Hillary Clinton in Iowa this Weekend

Hillary coming to Mason City, Charles City

By JOHN SKIPPER, Of The Globe Gazette

MASON CITY — U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., will be in Mason City and Charles City this weekend to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Specific dates, times and places have not been announced. Her office confirmed that she will make stops in Oelwein, Decorah, Charles City, Mason City, Marshalltown and Des Moines

Radio Iowa: Hillary Clinton Vistis Tom Vilsack's Hometown

Hillary Clinton's campaign includes visit to Vilsack hometown

Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 12:59 PM

by Theresa Rose, KILJ, Mount Pleasant

Former Governor Tom Vilsack's home on Main Street in Mount Pleasant was crowded this morning as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton met with local residents. Folks asked her questions about foreign policy and health care, and a few asked for an autograph or a picture with the candidate. Clinton's next stop was in nearby Crawfordsville at the Riksch BioFuels plant.

"I believe that the bioeconomy is critical for rural America," Clinton told KILJ Radio during an interview in Vilsack's Mount Pleasant home. "Iowa's really leading the way." The biofuels plant Clinton visited makes soybean-based biodiesel. "Obviously this has the potential to really make a big difference in revitalizing the rural economy," Clinton says. "I worked a lot on rural economic issues in upstate New York."

Clinton is a U.S. Senator representing the state of New York. She touted her proposal to give small businesses in rural areas a tax credit for each of the people they employ. Clinton arrived in southeast Iowa last night. She ends her latest Iowa campaign swing with a town hall meeting tonight in Waterloo. During a question-and-answer session with reporters this morning, Clinton said Democrats should not immediately concede that President Bush will veto an Iraq funding bill that establishes a withdrawal date for U.S. troops.

This past weekend, Illinois Senator Barack Obama said once Bush follows through on his veto threat, Democrats who control Congress won't want to "play chicken with the troops" and will draft another spending bill that does not include a withdrawal date.

AP: Hillary Says Democrats Should Pressure Bush on Iraq

Clinton urges Dems to press Bush on Iraq

By Mike Glover, AP Political Writer | April 3, 200

IOWA CITY, Iowa --Democrats should pressure President Bush to agree to a withdrawal of troops from Iraq rather than concede that he will veto such a plan, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Tuesday.

Bush has promised to veto House and Senate versions of a war spending bill that include timetables for drawing down troops, but Democrats shouldn't give up, said Clinton, the front-runner for the 2008 Democratic nomination.

"I'm not ready to concede that," Clinton said. "We're actually back into a bipartisan government where we have a Democratic Congress and a Republican president. What has historically happened is there has to be some negotiation and compromise and we may not get it, but I'm not willing to concede."

Clinton, speaking with reporters during a campaign stop in Iowa, said she hadn't decided whether to support legislation calling for a cutoff in war funding -- a move that would force withdrawal of U.S. troops.

"I'm looking at that," Clinton said. "I don't know anything about it."

Before taking on the funding question, Congress should pressure Bush to go along with the budget bills already approved, Clinton said.

Clinton said her husband, former President Bill Clinton, managed to work with a Congress often opposed to his proposals.

"I saw a lot of what happened when my husband had a Republican Congress," said Clinton.

Clinton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination on a two-day trip to Iowa, said Congress should assert its authority

"I've challenged the president not to veto this, but to sit down and work with a bipartisan, representative sampling of the House and Senate and see whether we could figure out what we're going to do going forward."

Democrats took control of Congress largely due to their opposition to the war, Clinton said, and the party must push that agenda.

"I'm challenging the president not to veto the will of the American people," she said.

Clinton also criticized Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, whom she said have questioned the patriotism of war opponents.

"They have been very vocal in impugning the patriotism of members of Congress and citizens who disagree with them, and I don't think that's a very useful approach to take," said Clinton.

Clinton said she's launched a petition drive to gather signatures calling for Bush to go along with Congress.

Democrats will suffer if they don't assert themselves after winning control of Congress, she argued.

"We are now a Democratic majority and we are continuing in a very responsible manner to make it clear to the president that we are a coequal branch of government," said Clinton.

On her Iowa trip, Clinton was joined by former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and his wife, Christie, both of whom have endorsed Clinton's presidential bid. Clinton started her day with a breakfast at Vilsack's Mount Pleasant home, mingling with local activists and sounding an anti-war theme.

She later toured a biodiesel plant in Crawfordsville, near Mount Pleasant. The $7.5 million plant was built with help from a $3.25 million loan guarantee and $500,000 grant, both from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Clinton said that plant, which can produce 10 million gallons of biofuel annually, is the type of rural economic development she would pursue as president.

"It's putting people to work and adding to the local economy," she said. "This is an exciting example of what we want to see happen across rural America."

Des Moines Register: Hillary Goes to Rural Iowa

Des Moines Register

Fort Madison, Ia. - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton introduced her campaign to rural Iowa Monday, campaigning for the first time with former Gov. Tom Vilsack and promoting her agenda as the same as small-town America's.

"There's a lot we can do, and obviously we need a new goal of revitalizing the rural economies of America," the New York senator told about 200 southeast Iowans.

The event, a barbecue on state Sen. Eugene Fraise's farm outside Fort Madison, marked a departure for Clinton, whose campaign appearances in the leadoff caucus state had been largely before larger audiences in ballrooms and gymnasiums.

It also marked the first in a series of trips Clinton plans to make in the coming weeks to the four corners of Iowa, beginning Monday in Vilsack's home political territory.

"You all gave us a tremendous opportunity as a state senator years ago and as governor," Vilsack told the group at Fraise's, making his first pitch for Iowans to support Clinton in the caucuses since endorsing her a week ago.

"When you've got Lee County Democrats on your side, when you've got southeast Democrats on your side, there is nobody - and I mean nobody - who can beat you," said Vilsack, who represented the area in the Iowa Senate.

Vilsack gave up his own bid for the 2008 Democratic nomination a month ago, having trailed former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and Clinton in early polls of Iowa caucusgoers.

Clinton aides have said Vilsack's backing brings the support of a core group of Iowa Democrats who were loyal to the governor.

It was clear Monday that Clinton's campaign also received a little advice from Vilsack.

Upon leaving the race last month, Vilsack implored his better-known rivals to move beyond the blockbuster campaign rallies that marked the early days of the Iowa campaign and reach into rural Iowa.

"We were looking forward to some smaller venues," Vilsack's wife, Christie, said before the event at Fraise's, while the audience dined on grilled bison and elk burgers.

But it wasn't immediately clear Monday how powerful his backing would be to Clinton among rank-and-file Democratic activists in Iowa.

Mary Weisinger, who walked a half-mile from her house to Fraise's, said she thinks some Democrats would be influenced to back Clinton based on Vilsack's endorsement, although she is not one of them.

"I haven't made up my mind, and I'm looking for someone with sensibility. That's not something you decide upon instantly," said Weisinger, who had supported Vilsack.

At a campaign event for Obama on Saturday, Dow City Democrat Julie Florian said she had planned to caucus for Vilsack, but does not plan to caucus for Clinton.

"I wish he would have endorsed someone else," said Florian, who said she is leaning toward Obama.

Clinton later headlined a forum in Burlington with the Vilsacks and roughly 400 caucus activists.

Today, Clinton is scheduled to attend an open house at the Vilsacks' home in Mount Pleasant before touring a Crawfordsville biodiesel plant and holding campaign forums in Iowa City and Waterloo.

Reporter Thomas Beaumont can be reached at (515) 286-2532 or tbeaumont@dmreg.com

Quality Inn to host Sen. Clinton on Iowa City visit

Iowa Press-Citizen

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will address a crowd Tuesday at the Quality Inn in Iowa City, an official with her campaign announced.

The official, Travis Worl, confirmed the visit to gather support for her 2008 presidential bid at the Johnson County Democratic Party 2007 special off-year fundraising event Saturday at Old Brick.

He said the former first lady's campaign event will be from noon to 2 p.m. at the Quality Inn & Suites Highlander Conference Center, 2525 N. Dodge St.

To reserve a seat in a limited capacity room, call 471-8712 or 471-8713.

Iowa City's rally will follow stops in Fort Madison, Burlington and Mount Pleasant. It will be Clinton's first trip to Iowa City as a presidential candidate.

The cutoff for first-quarter fundraising results -- the initial test for the 2008 campaign heavy-hitters -- was Saturday, and Clinton is expected to take a large lead. Clinton spokesman Blake Zeff said the senator set a goal of doubling John Edwards' 2003 first quarter amount of about $7 million. Experts expect Clinton will have about $25 million to $30 million by Saturday's deadline.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack endorsed Clinton on Monday, after he dropped out of the presidential race citing fundraising difficulty. Clinton since has vowed to help Vilsack out of his remaining campaign debt.

Clinton currently is leading in most polls among Democrats running for the White House. A recent USA Today/Gallup poll showed Clinton leading with 35 percent, with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., next with 22 percent.

Vilsacks Support , Field Operation Gives Boost Clinton Campaign in Iowa

Vilsack's Endorsement Gives Hillary a Boost

By JILL GARDINER
Staff Reporter of the Sun
March 26, 2007

hen Senator Clinton announces today that a former governor of Iowa, Thomas Vilsack, is getting behind her campaign, many will be wondering what kind of weight his endorsement will carry in that key caucus state.

Mr. Vilsack, who dropped out of the Democratic presidential field last month, may not be a household name outside Iowa, but he has strong political support in his home state.

One of Mr. Vilsack's biggest backers, Gordon Fischer, a one-time chairman of the state Democratic Party, said if the governor's grassroots organization gets behind Mrs. Clinton, her ground operation will see an instantaneous boost.

" Governor Vilsack has a significant organization, having run for governor twice before and having started to run for president," Mr. Fischer said. "I think he can really help a candidate by loaning or lending his organization. That may be the main benefit."

Mr. Fischer added: "We have 2,000 precincts in Iowa, and there's a caucus in every single precinct. He was way ahead of any other candidate in terms of lining up county chairs and precinct chairs."

A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, Mo Elleithee, declined to confirm the endorsement. Sources said Mr. Vilsack will be named a national chairman of the campaign in Des Moines today, while his wife, Christie, will be named co-chairwoman of the Iowa operation.

The Vilsack endorsement could deliver the biggest blow to Senator Obama, because Senator Edwards already has a strong Iowa infrastructure from his run in 2004. It could also prompt some of Mr. Vilsack's Iowa staffers to defect to Mrs. Clinton.

The chairman of the political science department at Drake University in Des Moines, Arthur Sanders, said that while Mr. Vilsack is popular in the state, he has always had an "uneasy alliance" with Iowa Democratic activists.

The governor has been credited with helping to re-establish the state's Democratic party, but his work with Republicans on certain issues, including a law that made English the state's official language, did not sit well with many in his party.

"Will it make much difference in terms of the likely outcome of the caucuses? Probably not," Mr. Sanders said of Mr. Vilsack's expected endorsement. "But had he endorsed someone else it would have made it more difficult for Hillary." A new American Research Group poll found that 34% of Iowa Democrats support Mrs. Clinton, 33% Mr. Edwards, and 16% Mr. Obama.

Hillary in Iowa, Vilsasack Backs Her for President

Hillary Clinton visits Des Moines, gains support from Vilsack

By Beth Malicki, Anchor/Reporter

DES MOINES - Universal health care, the war in Iraq are issues presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addressed for Iowans on Monday, on a national stage.

Hillary Clinton spent the day in Iowa with two events out of Des Moines. Her first stop was on the ABC national morning program Good Morning America and the second was with her former competitor, Tom Vilsack, by her side.

The Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines looked like a TV studio Monday morning. Two-hundred Iowans attended the town hall meeting and a few had the chance to ask democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton questions.

Clinton sidestepped a question about her possibly choosing former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack as her running mate, should she win the nomination.

After the Good Morning America appearance, the Vilsacks officially announced their support for Clinton's candidacy.

Clinton talked about her friendship with Christy's late brother and her commitment to a traditional campaign.

"I want to do this the Iowa way that means I want to be in living rooms and church basements and union halls and businesses everywhere people gather to talk about my campaign," said Clinton.

While standing in front of a school and on the national morning show, Clinton promised that as president she would end the war in Iraq.

Des Moines Register: Will Tom Vilsack's Endorsement Boost Hillary?

Will Vilsack endorsement help?

By DAVID YEPSEN
REGISTER POLITICAL COLUMNIST


Tom Vilsack begins auditioning for a role as Hillary Clinton’s running mate on Monday.

Or maybe it’s for a job in her Cabinet or an appointment to the Supreme Court.

The former Iowa governor plans to endorse Clinton and her campaign has called a press conference to make a “major announcement.”

Yet it could have minor effects come January. It might even prove counterproductive to Clinton’s efforts in the state.

For openers, endorsement politics mean little in Iowa, especially in presidential races, where caucus-goers are notorious for making up their own minds about whom to support for the presidency.

Look at Sen. Tom Harkin’s endorsement of Howard Dean in the 2004 contest. Harkin, who polls show is more popular than Vilsack in Iowa, saw Dean melt in the days following his blessing. Why? Iowa Democrats decided the Vermonter was just too far to the left — perhaps was unelectable — and so more of them opted for John Kerry or John Edwards.

Nor has Vilsack shown any ability to deliver votes in Democratic family fights. In the 2006 Democratic primary for secretary of agriculture, the candidate he endorsed lost.

The myth of endorsement politics continues into more established organizations. In 2004, Dean also was endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, a group that is supposed to be among the most influential in Democratic politics. That union, along with several others and most Democratic legislators — and some big newspapers, including this one — also went with Mike Blouin in the 2006 Democratic primary for governor.
He lost to Chet Culver.

In Iowa, endorsement politics is old politics. Nobody “delivers” anything anymore, particularly in high-profile races. Yet we media people make a big deal out of them, despite the fact Iowa just doesn’t have the sort of machine politics once seen in urban areas or ethnic neighborhoods. In those places, an endorsement from a key political leader or organization means something, because that leader can produce votes for the anointed candidate. Even in those places today, such influence is on the wane.

In Vilsack’s case, he had to drop out of the presidential race because he was having trouble convincing fellow Iowans to support him. He was running third or fourth in his home state. Now, he’s going to try to persuade others that Clinton is the way to go?

We’ll see. To do that, he will first have some artful explaining to do. Here is a guy who was fashioning himself as a leading anti-war candidate in the race, and now he’s supporting a senator who won’t say she made a mistake in voting for the war? Here is a guy who bemoans the influence of big money in politics, but he’s endorsing a co-leader of one of the biggest political fundraising operations in the nation’s history?
(Tom Vilsack always has had a trial lawyer’s gift of gab, so we’ll all enjoy watching him talk his way through this one.)

Of greater value to Clinton may be the endorsement of Vilsack’s wife, Christie. She is a better campaigner than her husband and could prove helpful to Clinton in convincing women who have never participated in caucuses to turn out on caucus night for the senator.

The downside to Vilsack’s endorsement is it raises expectations about Clinton.

Winning caucuses is always a process of doing better than the political community “expects.” When media and political people hear Vilsack has endorsed Clinton, they’ll think she must be doing quite well in Iowa. After all, if she’s got the endorsement of the former governor, how can she lose, right?

Easy. Since he can’t deliver anyone but himself, she’ll have to earn the rest on her own. Yet by endorsing her, he just raises the informal threshold the political community sets for what constitutes a Clinton “win.”

If she fails to meet it, you’ll hear comments like “she had Vilsack’s endorsement and finished only third? That’s pretty weak.”

Should that happen, her national status as the front-runner will take a hit.

DAVID YEPSEN can be reachedat dyepsen@dmreg.comor (515) 284-8545.

Former Iowa Governor Vilsack Will Endorse Hillary Clinton

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.

Hillary Clinton in Iowa Talking with Pioneer Employees

Radio Iowa News

Clinton visits Pioneer facilities, talks ethanol

Monday, March 5, 2007, 11:35 AM

By O.Kay Henderson

New York Senator Hillary Clinton is touring the research facilities at Pioneer Hi-Bred at this hour, emphasizing her recent call to dedicate more federal resources to the production of ethanol using the entire plant, not just the kernels.

Clinton, a Democratic presidential candidate, suggests the federal government should spend $50 billion dollars on projects that help reach the goals of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Clinton argues a federal "Strategic Energy Fund" would help more rapidly deploy already-existing technology and accelerate the production of ethanol from the entire corn plant.

Clinton also wants a new federal agency to focus on energy projects. "A research agency similar to one that was started after Sputnik went up called DARPA which stands for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency," Clinton said this morning during an interview with Radio Iowa. "It was out of that agency that we had inventions like the Internet."

Radio Iowa Continued

Hilllary Clinton Speaking to Pioneer Employees in Johnston Iowa

Hillary Clinton in Dubuque

Senator Hillary Clinton Visits Dubuque

By Mark Geary, Reporter

Video High

DUBUQUE -- Hundreds of people from Eastern Iowa and Dubuque gathered at the University of Dubuque to listen to Senator Clinton talk about her plans for America and why she wants to be the next President of the United States.

When Senator Clinton entered the room, the crowd went wild. Within minutes, she was explaining to everyone how she would improve America.

"What are our goals today? What is it we stand for today? What is it we ask our young people to do, to be part of today? Well, I have some goals that I'm going to set as President," Clinton said.

She stressed issues like universal health care.

"I of all people know it's not going to be easy. I still have scars from my last experience of trying to get universal health care. But, I know how important it is, and I understand what it will take to get it done," Clinton said.

Education for everyone is another idea she believes in fighting for.

“I want to get back to looking at education the way that I remember it when I was going to public schools...as a community effort," she said.

Hillary Clinton in Iowa

Clinton says she should be elected on qualifications

Sioux City Journal


DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) -- New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, just hours from honoring the bravery of America's civil rights activists, said voters should focus on her qualifications, not her gender.

Asked Sunday night whether America was ready to elect a woman president, Clinton repeated the question.

"Will we ever elect a woman?" Clinton asked. "I'm not running as a woman. I'm running because I think I'm the best qualified and experienced person for president."

Clinton spoke to a crowd of 1,300 people who crammed shoulder-to-shoulder in an atrium and second-floor balcony on the Dubuque University campus.

Continued