Vilsack Unveils List of more than 1,100 Committed Iowa Caucusgoers
Strong Early Support Reflects Superior Ground Organization
DES MOINES, IA -- Today, Democratic candidate for President Tom Vilsack hosted a conference call with reporters to highlight the unprecedented early strength of his field operation in Iowa. To demonstrate that early strength, Vilsack released a list of 1,159 Iowans who have publicly agreed to caucus for Vilsack. In addition, Vilsack told reporters today that his campaign has already opened seven offices across Iowa to recruit volunteers and build on his strong organization.
"Our campaign is making the kind of early investment of time and resources to secure more early support than any presidential candidate in either party," said Vilsack. "We'll use this organization to talk to Iowa voters about our plan to bring change to America, make us independent of Mideast oil and get our troops out of harm's way in Iraq."
Earlier this week, the Vilsack campaign announced that National Field Director Travis Brock has re-located to New Hampshire to build a similarly strong ground operation in the first-in-the-nation primary state. Last week, Vilsack was the first Presidential candidate to call on Congress to act on their constitutional and moral responsibility to get our troops out of harm's way in Iraq.
Jerry Crawford, former chair of the Polk County Democrats and Iowa State Chair of the John Kerry Campaign in 2004, said the Vilsack campaign was building the kind of grassroots support that's critical to winning the Iowa caucuses: "Tom's organizational advantage in Iowa will enable him to win the Iowa caucuses over rock star candidates with more money to spend," said Crawford. "The Vilsack campaign's early strength is evidence that Iowa Democrats are beginning to view Tom as the strongest general election candidate in the Democratic field."
Gordon Fischer, former Chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said Vilsack's courage to create change in America and commitment to getting American troops out of harm's way in Iraq is resonating with Iowa voters. "Iowans recognize that as an outsider, Tom is the Presidential candidate best prepared to move our country forward," said Fischer. "His strong call for an immediate end to the war in Iraq is winning him the support of voters all across Iowa."
Vilsack was the first Democratic candidate for President to announce his candidacy, the first to question the McCain Doctrine, and the first to urge Congress to stop funding the war in Iraq. Vilsack is a Washington outsider with a proven track record of expanding access to healthcare and early education, as well as making Iowa a national leader in renewable fuel production.
Listed below are the locations of Vilsack campaign offices across Iowa:
Des Moines/Polk County, Ames/Story County, Cedar Rapids/Linn County, Davenport/Scott County, Waterloo/Black Hawk County, Sioux City/Woodbury County, and Council Bluffs/Pottawattamie County.
