respective strengths based on “the three critical Cs:” Credentials, Cash and Calendar. On credentials, Hunt writes the “two most conformable here are Sens. Lieberman and Kerry.” On cash, he says Kerry “remains ahead of the pack” with Gephardt and Edwards “closely competing” for second in early fundraising. On calendar, he says – despite other states trying to move up on nominating schedule – “the initial test almost surely will remain the Hawkeye and Granite States.” Key excerpt: “any candidate who doesn’t finish first or second in one of those states is dead. In the modern nominating system, the only candidate to substantially jumpstart a primary campaign was Ronald Reagan in 1976 against President Ford; that was a two-way race and ideologically driven. So forget all the scenarios of John Edwards scoring his first big triumph in South Carolina or Joe Lieberman in Arizona. If they don’t win or place in New Hampshire or Iowa, they’re done. Conversely, the two favorites in those states, Dick Gephardt in Iowa and John Kerry in New Hampshire, would be dealt a lethal blow if they failed to meet those expectations.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/28/2003)

… Dean has sent a handwritten letter to Edwards apologizing for a statement he made charging Edwards has been avoiding discussion of his support for the Iraq invasion when appearing before anti-war audiences. Dean told delegates at the CA Dem state convention earlier this month that Edwards and Kerry – both supporters of the Senate Iraq resolution last fall – were not standing by their votes for the resolution. Edwards, however, reaffirmed his support for military action – and was booed by delegates – during his convention remarks. Meanwhile, Kerry told reporters he had been “100 percent consistent” in his position that Saddam must be disarmed, adding: “I have no response to Howard Dean.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/28/2003)

… From yesterday: Chuck Muth’s News & Views – “Leading Senate Democrats from Hillary Clinton to John Edwards to Joe Lieberman have been squealing like stuck hogs that the president hasn’t been providing enough money to the nation’s first responders. For example, a Clinton flak charged that when it comes to money for first-responders, ‘the money’s not there, and it’s not flowing.’ But as you know, facts can be rather inconvenient things. The Hill reported on Wednesday that ‘state and localities have failed to spend nearly two-thirds of the federal money available to them.’ Go figure. For example, Hillary’s New York ‘has received almost $26 million in first-responder grants but spent none of the money’ in 2002. Edwards’ North Carolina was allocated $12.3 million, but only spent $2 million of it. And Joey Lieberman’s Connecticut only cashed in $2.2 million of the $7 million it was awarded. Why does anybody believe anything that any Democrat ever says on any issue any longer?” (3/28/2003)

… Des Moines Register reports this morning four Dem aspirants – Dean, Edwards, Kerry, Gephardt – have spent the $65,000 each to secure Iowa Democratic Party’s voter information database. Also indicates Lieberman is “expected” to buy the list in April and Kucinich has “expressed interest” in getting the file. Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont writes that Hart is expected to visit IA during April and he also has inquired about purchasing the state Dem party’s voter database. (3/29/2003)

…Edward’s wife, Elizabeth, scheduled to be in Dubuque today for the off-year Dem county caucus and two house parties. The Edwards campaign also announced Jen O’Malley – who worked on Gore 2000 campaign and most recently field director for the SD Dem Party – has been hired to recruit Edwards’ supporters in IA. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/29/2003)

…Elizabeth Edwards – wife of wannabe John – campaigned in Dubuque and Davenport. Quad-City Times reportss this morning she told supporters the “Bush administration has squandered goodwill the world expressed toward the United States” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Edwards, making her first trip to Iowa, said: “The whole world was cheering for us. We have, in a very short time, lost that.” (3/30/2003)

… Edwards – while wife in Iowa -- scheduled weekend fundraising hits in Louisiana, South Carolina and NYC. (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/30/2003)

… More from First Lady wannabe Elizabeth Edwards – a quote from Ed Tibbetts’ coverage on QCTimes.com (Quad-City Times): “She [Edwards] also asked activists to imagine a candidate who can reach out to non-ideological voters when they decide whom to support next year. She said her husband fits that bill. “We have to win those people, she said. When asked who among the challengers might not be able to reach those people, she declined to say.” …Quote from an e-mail Edwards – John, not Elizabeth -- sent to potential contributors last week: “Please contribute to my campaign now – before Monday – to demonstrate to the media and the political establishment that we have raised enough early money to be considered a top contender for the Democratic nomination.” (Iowa Presidential Watch, 3/31/2003)

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