Monday, January 29, 2007

Vilsack Raises $1.1 million

Former Governor of Iowa and Democratic Presidential hopeful, Tom Vilack has raised over $1.1million for his campaign.

Vilsack considers himself an outsider, but this is an impressive amount to have raised this far out. It came from over 1300 individual donors.

A Vilsack spokesperson said that "Vilsack's early fundraising success ensures that our campaign will be able to win Iowa and then the Democratic nomination based on his message of having the courage to create change in America."

Hillary Clinton already has over $14 million in the bank, and Obama has secured the support of John Kerry backer Alan D Solomont in a major boost to his campaign. George Soros has also said he will support Obama.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Vilsack - NO TROOP CAP

Tom Vilsack has again said that there should be no troop cap in Iraq, nor a phased withdrawal.

Vilsack is trying to differentiate himself from those in Congress like Hillary Clinton who are arguing for a cap of troops at 140,000 followed by a phased withdrawal. John Edwards is adopting a similar strategy.

Saying that capping troops is continuing the failed strategy, and is just the same as "staying the course", Vilsack said that "What we ought to be doing is aggressively redeploying troops out of Iraq."

Vilsack will be in Fort Dodge, Iowa today (Saturday) at a town meeting.

Clinton is also making a 2 day trip to Iowa this weekend - her first visit there in over 3 years. She has appointed the former chief of staff of Senator Harkin as a campaign advisor.

Senator Harkin is still a strong supporter of Vilsack, despite some heavy lobbying and photo opportunities this week by Clinton and Barack Obama.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Bush Tone Deaf - Vilsack

Tom Vilsack responded to President Bush's State of the Union Address by saying that his performance was "tone deaf and without substance."

Vilsack said that there was nothing new offered in the President's speech, despite the overwhelming desire for change from the America people.

Vilsack was looking for real solutions on things like immigration, healthcare, energy and the environment, but couldn't find them in the President's speech.

On Iraq, Vilsack said that Bush was only paying lip service to the catastrophe in Iraq, for which he has no real plan.

And Vilsack appeared to echo the sentiment expressed by John Edwards in recent weeks, that the Congress is not doing enough to bring about the end of the conflict. He said that "Congress has continued meandering discussions of non-binding resolutions and troop caps."

Monday, January 22, 2007

Tom Vilsack - Withdraw Troops - No Cap

Tom Vilsack opposes the capping of U.S troops in Iraq, arguing instead for a full withdrawal.

Vilsack was campaigning in New Hampshire late last week and was speaking to a group of seventh graders at a Londonderry school.

Joining John Edwards in arguing for Congress to oppose new funding for the escalation, Vilsack differs from other candidates Clinton and Obama on troop levels. Vilsack said that "I don't get the capping of troops. We've got to be taking troops out of Iraq"

Vilsack said that the amount of money being spent in Iraq was limiting the amount of money that could be spent at home.

Friday, January 19, 2007

Vilsack in New Hampshire - Welcomes Obama

As expected, Tom Vilsack will be visiting key state New Hampshire today and over the weekend. He will be spending today in Londonderry and Concord, followed by a trip to the Southern Tier on Saturday.

The Vilsack campaign welcomed Barack Obama's announcement that he was setting up an exploratory committee. This is the statement by Vilsack's campaign manager:

“We welcome Barack Obama and all the other candidates into the race. Voters across our country are going to hear a real debate about how to put the Bush years behind us and get America moving in the right direction. We’re glad that other candidates are joining the race. We look forward to a real debate about the issues as the other candidates begin to speak out.”

Monday, January 15, 2007

Vilsack - Campaign for President

Tom Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa, announced in November 2006 that he would be a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Vilsack is considered an outsider, but he does have the advantage of residing in the crucial first primary state, Iowa. Vilsack was a 2 term Governor of Iowa - when he won in 1998, he was the first Democrat to do so in 30 years.


Vilsack has also made at least 3 visits to New Hampshire.

Vilsack has been very active on the campaign trail, and being one of first Democrats to declare will be a boost to his status outside of Iowa.

Time Magazine has indicated that they believe Vilsack's odds at this stage to be 82-1. However, as the race heats up, expect that to drop.

Vilsack will be a stayer - and anyone who was a Governor of Iowa would most certainly be contesting that state.

Tom Vilsack is running to win. But having reportedly been considered by John Kerry as a Vice Presidential Candidate in 2004, there is also a strong chance that he would be on the short list for that role again should he not secure victory.