Iowa growing presidential hopes
As the July weather is growing corn higher than knee high by the 4th of
July, so also are the growing number of presidential hopefuls touring the
state during County Fair time.
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) is in central Iowa today and heading this weekend to
Eastern Iowa where he will be campaigning for Democrat legislative
candidates.
So too, Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA), who only ranked fourth in a Des
Moines Register’s Iowa Poll as to whom Iowa Democrats favored as their
presidential nominee, is stepping up his Iowa image building appearances.
Other Democrat hopefuls included in July visits are former Sen. John Edwards
(D-NC), Joe Bidden (D-MA) and former Gov. Mark Warner (D-Va) are planing
visits to Iowa soon.
Republicans visiting include Governors Mitt Romney (R-MA), Mike Huckabee
(R-AR) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Democrats' hit-men
The
LA Times does a lengthy profile piece on the two Democrats, Rep. Rahm
Emanuel (D-IL) and Sen. Charles Schumer (R-NY) who are in charge of knocking
off Republicans in the House and Senate respectively:
They have hand-picked candidates, crafted campaign themes, set fundraising
goals and micromanaged staff hiring decisions for candidates around the
country. In the process, these two big-city pols — Emanuel from Chicago,
Schumer from Brooklyn — are injecting a dose of discipline and drive among
traditionally unruly Democrats, who often suffer from the image that they
are too soft. "Both in terms of raising money and recruiting candidates, no
one is more focused and disciplined," said Steve Elmendorf, former top aide
to ex-House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.). "They do this 24/7
at 100% velocity every day. This is the focus we need."
Emanuel and Schumer bring the kind of whip hand to campaigning that leading
Republicans have wielded for years. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.)
tutored conservative candidates via audiotapes as he led the GOP to its
landmark 1994 election victory, which gave the party control of Congress for
the first time in 40 years. More recently, President Bush and his political
guru, Karl Rove, have been heavily involved in recruiting candidates —
efforts credited with helping the GOP maintain its congressional majorities
in the 2002 and 2004 elections.
Biden practicing Indian accent
Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) was caught on tape saying that, you can’t go into a
7-11 or a Dunkin Donuts in Delaware without a slight Indian accent. He said
that Indian Americans, refering to the nation of India, is the fastest
growing segment of the population in Delaware.
To see the clip, go to the
link.
Bush in Windy City
President Bush is in Chicago. His itinerary includes an overnight stay, a
dinner with local opinion leaders and Mayor Richard M. Daley, a breakfast on
Friday with business leaders and an afternoon tour of a microelectronics
plant in Aurora, in the home district of Representative J. Dennis Hastert,
the speaker of the House.
Huckabee’s literary endeavor
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) is writing a new book that is expected in
bookstores next year. Huckabee hopes the book will help him gauge support
for a possible 2008 Republican presidential bid.
Huckabee said his new book, yet untitled, will focus on policy issues he's
faced in his 10 years as Arkansas governor. Because of term limits, He will
leave office in January.
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