2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Edwards Wins Endorsements Of iowa SEIU And Nine Other Major State SEIU Councils

EDWARDS WINS ENDORSEMENT OF IOWA SEIU AND NINE OTHER MAJOR STATE SEIU COUNCILS
Close to one million SEIU members choose Edwards because he has the strength and vision to win both the primary and the general election

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) state councils from Iowa, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio and Oregon announced they have endorsed Senator John Edwards for president, totaling close to one million SEIU members.

Representatives from several of the ten state councils joined Edwards for a press conference at the Eckstein Medical Research Building in Iowa City. The endorsements will allow these SEIU state councils, which collectively represent over 930,000 members, to organize efforts to turn out caucus goers on Edwards’ behalf within Iowa, and in any other state where the SEIU state councils have also endorsed Edwards.  SEIU state councils across the country will be determining their endorsement decisions in the coming weeks.   

“John Edwards is the only Democratic candidate with the vision, leadership and strength needed to win, not just the primary but also the general election,” said Dave Regan, representing the state councils of Ohio and West Virginia.  “In the battleground states that I represent, Edwards’ broad appeal and strength at the top of the ticket will help Democrats in races at every level. He will help us build a true mandate that will bring real change to Washington, end the war in Iraq, bring truly universal health care, labor law and immigration reform – and these are the things that will improve the lives of working families across America.”

“As a Registered Nurse who knows first hand the need for health care reform, it's a great honor to announce that the members of SEIU Iowa have chosen to endorse John Edwards for president of the United States,” said Iowa SEIU Local 199 president Cathy Glasson. “In Iowa, we are uniquely positioned to see and hear the candidates, and members are well informed on the issues important to working families. John Edwards earned our support by taking a strong stand on health care and because he offers our members the greatest hope for restoring the American Dream.”

“California SEIU members know that John Edwards will be the best labor president in the history of the United States,” said Sal Rosselli, president of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West. “His proposals are far and away the best among the candidates on the issues that matter most to working Americans.  Edwards has taken principled stands on workers’ behalf, when others took more cautious positions on issues that demand bold action.”

Added Tyrone Freeman, president of United Long Term Care Workers West, “We embrace his vision for opportunity for working people, and are proud to join his campaign of optimism, conviction and action that will bridge the divide between the two Americas.  We will do everything in our power, in Iowa, California and across America to ensure that he ends up in the White House.”

“John Edwards understands the everyday struggles faced by working families across the country,” said TJ Janssen, a homecare worker from Wenatchee, Washington. “His commitment to ensuring quality affordable health care for every American is why I’m so excited to be supporting his campaign.”

The 2,000 members of the Iowa SEIU voted to endorse Edwards for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday evening. On Friday, the membership of the California state council of the SEIU, which represents more than 656,000 working families, also voted to endorse Edwards. SEIU state councils from Washington (103,000 members), Michigan (70,000 members), Idaho (450 members), Montana (500 members), Minnesota (28,000 members), Ohio (22,000 members),West Virginia (4,000 members), and Oregon (46,000 members), also announced their endorsements on Monday.

“SEIU is at the forefront of the fight to make work pay and provide economic security to hardworking families. I have proudly stood with them on the frontlines of the fight for working Americans for years, and I am honored to earn their members’ support in each of these states today,” said Edwards. “Together, I believe we can fix the broken system in Washington that has been rigged by corporate interests, and we can make this country work for regular Americans again.”

The state SEIU endorsements bring Edwards close to the three million mark in union support. In September, Edwards earned the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union of America (200,000 active and retired members), the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (520,000 active members), the United Steelworkers (1.2 million active members and retirees), and the United Mine Workers of America (105,000 active members and retirees). 

Clinton Launches Second Radio Spot On SC Airwaves

Clinton Launches Second Radio Spot on SC Airwaves
‘Children’ Spot Aired Statewide Today

(COLUMBIA) – Senator Hillary Clinton launches her second radio spot, entitled “Children,” today in South Carolina. The 60-second spot begins playing on radio stations across the state this morning. The spot focuses on Hillary’s record of fighting for children in South Carolina and across the country, specifically referencing her time working with the Children’s Defense Fund and Marian Wright Edelman as well as her plan for college affordability, announced last week.

A complete transcript is included below.

ANNCR: Thirty-five years ago, a young woman came to South Carolina to help the Children’s Defense Fund seek justice for our kids. Thirty-five years later, she’s still fighting for them Hillary Clinton.

HILLARY: There’s a tribe in Africa – I think it’s the Masai. And when you meet on the trail, they don’t say, ”how are you?” they say, “how are the children?”

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton knows that South Carolina’s children are struggling to get a decent education, a good job, a shot at the future.

HILLARY: We have many children who are poor, who are sick, who are neglected.

ANNCR: She’s spent a lifetime battling to improve childcare and health care and education for every child.

HILLARY: I think education is the passport to opportunity.

ANNCR: As President, she’ll make preschool available to all our children and college more affordable for all Americans.

HILLARY: I want to be able to say to you as your President, our children are well.

ANNCR: If you’re ready for change, she’s ready to lead.

Political Advertising On Television Could Reach $3 Billion in 2008

Political television advertising to reach $3 billion
By Mark Preston
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- "A wide-open presidential race and a willingness by candidates, interest groups, unions and corporations to buy TV time will lead to historic spending for political and issue-advocacy advertising in the 2008 election cycle, an analysis shows."

"With 17 Democratic and Republican candidates running for president, CMAG predicts that more than $800 million will be spent on TV ads in the battle for the White House."

Story Highlights
Amount almost double what was spent in 2004 election cycle
Lower TV production costs help more candidates advertise
Mitt Romney leads presidential candidates in TV spending
Advertisers face challenge of cutting through clutter of ads, analyst says

John Edwards Wins Endorsement Of Iowa SEIU

EDWARDS WINS ENDORSEMENT OF IOWA SEIU
Iowa SEIU members say Edwards has the best plans to make Washington work for working Americans

Des Moines, Iowa – Today, the Iowa state council of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will announce its endorsement of Senator John Edwards for president. The announcement will take place at a press conference with the Iowa SEIU Local 199 at the Eckstein Medical Research Building in Iowa City. A number of other SEIU State Councils will also be announcing their endorsement of Edwards as part of the event – giving Edwards' organization in Iowa a significant boost from around the country. The endorsements will allow these SEIU state councils to organize efforts to turn out caucus goers on Edwards’ behalf within Iowa, and in any other state where the SEIU state councils have also endorsed Edwards.

“As a Registered Nurse who knows first hand the need for health care reform, it's a great honor to announce that the members of SEIU Iowa have chosen to endorse John Edwards for president of the United States,” said Iowa SEIU Local 199 President Cathy Glasson. “In Iowa, we are uniquely positioned to see and hear the candidates, and members are well informed on the issues important to working families. John Edwards earned our support by taking a strong stand on health care and because he offers our members the greatest hope for restoring the American Dream.”

“SEIU is at the forefront of the fight to make work pay and provide economic security to hardworking families. I have proudly stood with them on the frontlines of the fight for working Americans for years, and I am honored to earn their support today,” said Edwards. “Together, I believe we can fix the broken system in Washington that has been rigged by corporate interests, and we can make this country work for regular Americans again.”

In September, Edwards earned the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union of America (200,000 active and retired members), the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (520,000 active members), the United Steelworkers (1.2 million active members and retirees), and the United Mine Workers of America (105,000 active members and retirees). 

Tommy Thompson Endorses Rudy Giuliani for President

Tommy Thompson Endorses Rudy Giuliani for President
Former Presidential Candidate, Wisconsin Governor Joins As National Co-Chair

New York City – The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced that Tommy Thompson, former Republican Presidential candidate and Wisconsin Governor, has endorsed Mayor Giuliani for President. Thompson will serve as National Co-Chair of the Mayor’s campaign.

Thompson, who also served as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush, was elected to an historic four terms as Wisconsin Governor. As National Co-Chair, Thompson will help promote Rudy’s record of results and leadership as Mayor of New York City, while talking about the Mayor’s bold vision for America.

"Rudy Giuliani has shown that he is a true leader. He is America's Mayor and during a period of time of great stress for this country he showed tremendous leadership,” said Governor Thompson. “He can and will win the nomination and the Presidency of the United States."

"I'm honored to have the endorsement and support of Governor Tommy Thompson,” said Mayor Giuliani. “He is a strong conservative with a record of achieving fiscal discipline, implementing tort reform, and bringing about innovation in government. Governor Thompson gave leadership to the Department of Health and Human Services during a period of great crisis, and his expertise in this area is invaluable. I'm honored to have his support and I look forward to learning from his experience and leadership."

About Governor Tommy Thompson:
Governor Thompson was elected to four terms as Wisconsin Governor, beginning in 1986 and serving until his appointment as President George W. Bush’s Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2001. He served in that capacity until 2005.

As Wisconsin Governor, Thompson is best known for his efforts to revitalize the state’s economy and for his national leadership on welfare reform. Thompson served as the nation’s leading advocate for the health and welfare of all Americans as head of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Governor Thompson has been recognized for his commitment to public service, including being named Governing Magazine’s Public Official of the Year. He is a former chairman of the National Governors’ Association, the Education Commission of the States and the Midwestern Governors’ Conference.

Governor Thompson’s long and distinguished public service career began when he won a seat in Wisconsin’s state Assembly in 1966, which included service as Assembly Minority Leader. He received both his B.S. and J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Richardson for President Campaign Adds South Carolina Co-Chairperson

Richardson for President Campaign Adds South Carolina Co-Chairperson
State Representative Ken Kennedy joins campaign, former Congressman Butler Derrick endorses Richardson

COLUMBIA, SC-- Today the Richardson for President campaign named State Representative Ken Kennedy (D- Williamsburg) as a co-chairperson of its South Carolina Steering Committee. Kennedy has represented Williamsburg County in the state legislature since 1991 and currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee.

Representative Kennedy cited diplomatic experience and a no-nonsense plan to end the war in Iraq as primary reasons why he supports Governor Richardson.

"Bill Richardson is the only major candidate who understands that we cannot leave our troops in harm's way in Iraq any longer," Kennedy said. "As a sitting governor and world-renowned diplomat, I know that Bill Richardson has the experience to get our country back on track. I am proud to join the Richardson team and look forward to increasing support for Governor Richardson around South Carolina."

As part of the Richardson for President campaign's growing momentum around the country, former United States Representative Butler Derrick announced his support for Governor Richardson.

"I have known Bill Richardson for a long time," Derrick said. "I served with him in Congress and have admired his career. He has been a legislator, a diplomat, a cabinet secretary, and he has run a state. There is no other candidate in this race with his breadth of experience. He is perfectly suited to lead our nation in these difficult times."

Richardson commented on his campaign's growing presence in South Carolina.

"I am honored to have the support of Representative Kennedy and Congressman Derrick," Governor Richardson said. "People around the country are hearing my message of change and experience, and it is starting to resonate. I look forward to continuing my rise in the polls in South Carolina with the help of these distinguished gentlemen."

Iowa State Rep. Ray Zirkelbach Endorses Chris Dodd

STATE REP AND IRAQ WAR VET RAY ZIRKELBACH ENDORSES CHRIS DODD FOR PRESIDENT
Zirkelbach: Dodd Offers “Clarity” and “Conviction” to End the War in Iraq

DES MOINES – State Representative Ray Zirkelbach, a veteran of the Iraq War and a Purple Heart recipient, announced today that he is endorsing Chris Dodd for President.  Zirkelbach cited Dodd’s clarity and leadership on working to end the war and his record of results for bringing real change to America.

“I know all too well the cost of war, and I know that this war must end,” said Representative Zirkelbach.  “I've seen first-hand the disastrous effects that a lack of clarity from leadership can bring.

“Chris Dodd is the only candidate that is offering clarity and speaking with conviction on what we need to do to end this war. That's why I trust him to get the job done and that's why he's earned my endorsement.”

“I am deeply honored to have earned the support of such a fine man, public servant, and patriot as Ray Zirkelbach,” said Senator Dodd.  “Ray understands first-hand the situation on the ground in Iraq, and he agrees with me that there is no military solution to this conflict.

“It will take clarity and leadership to end this war – not half-measures or hedging statements.  Ray can trust me to lead, get results, and get the job done.”

John McCain Announces Iowa Health Care Coalition Leadership

JOHN MCCAIN ANNOUNCES IOWA HEALTH CARE COALITION LEADERSHIP

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today released its Iowa Health Care Coalition Leadership. Dr. Kelly Wren will serve as coalition chair.

"John McCain's plan focuses on quality care and that's what I went to medical school to deliver. These reforms make the U.S health care system more responsive to patients and their families and will afford doctors the opportunity to concentrate on patient care," said Dr. Wren.

John McCain thanked the coalition leadership for their support, adding, "We must reform the health care system to make it work for American families. By addressing the fundamental problem with our health care system -- the rapidly rising cost of care -- and by harnessing market competition, we can build a system that is more responsive to our needs and is delivered to more people at lower cost."

IOWA HEALTH CARE COALITION LEADERSHIP

Dr. Kelly Wren, Chair
Robert Hopkins, P.A.
Teresa Long, R.N.
Angela Peterman, P.A.
Dr. John Wright, M.D.

Howard Dean Congratulates Al Gore On Receiving The Nobel Peace Prize

Dean Congratulates Former Vice President Al Gore on Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

Washington, DC - Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement congratulating former Vice President Al Gore for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize today for his work concerning global warming:

"I want to congratulate our former Vice President Al Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize today. No other person has worked harder or done more to draw much needed attention to the crisis of global climate change, one of the most critical issues facing our planet. Future generations will thank him for his work to save our way of life. But the fight is far from over. His example should motivate each one of us to commit ourselves to doing everything we can in our own lives to save our precious planet."

Bill Richardson Congratulates Al Gore On His Nobel Peace Prize

Governor Bill Richardson Congratulates Vice President Al Gore on his Nobel Peace Prize

SALEM, NH-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today issued the following statement congratulating Vice President Al Gore on having been awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize and urging leadership in the fight against global warming:

"Vice President Al Gore has a remarkable record of public service. For over twenty years, he has been dedicated to fighting global warming for our nation and the world. His Nobel Prize is well-deserved.

"This prize is important, not only in recognition of Vice President Gore's extraordinary achievements, but also in acknowledgement of the importance of fighting global climate change. We must confront this threat head-on, and we must act now. Our dependence on foreign oil threatens our national security. Global warming threatens our environment, and its catastrophic effects threaten the livability of our planet. The Nobel Committee has recognized that the fight against global warming truly is about peace.

"We need bold change. I have proposed a plan that the Sierra Club calls the most aggressive of any of the Presidential candidates. I also have the experience to lead on this issue. I was Secretary of Energy, and as Governor, I have made New Mexico the Clean Energy State. President Bush may not follow the Kyoto Protocol, but my state does.

"Vice President Gore's efforts on global warming are awe-inspiring. However, solving this problem will take more than the heroic efforts of one man. It will require sacrifice from every American. It will require the resolve of the world. It also will require bold Presidential leadership. I am ready to provide it."