John Edwards for President-November 2007

November 2007

"Hopeful Edwards stumps in Iowa City"

Jenni Lee
11/30/2007 at 12:10 PM CT

The Iowa City Press-Citizen's Lee Hermiston wrote a great article about John's stop in Iowa City last night where he delivered remarks to the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council. It's worth a read:

"Up until Thursday night, Iowa City resident Susan McConnell had been trying to figure out which Democratic presidential candidate she will support in next year's election.

"Turns out, she only needed about an hour listening to what former North Carolina senator and presidential hopeful John Edwards had to say to make her decision.

"'I will definitely support him,' McConnell said at the conclusion of Edwards' remarks.

"McConnell was just one of more than 200 hundred people who filled the second floor ballroom at hotelVetro Thursday night to listen to Edwards speak. With more people in attendance than there were chairs available, Edwards laid out his plans for trade reform and touched on other topics, including improving the United States' reputation in the world and re-establishing itself as a leader in world affairs."

Click here to read the full article.

52 County Elected Officials Endorse John Today

George Stern
11/29/2007 at 4:41 PM CT

In an address to the Iowa State Association of Counties in Des Moines earlier today, John called for a "New Partnership" with local communities. John's agenda represents a dramatic departure from two decades of failure by the federal government to live up to its obligations to counties and other local governments – as well as property taxpayers.

He also earned the endorsement of 52 county elected officials at the event. One of the endorsers, Johnson County Supervisor Terrence Neuzil. had this to say:

"John Edwards has spent his life standing up for America's values - hard work, opportunity, equality. With John Edwards in the White House, county officials will finally have a President who supports local communities, both rural and urban. John Edwards will make sure our local communities have the resources they need to support our citizens."

Click here to read more and see the full list of endorsers.

Great Moral Test of Our Generation

George Stern
11/26/2007 at 8:28 AM CT

Today we're beginning to air a TV ad which focuses on John's belief that ensuring our children have a better life is the great moral test of our generation.

With only 38 days to go, we need you now more than ever. Please click here to find your local office and start volunteering today.

Thanksgiving Message from John Edwards

George Stern
11/21/2007 at 12:53 PM CT

Day 2 with John, Bonnie and Jackson

George Stern
11/21/2007 at 12:44 PM CT

Check out our pictures from the second day on the road with John Edwards, Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne. One of our most active Iowa supporters, who goes by the username "Inspired" and attended the Des Moines event last night, described it like this:

"I ran into a co-worker after it was over. She was in tears. Happy tears. This is how powerful John Edwards was tonight. Mixed with some great music, it was magical. She knows, like I've always known, that we support the right candidate."

Grinnell, Iowa

Surprise lunch stop in Newton, Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa

A Rocking Good Time in Iowa

George Stern
11/20/2007 at 1:19 AM CT

Yesterday and today, John's back in Iowa and he's joined by two very special guests - music legends Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne.

Bonnie is a widely respected Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Jackson has been making music for more than three decades and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame in 2007.

But even more importantly, both are John Edwards supporters!

At our three stops on Monday in Davenport, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, Bonnie and Jackson warmed up the several hundred person crowds with a few hit songs and great praise for the candidate they support.

"We didn't just throw these guitars behind anyone," Bonnie said at one point. "We thought very carefully about who we wanted to support and it's clear that on all the issues, John Edwards is leading."

In addition, to help kick off the two-day tour, Bonnie sent a voice message to our Iowa mobile list on Sunday afternoon talking about why she supports John. You can listen to the message here. And if you're not already on our list, make sure to text Iowa to 30644 to join.

Check out our pictures from Monday's events and be sure to join us Tuesday if you're in the Grinnell or Des Moines area.

Click here to Discuss

The Plan to Build One America

Dan Leistikow
11/15/2007 at 1:02 PM CT

Update: To further help Iowans learn all the details about John's plans for our country, we launched a new Iowa issues page today that lets you read the specifics on every policy and download fact sheets and the entire "Plan to Build One America" book. Check it out.

John Edwards has enormous respect for the Iowa caucuses, where issues and ideas still matter more than money and 30 second TV commercials. He believes he has an obligation to Iowans to let you know where he stands on all the important issues - so you can make an informed choice.

That's why John just unveiled an 80-page "Plan to Build One America" book laying out his policy proposals on a wide range of issues: ending the war in Iraq, guaranteeing universal health care, revitalizing rural America, stopping global warming, and much, much more.

If you'd like a copy, drop by one of our offices around the state, or download a copy here.

Meet the Millworker

Jenni Lee
11/14/2007 at 11:26 PM CT

Tony Leys of the Des Moines Register attended our first event in Dubuque today and wrote about the special guests John brought with him:

"Presidential candidate John Edwards, who often describes himself as 'the son of a millworker,' burnished his union credentials today with a surprise guest: The millworker.

"Edwards brought his parents, Wallace and Bobbie Edwards, with him to a United Auto Workers convention, where he pointed them out and referred to their struggles in small-town North Carolina.

"The Democratic candidate, who has been a successful trial lawyer and senator, recalled how hard his father worked in textile mills so Edwards and his siblings could attend college. He also recalled watching as the mills closed, jobs moved overseas and towns shriveled.

"'This is not an academic issue for me. And it is not a political issue for me,' he said. 'It is very, very personal for me.'"

Read the full article here.

Maintaining a Strong General Election Position

George Stern
11/14/2007 at 6:36 PM CT

In 2004, the general election hinged on Ohio. And in 2008, many political talking heads predict it will play an equally decisive role. So which Democrat has the best chance of carrying the important state?

According to a new Quinnipac poll released today, only one Democratic candidate leads against Republican front runner Rudy Giuliani in Ohio: John Edwards - by a margin of 46% - 40%.

Second Iowa Television Ad: Congress Shouldn't Have Health Care if Americans Don't

George Stern
11/13/2007 at 4:46 AM CT

Today, we're going live with our second major television ad in Iowa - a 30-second piece entitled "Health Care". In the ad, John describes his plan to hold Congress accountable for passing universal health care within six months of the beginning of his administration. Please take a look now and then pass it along to your friends and family.

Click here to Discuss

Complete Jefferson Jackson Dinner Speech

George Stern
11/10/2007 at 9:43 PM CT

John's complete speech from the Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner this evening:

Click here to Discuss

Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner Video

George Stern
11/10/2007 at 5:39 PM CT

Check out the video slideshow we made for the Jefferson Jackson Dinner.

Update: Here's what the "Edwards Vision" looks like outside:

And here's a picture from our march as hundreds of excited supporters joined John to rally before the event:

Click here to Discuss

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It!

George Stern
11/10/2007 at 4:21 PM CT

Tonight, at the Iowa Democratic Party's Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, John Edwards will call on America to rise up and meet the great moral test of our generation - ensuring that our children have a better, more prosperous life than we've had.

To properly cover the event and the significant momentum growing behind John's campaign, The Edwards Extra is printing a special Jefferson Jackson Dinner edition, following the highly successful Harkin Steak Fry edition in September and the 99-County edition last month.

If you aren't able to make it to Des Moines today, you can still get your hands on a copy of the paper:

Click here to download a full size PDF of The Edwards Extra.
You can also view The Edwards Extra online by clicking the image above.
- Click here to view answers to this edition's John Edwards Crossword Puzzle....but only after you've given it a shot!
To subscribe to The Edwards Extra email edition, click here and fill out an Iowa supporter card.

In addition, we just started an exciting pre-Jefferson Jackson Dinner rally with supporters from all across the state to show the thousands of caucus goers, Democratic activists, elected officials, and members of the local and national press who will be on hand just how strong our grassroots movement really is.

Join us at the Polk County Convention Complex, Room 205 on 501 Grand Ave in Des Moines from now through 6 PM.

Click here to Discuss

Small Town Surprise

George Stern
11/10/2007 at 1:18 AM CT

Tonight at John Mellencamp's several-thousand-person concert at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, the famous guitarist stopped about halfway through a rocking rendition of his hit song "Small town" and said:

"You know, I've got a friend that I've had for about the last seven or eight years. This guy's from a small town. And he just so happens to be running for President of the United States...Ladies and gentleman John Edwards has come to see the show."

Just then, the one and only John Edwards walked out - making a surprise stop at the end of the first day of his three day trip throughout Iowa.

It was a great way to end the night as John's message of standing up for regular, hard-working Americans from the biggest cities to the smallest towns continues to resonate with caucus goers across Iowa and John continues to gain momentum throughout the state and nationwide.

John Edwards has Sensible Priorities

Ben Cohen
11/09/2007 at 3:06 PM CT

Ben is the founder of Priorities Action Fund, a grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the inequities of our current federal budget. You might know him better, however, as the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.

Today I am proud to announce that Caucus for Priorities, a project of the Priorities Action Fund, endorses John Edwards for president.

Caucus for Priorities has over 10,000 members who have pledged to caucus for a candidate who is committed to cutting wasteful military spending and providing more money for urgent priorities like education, health care, renewable energy research, and other needs. And now, after several months of careful consideration, we have found our candidate in John Edwards.

Throughout this campaign, our members have attended John's town meetings across Iowa and found him to be a leader who listens - and always gives the straight answers Americans deserve from their president. As Commander-in-Chief, he'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe - but he'll also make sure Americans have health care, strong schools, and the opportunity to get ahead. He'll eliminate billions in wasteful Pentagon spending, and put our budget back in line with our values.

Click here to discuss

Avoiding Mistakes Of Iraq: A New Strategy for Iran

George Stern
11/06/2007 at 10:53 AM CT

On Sunday and Monday, John traveled throughout eastern Iowa to meet with caucus goers, highlight many of Iowa's heroes and deliver a major foreign policy speech on Iran.

In the speech, which he delivered in Iowa City on Monday morning, John rejected George Bush's "preventive war" doctrine and outlined five principles to deal with Iran:

"A famous philosopher once observed that those who don't remember history are condemned to repeat it. Unfortunately, the war in Iraq isn’t even history yet, but the Bush Administration is repeating the march to war with Iran - and they're getting help from people who should know a lot better. George Bush, Dick Cheney, and the neocon warmongers used 9/11 to start a war with Iraq and now they're trying to use Iraq to start a war with Iran. And we have to stop them."

We're On the Air!

George Stern
11/01/2007 at 2:53 AM CT

Today we're launching our first major television ad in Iowa. It's a 60-second piece entitled "Heroes". Please take just a minute right now to watch it, and then help us spread the word by passing it on to your friends and family.