Vilsack and his wife, Christie, plan to make the endorsement Monday when the New York senator will be in the state, the officials said.
Clinton spokesman Mark Daley said the campaign had a major announcement planned for Monday in Des Moines.
Iowa is the first test in the presidential primary with caucuses next Jan. 14, and backing from the Vilsacks is certain to boost the Democratic front-runner. A win in Iowa would provide critical momentum early in the nomination calendar.
In 2004, Christie Vilsack backed Democratic Sen. John Kerry - support that helped the eventual nominee win the Iowa caucuses.
Clinton rival Sen. Barack Obama, who lost out in securing the key endorsement, shrugged off the news.
The Illinois senator said he spoke with Vilsack briefly after the governor bowed out of the race, but his campaign had not been focused on securing the backing.
March 24, 2007 -- DES MOINES, Iowa - Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a major political coup, has captured the endorsement of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who recently abandoned his own presidential bid, officials said yesterday.
Vilsack and his wife, Christie, plan to make the endorsement Monday when the New York senator will be in the state, the officials said.
Clinton spokesman Mark Daley said the campaign had a major announcement planned for Monday in Des Moines.
Iowa is the first test in the presidential primary with caucuses next Jan. 14, and backing from the Vilsacks is certain to boost the Democratic front-runner. A win in Iowa would provide critical momentum early in the nomination calendar.
In 2004, Christie Vilsack backed Democratic Sen. John Kerry - support that helped the eventual nominee win the Iowa caucuses.
Clinton rival Sen. Barack Obama, who lost out in securing the key endorsement, shrugged off the news.
The Illinois senator said he spoke with Vilsack briefly after the governor bowed out of the race, but his campaign had not been focused on securing the backing.
Clinton spokesman Mark Daley said the campaign had a major announcement planned for Monday in Des Moines.
"Obviously he's got credibility in Iowa and I think highly of him as a former governor. But my sense is this race will ultimately not be won, probably, on endorsements, but it will be more on who gives voice to the real hunger that the American people have for change right now," Obama said.
"The Clintons have been on the national scene for a real long time," he said. "I think the surprise would be if they didn't garner a lot of endorsements from well-established political figures."
Vilsack, who served two terms as Iowa governor, launched his own bid for president in November, but dropped out of the race on Feb. 23. He said his campaign could not raise enough money to continue.
Vilsack had been courted by most of the major Democratic contenders for the presidential nomination once he left the race.
No comments:
Post a Comment