Bob Graham

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

October 2003

… New York Times online article by Diane Cardwell, “Mild-Mannered Senator Tries Attack-Dog Role”. Excerpts: “Senator Bob Graham has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the most courtly, mild-mannered and even long-winded members of the Senate. But on the presidential campaign trail, he has bemused the Washington establishment by transforming himself into a one-man grenade launcher. His target is President Bush. Struggling for attention as he trails badly in the polls and in fund-raising, Mr. Graham, a Florida Democrat, frequently and uncharacteristically upbraids Mr. Bush, especially for what he considers his national security lapses. Mr. Graham often goes beyond his Democratic rivals in skewering the administration — even, at times, beyond Howard Dean, for whom harsh Bush attacks have become expected. Mr. Graham has baldly answered "Yes" when asked if Mr. Bush intentionally misled Americans in waging war with Iraq, and has called for his impeachment. Mr. Graham, who was chairman of the Senate intelligence committee at the time of the Sept. 11 attacks, insists that his remarks are heartfelt. But many Democrats say they also reflect the frustration of a respected veteran of Capitol Hill who has yet to become a factor in the contest. (10/01/2003)

… Des Moines Register’s Thomas Beaumont reports  today that Democrat presidential candidates on both ends of the ‘war chest size’ are increasing campaign spending in Iowa. Excerpts: “Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who admits his fundraising has been disappointing, has rented an apartment in Des Moines amid rumors he’s scaling back in other states and will make his stand in Iowa. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who leads the field in money-raising for the year, is adding 50 campaign staff workers to his Iowa caucus operation. Graham aides denied Wednesday that the former Florida governor will marshal all his resources into a make-or-break Iowa strategy, but they also have no plans to increase campaign operations in other early nominating states. The apartment on Grand Avenue in Des Moines was rented in September... Meanwhile, Dean's $15 million quarter makes the beefed-up field staff possible, Iowa spokeswoman Sarah Leonard said. "... Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut continued to deflect rumors he planned to shut down his campaign in Iowa ...Lieberman plans to open a third Iowa campaign office in Council Bluffs this month and has 20 staff workers in Iowa, up from three last spring. Kevin McCarthy, Lieberman's Iowa manager, said the senator's Iowa plan is unchanged despite rumors he planned to shut down the Iowa campaign. ...Campaign aides for Rep. Dick Gephardt said a string of big labor union endorsements helped the Missouri congressman improve his fund-raising from a lower-than-expected second quarter. But Gephardt's national campaign manager, Steve Murphy, declined to say how much the campaign expected to have raised or how the Iowa campaign would be affected. "We'll raise more than we did in the last quarter," Murphy said. "We will be fully funded in Iowa. We continue to add staff. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts reported Tuesday he had surpassed the $20 million mark for the year, raising more than $4 million in the quarter. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina raised about $3 million.  (10/02/2003)

… In an interview with The Miami Herald and the St. Petersburg Times, Bob Graham concedes $15M fundraising mark for the year will be a struggle. Headlined,“Graham admits he may miss money mark”, Miami Herald writer Peter Wallsten details the interview. Excerpts: “Campaigning in a key primary state, a Florida Democratic icon finds supporters but is haunted by a wide gap in funds between him and his rivals. As he completes what is now widely expected to be a disappointing fundraising period and enters a make-or-break stage for his White House ambitions, Sen. Bob Graham acknowledged for the first time that meeting his $15 million fundraising goal for the year would be a struggle. Graham made his comments during a weekend visit to South Carolina, the first state on the 2004 primary calendar that Graham strategists believe he would have a chance of winning. In an interview with The Herald and the St. Petersburg Times, Graham also would not dismiss rumors that he might be forced to reduce his staff. … As for dropping out, Graham said he ``hasn't given it a thought.'' Asked about speculation that he would retire from politics and become president of his alma mater, he said: ``I don't think it would be possible to be both president of the University of Florida and president of the United States at the same time.'' … Graham conceded irritation about his failure to find his rhetorical footing -- especially when public sentiment against the war is growing and he, unlike the other senators in the race, voted against the resolution authorizing the invasion. ''I'm frustrated by the fact that if I had been able to get into the race in January and therefore had been able to talk about why I voted against the war, I think I would have gotten some of the uplift that Howard Dean has gotten,'' he said.(10/02/2003)

… Is Graham out? Associated Press is reporting Democrat Bob Graham told a Senate colleague yesterday that he would abandon his struggling presidential bid, a Democratic source said. But in a day filled with mixed signals, aides said he will continue to campaign. An official close to Mr. Graham also said he is letting go of several staff members, some of them senior aides. Mr. Graham, one of the most popular leaders in his home state, has struggled near the bottom of the 10-way Democratic presidential pack. He trails most of his rivals in fund raising and polls, and some advisers want him to quit the race. He called off a fund-raiser Thursday night in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Spokesman Paul Anderson said the senator canceled the event in hopes of making a vote. When he could not get a flight in time, Mr. Graham decided to remain in Miami Lakes last night. A Friday evening fund-raiser in West Palm Beach will go on, Mr. Anderson said. Florida’s Palm Beach Post Brian E. Crowley reports: David "Mudcat" Saunders and Steve Jarding, the architects of Graham's NASCAR Democrat strategy, will no longer be working with the campaign. Jamal Simmons, whose role in the campaign had been diminished, quit Thursday. Another indication of the campaign's financial difficulties is the continuing delay in putting TV commercials on the air in Iowa. Graham said less than two weeks ago that he expected to have his commercial running by the end of September. Now, the campaign simply says "soon." One former campaign adviser said Graham's campaign is struggling because the candidate has not invested enough time in raising money. "He thought everybody would give to him just because everyone loves Bob Graham," he said. His bitter disappointment became evident when he coined an off-the-cuff parody of the Graham campaign song. He took "you've got a friend in Bob Graham, that's what everybody's sayin' " and turned it into "you've got a friend in Bob Graham, he's at 1 percent and stayin.' " (10/03/2003)

… Presidential candidate Bob Graham has yet to announce his withdrawl from the 2004 race, but his rivals are already poised to pounce on Florida’s money. According to an article in the Miami Herald, written by Peter Wallsten, the vast amount of political money in Florida will be plumbed heavily, should Graham withdraw. Rival campaigns are making lists of major Florida donors. Those most negatively affected dollar-wise by Grahams entrance into the field of candidates are John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards. All three candidates are said to have spent “years” building inroads in Florida. As to any reliable information about Graham’s in or out status, no consensus could be found amongst the Graham staffers. With confusion rampant, a final Graham decision may be reached this weekend. (10/04/2003)

… GRAHAM I: Well, it looks like Bob Graham isn’t going down for the count -- yet. A Miami Herald article, by Peter Wallsten, reports that Graham “reintroduced himself” on Saturday as a “red meat” contender and best-hope candidate to beat Bush and win the White House. Graham spoke Saturday at the Democratic National Meeting in Washington, D.C., dressing up his speech in full ‘red meat,’ Bush-Bashing regalia: “'As a boy raised on a cattle farm, I can tell you that this president gives us many opportunities for raw hamburger,'' he said, adding, ``and bull.'' … ``I am outraged as an American, as a Democrat and a Floridian that brother-helping-brother embezzlement took my state from Al Gore and Joe Lieberman,'' Graham said. According to the article, Graham's words to the DNC on Saturday ‘struck a dramatic contrast to the confusion that has reigned for days inside his campaign organization, amid conflicting reports of staff shake-ups.’ True enough. Reports still surface regarding the campaigns soon demise, coupled with Graham’s rivals waiting to pounce on the Florida political treasure chest of money, still awaiting a Dem candidate.

… GRAHAM II: the New York Times reports today that presidential candidate Bob Graham recently sought the advice of Bill Clinton and Tom Daschle regarding his floundering campaign. The article quotes Graham as saying, “I have had several conversations with President Clinton and I have talked with Senator Daschle and other leaders in the Senate about, to solicit their advice," he said. "None of them have encouraged me to not continue the pursuit for the presidency."  (10/05/2003)

… The New York Times recaps Saturday’s wannabes at the DNC meeting in Washington, D.C.: “On Saturday, Mr. Graham, Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina and the Rev. Al Sharpton outlined their political platforms, criticized President Bush for the war in Iraq and took swipes at their rivals. Mr. Edwards asked how President Bush could justify spending $87 billion on Iraq while millions of Americans go without health care and live in poverty. He promised to widen access to health insurance and to provide free college education to students who commit to teaching in poor schools. But Mr. Edwards also was critical of Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who has publicly acknowledged voting for the Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard M. Nixon. "For me, being a Democrat is a commitment of the heart, not a matter of convenience for the moment," Mr. Edwards said. Mr. Gephardt and Mr. Sharpton directed attacks at President Bush and former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont. Mr. Gephardt called Mr. Bush "the vanishing president," saying he had made jobs, civil liberties and European allies vanish. He also criticized Dr. Dean for supporting Republican plans to cut the growth of Medicare in the 1990's. Mr. Sharpton called on Dr. Dean to reject Michigan's plan to allow Internet voting in its Feb. 7 caucus. He said online voting would favor affluent white voters over poor black voters who lack computers. "We cannot have a situation in February where some can vote in the living room and others have to go through the snow and feel impaired," Mr. Sharpton said. "Governor Dean, it's not enough to talk the talk. You got to walk the walk. Your coffers may be full but your talk is cheap. We must do something about the racial divide, and Michigan is a test point on that."  (10/05/2003)

… (10/07/2003) Bob Graham announced his withdrawal from the 2004 presidential race in a statement late last night on CNN’s “Larry King Live”. Leaving a still-crowded pack of nine behind him, Graham’s future options include another run for the Senate and the ever-tested – and priorly contested – shot at a vice presidential run, should he be tapped. In an article today, Des Moines Register, by AP’s Nedra Pickler, excerpts: “Graham… became the first Democrat to drop out of the 10-way competition. "I felt the best prepared and most able Democratic candidate to be elected president," he said in a statement Monday night. "I have concluded that is not to be. A combination of factors has convinced me, reluctantly, that my dreams for the presidency are not attainable." …  Graham said he has not decided whether he would run for re-election to his Senate seat, which he has held since 1987. He declined to endorse any of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates, saying any would be preferable to President Bush, even if they supported the war in Iraq. He would not rule out accepting a vice presidential nomination.” [IPW NOTE: AP’s Pickler observed, interestingly, that within an hour of Graham’s Larry King Live announcement, wannabe Dennis Kucinich was hawking Graham’s anti-war supporters to join up with his fight for the 2004 nomination…]

… John Kerry reacts to Graham’s withdrawal from the 2004 race: In a statement posted on Kerry’s campaign website, JohnKerry.com, he says:

“I am disappointed that Bob Graham has decided to end his campaign for the Presidency. Bob has been a friend and a colleague for 17 years. His dedication to public service, his tireless commitment to those he represents and his values and love of family brought an important perspective to this campaign that will be missed. As a Governor, he created jobs while protecting Florida’s environment. In the Senate, he has worked tirelessly to help seniors afford the medicine they need and been a leader on national security issues. He will continue to be an important voice on national and international issues and I know he has many more contributions to make for our party and for our country. Teresa and I wish Bob, Adele and his entire family the very best.”

… John Edwards reacts to Graham’s withdrawal from the 2004 race: In a statement posted on Edwards’s campaign website, JohnEdwards2004.com, he says:

“Senator Bob Graham is one of our nation's most dedicated and respected leaders. He has offered a voice of strength, intelligence, and patriotism throughout this Democratic primary. For more than two decades, he has devoted his life to public service. Floridians adore him. America admires him. And the Senate applauds his work and the stature he brings to that chamber every time he steps onto the floor. I am grateful for his friendship, proud that he is a Democrat, and hope that he continues to offer his insights and ideas as we debate the future of the country we all love, and move forward in our pursuits to win the White House in 2004."

… Joe Lieberman reacts to Graham’s withdrawal from the 2004 race: In a statement posted on Lieberman’s campaign website, Joe2004.com, he says:

"Bob Graham is a patriot and a great Democrat.  His voice made this contest richer and more thoughtful.  His expertise on security issues and his gift for seeing life through others' eyes make him one of the best that our party has to offer.  I'm proud to call him a friend, and am grateful that he'll continue to be a leading voice for Florida and our party in the Senate."

… Iowa leaders weigh in the withdrawal of Bob Graham from the 2004 race: (Des Moines Register article)

HARKIN: "He's a great friend of mine and brought a sober, no-frills approach to his campaign, kind of a Harry Truman approach," U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said Monday. "I think anyone who wins the nomination will be looking very seriously at Bob Graham for vice president."

FISCHER: Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Gordon Fischer said Graham had the right personality for the caucuses. "I thought he had, does have, a terrific personality that would be helpful to be successful in Iowa, where it's so retail. But obviously, he's made a decision this is not his time, this is not his race, and I've got to respect that," he said.

WHO GETS SUPPORT? Fischer said it would be interesting to see where Graham's supporters - and particularly his campaign staff - end up. He said it was difficult to predict the impact on the caucus race. "Undecided really leads the pack," he said of the race in Iowa. "It's a very fluid situation. This makes it even more fluid, I suppose."

… Des Moines Register columnist Rekha Basu offers kind words for Bob Graham. Headlined, “Must nice guys finish last?”, here are some excerpts: “They say nice guys finish last. I've tried not to believe it. But in a week that included Bob Graham's retreat and Arnold Schwarzenegger's victory, I'm not so sure anymore. The Democratic Florida senator was, by many accounts, one of the nicest people in the presidential race. And by many accounts, California's governor-elect is a boor. Their respective defeat and victory have nothing to do with each other. But they do say something unsettling about what the voters like and don't like at the polls. …"He's not a show horse. He's not flashy, but he's committed his life to public service," she [Graham’s daughter] said. … So what's working against nice guys? Halfway through writing this column, I read an analysis of Graham's weak showing that mentioned he had based much of his campaign on his vote against the Iraq war. That should be a winning strategy. "Yet anti-war activists preferred Howard Dean's fist-pounding indignation to Graham's calm, measured arguments against President Bush's foreign policy," the analysis said. I have to admit, I saw myself in the group that preferred the fist-pounding. I guess I've answered my own question.”  (10/12/2003)

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