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10.03.07

A new campaign was launched this week by the John Edwards for President Campaign.  The new group, Iowa Students for President was launched in DesMoines on Sunday.

The new campaign’s goals are to help engage students in the political campaign.  Student leaders from colleges and universities around Iowa are helping lead the campaign.  They hope that this will help encourage student to vote.

The campaign’s website helps students learn more about Edwards, helps students register to vote, purchase Edwards merchandise, and shows ways to get involved in your community.  The campaign is also linked with the networking websites MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube.

The Edwards campaign also announced that they raised $7 million during the third fundraising quarter.  This announcement was made Monday.  The Edwards Campaign said that this puts them on track to raising their $40 million needed for the campaign. 

Sen. Edwards has tried to set his campaign up to reach all Americans, not just those that can give maximum donations.  Of the third quarter donations 97% were under $250, and 93% were donations under $100.

Columbus, Kentucky won a visit from Edwards.  The small town entered an online competition and members of the community voted and outbid other cities to win the competition.  Edwards is scheduled to visit Columbus Thursday Oct. 4.  Edwards said he is excited for the visit.  

“I grew up in a small rural town, so I've seen firsthand how the problems of rural America too often are forgotten by politicians living and working in far-off capital cities. This campaign is about fighting to change a broken system in Washington and building One America, where every single American, no matter where he or she comes from, has the opportunity to work hard and get ahead,” Edwards said.

Edwards will answer community member’s questions first, and then hold a press conference.

10.10.07

On Saturday Edwards released his six-point plan to end Genocide in Darfur.

            “I commend the Darfur Action Group of South Carolina for their work to bring awareness to Darfur.  I have faith that through their efforts, and the efforts of other groups from around the globe, we will be able to stop the genocide in Darfur.”

            Edwards plan is to convene an emergency NATO meeting, deploy our assets to support peace, lead a NATO support effort, create a no-fly zone, implement new sanctions, and lead a divestment effort.

            On Monday Edwards sent a letter to President Bush criticizing him for not extending the education benefits to the Minnesota National Guard troops who served 22-months in Iraq.  The letter asked Bush to stand up for the troops and give them what they deserve.

            Edwards said Tuesday, “Congress’ failure to pass tax reform that would have closed loopholes that let private equity and hedge fun managers pay only 15 percent in taxes on most of their income is a testament to the terrible power that lobbyists have to stop real reform – that would ensure a fairer America.”

The Edwards campaign announced Tuesday that 38 democratic leaders from North Dakota support John Edwards for president.

10.17.07

            Senator John Edwards began his two-day aBarnstorm for Rural Americaa tour across Western Iowa on Tuesday.
The tour will help the communities that are often forgotten have the opportunity to discuss campaign issues. Edwards says that he feels a connection with people from rural areas because that is where he grew up.
            Edwards said as president he will astand up to the big agricultural conglomerates and ensure fairness for family by enacting a national packer ban, enforcing county-of-origin labeling, imposing a moratorium on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and targeting farm subsidies to family farmers instead of corporations by limiting payments to a $250,000 per person.
            On Monday, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) of Iowa, California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, and Oregon announced that they endorse Senator Edwards for president.
            The members of SEIU in those ten states are close to one million people.
            Dave Regan, a representative of the Ohio and West Virginia SEIU, said, aJohn Edwards is the only democratic candidate with the vision, leadership and strength needed to win, not just the primary but also the general election. In the battleground states that I represent, Edwardsa broad appeal and strength at the top of the ticket will help the democrats in races at every level. He will help us build a true mandate that will bring real change to Washington, end the war in Iraq, bring truly universal health care, labor law and immigration reform a" and these are things that will improve the lives of working families across America.a

10.24.07

            On October 20^th John Edwards went to Las Vegas to speak with the Carpenters Union at a town hall meeting on worker training and job creation.

            The Carpenters Union is one of the largest unions and politically active in Nevada.

            According to the nation wide general election poll Edwards has the best chance of defeating the Republican candidate in the 2008 general election for President.

            The Edwards campaign released a statement responding to Hilary Clinton’s mailer to Iowa defending her Iran vote: "This morning we see that Senator Clinton is defending her vote to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. She was entitled to her vote just like she's entitled to defend it. The problem is her explanation to Iowa voters is different than her explanation to the New York Times. Her backers told the New York Times that her vote was about shifting from primary election mode to general election mode. Now she's telling Iowans something different. Apparently she has an Iowa mode and a Washington mode too. We have already seen the devastating consequences of triangulation and manipulation in Iraq. Particularly on the critical challenge on Iran, where the administration appears to be readying the guns of war, Democrats deserve a nominee who only has one mode - and that's ‘telling the truth’ mode."

            Edwards has received an endorsement from the North Carolina Association of Educators.  

            With this endorsement Edwards now has 3.1 million members in union support.  The union supporters include: Service Employees International Union, The Iowa Postal Workers Union, Transport Workers Union of America, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Joiners of America, and United Mine Workers of America.

10.31.07

            John Edwards has spent his week touring the east coast.  In an address to Chapel Hill, North Carolina he said he wants to reclaim Washington and restore the voice of the American people.  Edwards said “For the first time in our nation’s history, people are worried that we’re going to be the first generation of Americans to not pass on a better life to our children.  And it’s not the fault of the American people.  The American people have not changed.  The American people are still the strong, courageous people they have always been.  The problem is what our government has become.”

            Edwards spoke at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire on Monday.  Edwards spoke about his values and life.  Edwards said, “Maybe I have been freed from the system and the fear that holds back politicians because I have learned there are much more important things in life than winning elections at the cost of selling your soul.”

            Edwards also released a statement about the immunity agreements granted by the Bush administration to Blackwater.  He said, “These immunity agreements could prevent investigators from learning the truth about these mercenaries’ involvement in the recent deaths of 17 civilians in Iraq.  They will also undermine America’s moral reputation just at a time just when we most need to succeed in winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis.”

            John Edwards will finish this week in North and South Carolina, Louisiana, and then he will be coming to Waverly to speak in the Civic Center at 12:45 on Sunday.

11.07.07

Democratic Presidential hopeful Sen. John Edwards said Americans want change and he is the candidate for that change as he addressed Wartburg students and Waverly residents in a town hall meeting Sunday.

“We don’t need a surge in Baghdad. We need a surge in New Orleans,” he said. “We should be down there helping the people that are struggling.”

Edwards said the present government is infecting everything.

“Are we actually going to do something about a system in Washington that is rigged and corrupt?” he asked.

            Other issues the senator said the country is facing are health care coverage, global warming and economic inequality.

             “This is the worst it’s been since the great depression,” Edwards said. “We’ve got this mess of a war in Iraq, and we’ve got Bush and Cheney rattling the saber of the war in Iraq.”

11.14.07

            John Edwards received another endorsement this week.  On Friday, he accepted the endorsement of Caucus for Priorities.  This group, with 10,000 members, is a grassroots organization that educated the public on the status of our current federal budget.

            “For months, our members have attended his town hall meeting 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,” said Priorities Action Fun Founder Ben Cohen.

            On Saturday night the democrats held their national Iowa Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.  The dinner had about 9,000 Democratic activists.  Edwards was the first of six presidential candidates to speak.  “Washington is awash with corporate money, with lobbyists who pass it out, with candidates who ask for it,” Edwards said.

            In a speech given on Veterans Day in Des Moines on Sunday, Edwards talked about honoring veterans and remembering everything they did for us.  Edwards said, “In their name, let the world know that the fight for a greater America begins today.  For universal healthcare, ending poverty, honoring our veterans, reclaiming our democracy, and ending the war in Iraq.  For opportunity, inequality, justice and the idea of America.”

11.21.07

            John Edwards has released a Thanksgiving ad.  His ad shows that he is a family guy and that he cares about the people on earth.  The original ad was created for Palmetto State.  Similar ads will be airing in Iowa, and New Hampshire.  An interesting thing about Edwards’ ad is that it does not mention his South Carolina roots.

            “For two parents who worked so hard to give us a better life.  For thirty years with one amazing woman. And for four wonderful children.  For 231 years of America. For the hopes and determination of a nation filled with the most optimistic people on Earth.  And for all of you, who have welcomed us into your homes and hearts. Thank you.”

11.28.07

“Hell yeah I’m confrontational and I’m not ashamed of it.  We need a fighter in the White House,” Edwards said.

CBS News reported Edwards' change of attitude on Monday.  They said he is a man looking for a fight.  But Edwards says that his message is still positive. 

Edwards says that he is the best presidential candidate because his background as a trial lawyer gives voters hope.

“While you shop (for candidates), I hope you will think about two key things: Who can you trust to tell you the truth about what’s wrong in Washington, and who can you trust to fight like hell to make it right?  Those are the two things we need in the next president of the United States.”

Edwards said that he would fight like he fought in the courtroom to reclaim democracy. 

12.05.07

This last week John Edwards has stayed quite, while the other top candidates fought.  Edwards has been using what he learned, from his last run for the democratic nomination, in this race.  Though, Edwards has been accused of criticizing Clinton.

“Listen, I don’t think America benefits from any personal fighting between candidates.  They don’t care about fighting between politicians,” Edwards said.

            Edwards has been touring Iowa for six days, in preparation for the caucuses coming up on Jan. 3.

            Edwards spoke about the differences between him and Clinton in the National Public Radio debate, on Tuesday.

            Though some candidates have been gaining ground, according to the most recent Iowa polls, Edwards has had no gain.

            “I feel like we’re in a dead heat.  And we’ve been in a dead heat for months now,” Edwards said.