2004 Presidential Campaign Blog

John Edwards Minnesota Rally

Senator John Edwards met with Democratic voters at Hamline University in St. Paul Friday afternoon to make a closing argument for Caucus-Day support. He outlined his plan to help middle class Minnesota families get out of debt, save, invest, and get ahead.

John Kerry: Fighting for Minnesota Families Rally

Twin Cities, MN – Minnesota for Kerry today announced that John Kerry will bring his fight for every vote to the Field House at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Wednesday at 5 PM.  The campaign rally comes on the heels of endorsements by the AFL-CIO and U.S. Senator Mark Dayton.  Having won 15 of the 17 primaries so far, Kerry isn’t taking any support for granted and is continuing to fight for every vote in Minnesota.

"Cleland" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

Senator Max Cleland Featured in New Kerry Ad
“John Kerry is the guy that can change this country”

February  25,  2004

Washington, DC – "Cleland"

30-second spot, airing in Georgia, Cleland tells voters that he is supporting John Kerry because he has the experience, character and courage to strengthen the economy and make this country safer.

John Kerry hit the airwaves today with a new ad that features Max Cleland, the former United States Senator from Georgia and decorated war hero.

In the 30-second TV spot, airing statewide in Georgia, Cleland tells voters that he is supporting John Kerry because he has the experience, character and courage to strengthen the economy and make this country safer. Cleland is campaigning for John Kerry across Georgia this week.
Along with Kerry’s crewmates from Vietnam, Cleland has led the charge of organizing Kerry’s “Veterans’ Brigade.” After serving in Vietnam, President Carter appointed Cleland administrator of the Veteran’s Administration, where he pioneered the “Vets Center program,” offering the first psychological counseling and physical care program to veterans. Before he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, Cleland served as the Georgia Secretary of State.  In 2002, he was appointed to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States.

Text of Ad:

Max Cleland: John Kerry is the guy that can change this country. John is a fighter. He’s experienced, he has character, he has courage. He stands head and shoulders above anybody else running for President. He understands that we need a strong economy, we need America at work.

John Kerry’s the one man that I would put my trust in to make this country safer.

John Kerry: I’m John Kerry and I approved this message because we need leadership that can change the direction of America.

Max Cleland: He’s been tested on the battlefield, he’s been tested in the United States Senate, and now he’s ready to be President of the United States.

"Jobs Lost" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

New Kerry Ad Highlights Jobs Lost Under Bush
Kerry: “We need to be on the Side of America’s Workers”

February  24,  2004

For Immediate Release
Cleveland, OH – "Jobs Lost"

As John Kerry, elected officials and labor leaders kicked-off a nationwide jobs tour today, the Kerry campaign announced the launch of a new television ad that will air Wednesday statewide in Ohio and in markets across upstate New York.

The 30-second ad emphasizes the devastating impact of the Bush economy on middle class families and John Kerry’s plan to put America back on track.
In Ohio today, John Kerry stood with locked-out workers in a closed steel mill in Struthers and then walked with those workers to a revitalized plant to see first hand the manufacturing jobs that can be created when communities invest in a working America.

Manufacturing workers in Ohio have struggled to maintain their jobs and wages, losing 160,100 manufacturing jobs since George W. Bush took office. And under George W. Bush’s plan to cut overtime pay, another 351,795 workers in Ohio would see their pay cut even as they spend more time away from their families.

Text of Ad:

John Kerry: 3 million jobs lost...that is an astonishing failure

Narrator: John Kerry’s got the strength and experience to fight for America’s jobs.

John Kerry: We need to be on the side of America’s workers

Narrator: His plan...End tax breaks that reward companies for shipping jobs overseas. New incentives to create and keep good jobs here. A real plan to get health care costs under control.

John Kerry: George Bush won’t do it. I will. I'm John Kerry and I approved this message.

Dick Cheney Minneapolis Fundraiser

Dick Cheney spoke at Bush Cheney '04  Fundraiser at the Minneapolis Hilton.

John Edwards Minnesota Rally

Edwards held a jobs town hall meeting in St. Paul, MN at the
Lakes and Plains Regional Council of Carpenters and Joiners Headquarters.

"Hire" New John Edwards 2004 TV Ad

New Edwards Ad 'Hire' Airs In Wisconsin Today 

MILWAUKEE, WI - The Edwards for President campaign in Wisconsin today began airing a new 30-second television ad titled "Hire." The ad details Edwards' pledge to keep American jobs here at home.
"Hire" is airing statewide. The script is below:

"We've lost over a million manufacturing jobs since NAFTA and some of these other trade agreements have passed. Well, in my mind providing security for America also means securing America's jobs right here at home. Remember about twenty years ago, America took on this motto 'buy American,' how about 'hire American.' Keeping our jobs right here in this country - where it belongs. That's what this campaign is about. You and I can do that together."
"Hire" is available online at: johnedwards2004.com

"More Than Anyone" New John Kerry 2004 TV Ad

New Kerry Ad Sends Bush a Valentine’s Day message
Names Him Undisputed King of Special Interests

February  14,  2004 Washington, DC –

George Bush officially cranked up the Republican smear machine this week by choosing to make his first campaign ad a misleading attack against John Kerry.  In fact, the ad was so misleading that Bush wouldn’t even appear in it to back up its claims.

In response to Bush’s misleading ad, the Kerry campaign today released a new ad entitled “More Than Anyone.” The ad – which will be emailed across the country -- will remind the American people that George Bush has taken more special interest money than anyone, ever.   
Using data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, the ad outlines the huge contributions Bush has taken from big oil and gas companies, big banks and investment firms and even Enron, and reveals the favors he gave these powerful special interests in return.  Given Bush’s record as the “King of Special Interests,” a Washington Post editorial today called Bush’s attack on Kerry a “brazen display of political chutzpah.”

“It’s the height of hypocrisy for George W. Bush – the undisputed king of special interests – to attack John Kerry on this issue,” said Stephanie Cutter.  “Bush is trying to attack to distract voters from his record of three million jobs lost, 41 million uninsured Americans, and a nation less secure today than when he took office. Each and every day, Bush gives the American people yet another reason to doubt his credibility.”

The new Kerry ad will be emailed to over 300,000 Kerry supporters across the nation, who will then be asked to send to 10 friends to reach over 3 million Americans.  By Monday, the ad is expected to reach well over 5 million people. 

The ad shows an empty Oval Office and a long list of special interest Bush contributors with the question on the screen: “Who’s taken more special interest than anyone?”  And unlike the Bush Internet ad, John Kerry is shown approving this message.  Below is a full transcript of the ad.

“More Than Anyone"

Announcer: "He’s taken $3.2 million from big oil and gas companies… and let America’s worst polluters re-write our environmental laws. "

"He’s taken $1.4 million from drug companies… and pushed through a $140 billion giveaway for the pharmaceutical industry. "

"He’s taken $8 million from big banks and investment firms… and just told us that “outsourcing” jobs to other countries is good for America. "

"Enron has been his single biggest contributor – over $600,000. "

"Who’s the politician who’s taken more special interest money than anyone in history? '

"The same one who’s attacking John Kerry’s record because he can’t defend his own.'

John Kerry:  "I’m John Kerry and I approved this message because together, we can defeat George Bush and the powerful special interests."

Howard Dean Minnesota Grassroots Fundraiser

MINNEAPOLIS--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., attended a grassroots fundraiser here at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak also stopped by the event.

"Rubber Stamp" New Howard Dean 2004 TV Ad

02/11/04 (00:30)
Ad "Rubber Stamp"

Narrator: They say his campaign has given the Democratic Party its voice back and helped reclaim its soul. Howard Dean had the courage to take on George Bush before it was politically popular on Iraq, health care and a balanced budget. Now the media tells us the race is over and the Washington insiders have won. So on Tuesday Wisconsin can be a rubber stamp or you can vote for real change.
Dean: I'm Howard Dean, and I approve this message because it's time to take our country back.