Edwards Nabs Coveted Iowa Endorsement, Iowans for Sensible Priorities

Edwards Picked Over Obama as 'The Un-Hillary'
Former North Carolina Senator Nabs Coveted Iowa Endorsement


DES MOINES, IA -- Iowans for Sensible Priorities, a group seeking to redirect spending from the Pentagon to domestic needs, plans to endorse John Edwards Friday in Des Moines.

The decision to endorse Edwards over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama came down to "courage versus caution," according to the group's executive director.

"There's a rhetoric gap with Obama," executive director Peggy Huppert told ABC News. "He told me personally: 'Trust me. Ideologically, I'm with you.' But people have told him to be afraid of being pushed too far to the left. He doesn't bring up on his own. He doesn't incorporate it into his speeches. He skirts around it. He talks around the edges. He never gets to the heart of it in strong, bold language."

Edwards, by contrast, won over the group with his harder edge.

Edwards boosted his chances of winning the endorsement Oct. 26 when Huppert asked him at an Iowa town hall meeting how he would respond to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the GOP's national front-runner, saying the day before that Democratic support for reducing Pentagon spending amounts to a lack of concern for defeating what Giuliani calls "the terrorists' war on us."

"Edwards gave an excellent answer," said Huppert. "He said we have to stop buying into their frame which equates spending money on the Pentagon with keeping us safe. He also said we can't have a Democratic candidate who cowers and runs away from this issue."

more...

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3840606&page=1

With the help of Dennis, you will win the prize in Iowa...Go Big John.

Would you explain, please.

Not at all. I hope Iowa voters are smarter than that.

There may be legitimate reasons for choosing Edwards, but the explanation given in the article by this group's leader isn't one of them in my opinion.

Maybe the coveted Joe Lieberman endorsement will placate you?

Democracy ,assaulted by Blatant abuse and Blind complacency.

would follow your lead.

:thumbsup::loveya::kick:

:applause:

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/11/exclusive_edwards_to_be_endorsed_by_key_iowa_group.php

Edwards To Be Endorsed By Key Iowa Group
By Greg Sargent - November 8, 2007, 5:58PM

I've just learned from several sources that John Edwards will be endorsed by the fiscal group Iowans for Sensible Priorities, a very good get for Edwards in the key early-primary state.

A source on a rival campaign confirmed that the group decided to endorse Edwards; the decision will officially be announced tomorrow morning. The endorsement is a key one because it could potentially deliver a large block of thousands of caucus goers to Edwards.

Peggy Huptert, the head of the group, refused to confirm or deny whether the group had decided to back Edwards. But she did agree to discuss the general importance of the endorsement with Election Central.

"We have 10,000 Iowans who have taken a pledge saying they will vote in the caucuses and only support a candidate who supports shifting 15% of wasteful Pentagon spending into other priorities," Ms. Huptert said, describing her group's litmus test issue. I was unable to immediately confirm whether Edwards had in fact made this pledge.

Ms. Huptert added that all the main candidates had submitted questionaires to the group in search of its support. She noted that the winner of the group's endorsement (who she declined to confirm) would in effect get the support of all these members in one fell swoop. But others in Presidential politics pointed out that this is the first time the group is endorsing in this manner, so its ability to move votes remains untested. We won't know the full significance of Edwards' get until the votes are cast.

Still, the Edwards campaign -- which also declined to confirm the group's decision -- are already announcing a mystery event for tomorrow and are already looking to build excitement around it. The campaign already has an advisory out promising an "Important Campaign Announcement" for tomorrow in Des Moines.

is that he is so damn "Rational" ! I love it - more feet on the ground in Iowa. Go, Johnny, GO!

for sure or bobbin', weavin', and dodgin' the questions. Glad to see this from Iowans!

:yourock:

another 10,000 pairs of feet on the ground for Edwards in Iowa! Apparently they have caucus goers in all 99 counties that will help in getting JRE's message out! :hi:

:toast:

What a great endorsement for John Edwards! :bounce: