John Edwards for President-September 2007

September 2007

When It Rains, It Pours...

Pat Maloney
9/07/2007 at 2:49 PM CT

As the Des Moines Register picked up today, John Edwards received the endorsement of his fourth national union on Thursday when the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) announced their support.

TWU President James C. Little explained their decision to back Edwards:

"Some candidates seem to be figuring out how to best triangulate on campaign issues. John Edwards takes on subjects such as job security, health care, retirement and the growing gap in wealth between the rich and the middle class in a straight forward way that the country and working families desperately need."

The 200,000 active and retired members of the TWU bring John's total bloc of union support to over 2 million - far and away the most of any presidential candidate.

As we head into the fall and the campaign starts heating up, more and more caucus goers and voters here in Iowa and nationwide are joining John Edwards' campaign to change America. The momentum is building! Please help us continue to strengthen it by asking your friends and family to join us too.

Standing Firm on Iraq

George Stern
9/06/2007 at 2:03 PM CT

At nearly every event over the Labor Day holiday -- and over the last year -- Iowans have told Senator Edwards that one of their top priorities is ending the war. Senator Edwards has been an outspoken leader on this issue, not only promising to end the war as President but encouraging Congress to take action now to stop the war.

With General Petraeus set to make a report to Congress in the coming days about the situation on the ground, George Bush stubbornly claiming that the escalation has been a success and asking for another $50 billion, and media reports that the Democratic Congress may cave on demanding a withdrawal date, Senator Edwards is speaking out again and urging Congress to stand firm.

Earlier today, he had this to say:

"In 2006, the American people elected a Democratic Congress to change course and end this war. It's the whole reason the American people voted for change. Yet, 10 months after the election, we still have the status quo and Congress has still failed to do the people's will. That might be the way they do it inside the Beltway, but it's not the American way. It's time to stand up for the American people and against President Bush's failed, stubborn policy. Without a firm deadline, a small withdrawal of only some of the surge troops won't cut it-that's not a solution, it's an excuse. Congress must not send President Bush any funding bill without a timeline to end this war. No timeline, no funding. No excuses."

Senator Edwards' plan calls for the immediate withdrawal of 40,000-50,000 troops from Iraq and the withdrawal of all combat troops within the next year.

Let's hope that Congress and our President get the message.

Along the 2 (or 3) Mile Parade Route

George Stern
9/04/2007 at 1:32 PM CT

Senator Edwards finished his three-day Labor Day weekend tour through Iowa yesterday, beginning with the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor's Labor Day Parade and Picnic in Des Moines.

The parade begins at the gold-domed state capital and continues along mostly residential streets to the state fair grounds -- about a two mile walk.

But when you're zigzagging back and forth because people on both sides of the street want to, as one woman put it to her granddaughter, "shake the hand of the next president of the United States," it's probably more like three miles.

Little known fact about our next president, though: John runs four to five miles a day, so the few mile walk was no sweat...or at least not too much -- it was 90 degrees, after all.

The Steelworkers were right in front of us throughout the parade and many were holding and wearing John Edwards signs and stickers -- thrilled about their union's endorsement of John Edwards earlier that morning.

Our group included more than 200 energetic volunteers and staff. It was led by two young boys proudly holding a large John Edwards banner who were followed closely behind by members of East High's cheerleading squad. From back flips to basket tosses to several catchy cheers (my personal favorite: "We love Elizabeth, we love John, we want to see them on the White House lawn"), they were certainly, as Senator Edwards observed, "working hard."

John was having a great time shaking hands, signing autographs, taking pictures, and talking to everyone along the route. I think the only hard part about walking in a parade for him is that you have to keep moving. He'd stay and chat all day if he could.

All along the route people were telling him they'd caucused for him once and were proudly going to caucus for him again, noting that he was the only presidential candidate to participate in the parade, and thanking him for being outspoken on the issues that mattered to them.

Providing an impressive backdrop for John was our float - full with hay bails, balloons, a lively five-piece band, and waving supporters. Alongside were dozens more marchers. Little kids who were wearing their creatively made, lifesaver-shaped "John Edwards is a lifesaver" signs were running back and forth passing out candy to everyone in sight. Other supporters were holding signs, waving to the crowds, and joining in the cheers. And organizers were busily collecting information from the many newly identified John Edwards' supporting caucus goers.

When we reached the fair grounds, John and the whole group continued on to the 4-H building where hundreds of union workers were gathered to listen to speakers, eat hot dogs, and celebrate Labor Day. John received a warm welcome and many loud ovations as he spoke passionately to the crowd about the issues important to working Americans -- including improving labor standards, protecting and strengthening the right to organize, and passing universal health care.

Afterward, it was off to Osceola and Chariton for two final community meetings.

From challenging questions to positive comments to an only-in-Iowa train delay, Senator Edwards had a great holiday weekend in Iowa as he continued to build on his strength and momentum here.

Now, it's critical that we continue to grow our effort. Please help us right now by asking five of your friends and family members to join us. And afterward, make sure to check out more pictures from the parade route:

More Great News

Pat Maloney
9/03/2007 at 9:52 AM CT

Today, on Labor Day, at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the United Steelworkers and the United Mine Workers of America threw the support of their combined 1.3 million members behind John Edwards. The Steelworkers have a significant presence in Iowa and will be a big help to our organization here.

After receiving the endorsement of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners in America on Thursday, Senator Edwards now has the support of over 1.8 million members and retirees - far and away the most among any of the presidential candidates.

Steelworkers President Leo Gerard explained his union's endorsement with these words:

"Senator John Edwards is committed, as he has been throughout his life, to going to bat for everyday Americans and to changing a broken political system that leaves millions of Americans without a voice in their government. Edwards is right on the issues that matter to us, and he's the candidate with the best chance of winning in the general election. The big corporations don't need another president who does their bidding. It's time we had a president who will fight for working people - and that's what John Edwards will do."

Cecil Roberts, the President of the United Mine Workers added:

"We need a president who cares about ordinary working people instead of the richest Americans and the big multinational corporations. We believe John Edwards is that person, and we will work as hard as we know how on his behalf anywhere and everywhere we can."

Senator Edwards and the campaign could not be more honored to have the endorsement of millions of hard working men and women.

We can feel the momentum building! Please join us in this effort and make sure to ask your friends and family to do the same.

Four Great Stops on Our Labor Day Weekend Tour

Dan Leistikow
9/02/2007 at 11:09 PM CT

Dan Leistikow is our campaign's Iowa Communications Director

The second day of our three-day Labor Day weekend swing through Iowa started in Tipton, where over 200 people turned out for a community meeting with Senator Edwards.

After giving a short speech, John opened it up to questions, and something quite remarkable happened. John actually knew two or three of the people who asked questions. He remembered them from past events, and knew what their questions were going to be about. And even though he knew from experience that the askers weren't necessarily going to agree with his answers, he took the questions and responded frankly and honestly.

This actually happens fairly frequently, because John does town hall style events so often, and because there are so many very active citizens who regularly go to these events to challenge candidates on issues that are important to them, like the war in Iraq, AIDS funding, or wasteful military spending.

During the event, he also commented on a recent AP report that August was the second deadliest month in Iraq - with more than 1800 civilians killed. It's yet another sign that George Bush's surge isn't working and we need to change course. You can read Senator Edwards' full statement here.

After Tipton we traveled to Clinton for the Labor Congress' Labor Day Picnic and then it was on to Bettendorf for a town hall. But not so fast. John was running a few minutes early en route Bettendorf when we came to a railroad crossing just as a train was very slowly beginning to roll by.

Now I've spent a lot of time in Iowa, and I'm a native of the Midwest. But I can say in all honesty that this was the longest train I have ever seen in my life. And right as it was finishing, a second, excruciatingly long train appeared on a parallel track, delaying us even more. Some things you just can't control!

We ended up arriving about 25 minutes late, but the caucus goers waited patiently and were happy to see John when he arrived. They were also very understanding - after all, trains yield to no one.

At our final event in Sigourney, a woman spoke eloquently and emotionally about her son who can't get coverage from his employer's health care plan because of his pre-existing conditions. He had to buy his own, individual plan as a result, and she's worried that he won't be able to afford the coverage down the road. She's also discouraged by the influence of lobbyists and doubts universal health care is a possibility because of them.

John empathized with her and encouraged her. He assured her that when he becomes president, he'll fight to bring about universal health care. He talked about how he'll walk out onto the White House lawn and challenge the drug companies head on. The answer was met with rousing applause, and the event stayed consistent with a day full of great crowds, great weather, and great enthusiasm.

We hope you'll join us tomorrow as John makes three final stops in Des Moines, Osceola, and Chariton.

As Overheard at a John Edwards for President Community Meeting...

George Stern
9/02/2007 at 11:12 AM CT

John started his three-day, eight-stop Labor Day weekend trip through Iowa in Vinton - a small, picturesque town about 40 minutes outside of Cedar Rapids.

More than 200 people turned out Saturday evening for the standing room only event in the sawdust coated warehouse of McDowell's Lumber.

The enthusiastic crowd gave John a warm welcome - laughing and applauding along to his passionate speech and asking great questions on everything from stopping George Bush from rushing to war with Iran to improving our public school system.

But as I walked through the crowd snapping pictures and listening, some of the neatest things said were those spoken from one caucus goer to another...

Just before John arrived, two guys with baseball caps in their early twenties approached the warehouse after seeing a big crowd and a bunch of signs (a strange sight on a Saturday night in this small Iowa town) and asked a much older man what was going on.

"Senator John Edwards is about to arrive," the man told them.

"John Edwards? Here? I love John Edwards," one of the younger guys exclaimed. "I just got in an argument with someone earlier today about how he's going to win and not those others."

"But what's he doing here in Vinton," his friend asked. "At a lumber house?"

"He always speaks at places like this. Nothing flashy."

***

After John immediately answered "yes" and gave specific details when a woman asked if he had a plan to provide support for over-worked nurses and health care workers, a middle-aged woman said to an older woman next to her:

"Did you hear that? No other candidate could do that."

***

After getting their picture taken with Senator Edwards, a woman said to her husband:

"Now we have our Christmas card! That was worth the four and a half hour drive."

***

An older gentleman said to his wife as Senator Edwards walked by shaking hands and signing autographs:

"See him? 'E's wearin' jeans and a shirt jus' like me. That's my kind of president."

***

A short, determined woman said to one of our clipboard-holding organizers:

"Where can I find one of those supporter cards? I've seen all the candidates now and my mind is made up."

Click here to discuss

John's Back for Labor Day Weekend

George Stern
9/01/2007 at 9:07 AM CT

After a hugely successful seven-day bus tour through Iowa, and a strong performance at Lance Armstrong's Presidential Cancer Forum in Cedar Rapids last Monday, John Edwards is coming back to the state for a three-day, eight-community visit this Labor Day weekend.

Throughout the holiday weekend, John will be meeting with caucus goers and working families to discuss the issues important to working Americans -- ending the war in Iraq, providing universal health care, strengthening the labor movement, and taking on the powerful special interests in Washington who have rigged the system against regular people.

The trip starts tonight with a community meeting in Vinton.

On Sunday, Senator Edwards begins the day with a community meeting in Tipton, then heads to Clinton to participate in the Labor Congress' Annual Labor Day Picnic. Later in the day tomorrow he's holding a town hall meeting in Bettendorf, followed by a community meeting in Sigourney.

Finally, on Labor Day, John will participate in the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor's Labor Day Fest in Des Moines and hold two more community meetings in Osceola and Chariton.

You can see our full schedule with all the details on our Iowa events calendar.

We hope to see you this weekend!

And even if you can't make it to any of the stops, make sure to check back here over the next three days as we post photos and reports from the road.

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