2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

California Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Hillary Clinton

California Senator Dianne Feinstein Endorses Hillary Clinton

The Clinton Campaign announced today the endorsement of California senior Senator Dianne Feinstein, demonstrating Hillary's growing support in the Golden State.

"This is a very special moment for me because I have the opportunity to endorse the campaign of a U.S. Senator who I believe will be the first female President of the United States," Senator Feinstein said.  "Hillary Clinton, I believe, has the experience, the heart, and the strength to be a great American President.  There has been no election for President where change is as defined and necessary as this one.  The question is who is best equipped to lead that change. I believe it is Hillary."

As California's senior Senator, Dianne Feinstein has built a reputation as an independent voice, working with both Democrats and Republicans to find common-sense solutions to the problems facing California and the nation.

Since her election to the Senate in 1992, Senator Feinstein has worked in a bipartisan way to build a significant record of legislative accomplishments helping strengthen the nation's security both here and abroad, combat crime and violence, battle cancer, and protect natural resources in California and across the country.

In the 110th Congress, Senator Feinstein assumed the Chairmanship of the Rules and Administration Committee, where she oversees ethics, campaign and election reform.  Senator Feinstein also serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where she is the Chairman of the Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security Subcommittee. And she is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence.

"Dianne and I have fought side by side in the Senate to expand stem cell research, to take care of our veterans when they return home and to stop the privatization of Social Security," Clinton said. "Dianne is such a respected voice in the Senate, I'm honored to have her support as we work together to bring the war in Iraq to an end and deliver the change this country wants"

Clinton Campaign YouTube Debate Reviews Part 3

The Raves Pour In: Hillary 'Spectacular,' 'Presidential,' 'Wins Again'

When all is said and done, being president is about protecting the country. Through her comments on how to deal with hostile leaders like Kim Jong Il and Huge Chavez and what needs to be done to bring the troops home, Hillary showed that she has the strength and experience to deliver the change America wants starting on day one.

SURVEY USA POLL – AMERICANS 'WENT IN THINKING HILLARY CLINTON WOULD MAKE THE BEST PRESIDENT…CAME OUT OF THE DEBATE EVEN MORE CONVINCED': "Americans who watched the YouTube Democratic Debate 7/23/07 on CNN went into the debate thinking Hillary Clinton would make the best President of the 8 Democrats on stage, and came out of the debate even more convinced, according to an exclusive SurveyUSA poll." The poll found Hillary won the debate by a large margin. [Survey USA, 7/23/07 ]

DES MOINES REGISTER'S YEPSEN – HILLARY 'COOL AND COGENT': "She's cool and cogent and bears up well under discussions about her being a woman and what she wears. Male politicians, journalists and YouTubers who focus on that just help her rally support from other women." [DesMoines Register, 7/24/07 ]

DONNA BRAZILE – HILLARY WAS 'SPECTACULAR…IN COMMAND OF THE FACTS': “I thought Senator Clinton had a great answer when she said when she said we must withdraw our troops safely, carefully and in an orderly fashion so I thought Senator Clinton not only gave a great answer to that question but overall her debate performance was spectacular. She was in command of the facts. She understood the issues.” [CNN, 7/23/07]

TIME'S JOE KLEIN – 'A GOOD NIGHT' FOR HILLARY, 'JUDICIOUS AND PRESIDENTIAL': "Hillary Clinton--a good night….Clinton's pointing out that the groundwork had to be done was, dare I say it, judicious and presidential..." [Time, 7/23/07 ]

ABC NEWS’ THE NOTE – ‘CLINTON PREVAILS AGAIN’ [ABC News The Note, 7/24/07]

ANDREW SULLIVAN – 'HILLARY WINS AGAIN…SHE DESTROYED THE OPPOSITION TONIGHT': "Her response to the dynastic question - a difficult one - was the first time she has ever brought a smile to my lips…You know how much I hate to say this: but she destroyed the opposition tonight: out-classing it, out-debating it, and avoiding the usual pitfalls. I wish it weren't so, but it's what I saw. If she keeps this up, it's hers." [Andrew Sullivan, 7/23/07 ]

MICHAEL CROWLEY'S NEW REPUBLIC – 'BOTTOM LINE: GREAT NIGHT FOR HILLARY': But the one who stood out was Hillary. She shows really impressive poise and confidence, and didn't lose her stride even in the face of offbeat questions about her gender and voter fatigue with the Clinton and Bush families…Bottom line: Great night for Hillary. [New Republic, 7/23/07 ]

BILL PRESS – HILLARY WINS: "Forceful, in charge, good sense of humor." [CNN Scorecard, 7/24/07 ]

CNN'S BILL SCHNEIDER – HILLARY WINS: "Clinton had a very strong performance." [CNN Scorecard, 7/24/07 ]

WASHINGTON POST – HILLARY SOUNDED 'AS SHARP AS SHE HAS IN ANY OF THE PAST FOUR GATHERINGS: "Sounding as sharp as she has in any of the past four gatherings of the candidates, eagerly joined an exchange over immediately withdrawing troops from Iraq. She repeated her promise to end the war, adding: "But we want to do so safely and orderly and carefully." [Washington Post, 7/24/07 ]

CHICAGO SUN TIMES' LYNN SWEET – HILLARY 'HANDLED EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE WITH CALM CONFIDENCE. SHE EXUDED STRENGTH AND HUMOR: As in previous debates and forums, Clinton deftly handled everything and everyone with calm confidence. She exuded strength and humor. She made no mistakes. [Sun Times, 7/24/07 ]

WASHINGTON TIMES – HILLARY WAS 'CONVERSATIONAL…GOT BIG CHEERS': "Mrs. Clinton was quick to note each questioner's name and seemed conversational in her answers. She got big cheers in response to a question about whether her election would represent the change voters want because it would mean 24 consecutive years of presidents named either Bush or Clinton. 'Well, I think it is a problem that Bush was elected in 2000,' she said."[Washington Times, 7/24/07 ]

Clinton Campaign YouTube Debate Reviews Part 2

The Reviews Are In: 'A Very Big Win,' 'Amazing,' 'Strong and Steady'

CNN’S JEFFREY TOOBIN ON HILLARY – 'A VERY BIG WIN…A VERY GOOD DEBATER': “Hillary Clinton is the dominant figure in the party. She¹s the dominant figure in the debates and everyone else was responding to her… Hillary Clinton looked like somebody who might be president. It was a very big win for her on that question and I think this debate again showed her to be a very good debater.” [CNN, 7/23/07]

WASHINGTON POST’S CHRIS CILLIZZA PRAISES CLINTON AS ‘STRONG AND STEADY’:

ABC NEWS’ RICK KLEIN – 'CLINTON IS JUST AMAZING IN THIS FORMAT': "I'm sick of saying it myself, but Clinton is just amazing in this format. Really nice answer about why Congress isn't acting faster to end the war." [ABC News, 7/23/07 ]

UNIVISION’S MARIA ELENA SALINAS – 'HILLARY CLINTON SEEMS TO STAND OUT BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTNESS OF HER ANSWERS' [CNN, 7/23/07]

NBC NEWS’ CHUCK TODD – HILLARY’S RESPONSE WAS A 'COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ANSWER': "Her answer on who she would meet with in terms of controversial foreign leaders was an example of how she's having a better time selling experience than anyone else on that stage. That was a Commander-in-Chief answer. Obama's answer was fine but she found the hole in his answer (propaganda) and filled it brilliantly." [MSNBC’s First Read, 7/23/07 ]

HUFFINGTON POST’S JOHN NEFFINGER – CLINTON ‘STRONG ENOUGH TO BE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’: "The challenge for any woman candidate is to appear strong enough to be Commander in Chief. Hillary has thoroughly checked that box. You never hear the word "weak" used with her." [Huffington Post, 7/23/07 ]

NBC NEWS’ DOMENICO MONTANARO – HILLARY 'USED THE PENTAGON LETTER TO HER ADVANTAGE': "Clinton again has used the Pentagon letter to her advantage...the letter has been her Creatine -- so to speak." [MSNBC's First Read, 7/23/07 ]

“Clinton is, well, Clinton. Strong and steady.” [The Fix, 7/23/07 ]

Clinton Campaign YouTube Debate Reviews

The Reviews Are In: 'Polished,' 'Amazing,' 'Commander-in-Chief'

NBC NEWS’ CHUCK TODD – HILLARY’S RESPONSE WAS A ‘COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ANSWER’: “Clinton is always focused on the general election when it comes to foreign policy questions. Her answer on who she would meet with in terms of controversial foreign leaders was an example of how she's having a better time selling experience than anyone else on that stage. That was a Commander-in-Chief answer. Obama's answer was fine but she found the hole in his answer (propaganda) and filled it brilliantly.” [MSNBC’s First Read, 7/23/07 ]

NBC NEWS’ DOMENICO MONTANARO – HILLARY 'USED THE PENTAGON LETTER TO HER ADVANTAGE': "Clinton again has used the Pentagon letter to her advantage. She is flexing her newly found anti-war muscles and the letter has been her Creatine -- so to speak." [MSNBC's First Read, 7/23/07 ]

HUFFINGTON POST’S JOHN NEFFINGER – CLINTON ‘STRONG ENOUGH TO BE COMMANDER AND CHIEF’: "The challenge for any woman candidate is to appear strong enough to be Commander in Chief. Hillary has thoroughly checked that box. You never hear the word "weak" used with her." [Huffington Post, 7/23/07 ]

HUFFINGTON POST’S JOHN NEFFINGER – CLINTON ‘CLEARLY IN COMMAND OF THE ISSUE’: “She's clearly in command of the issue. Very strong on the policy elements of this. It's interesting to hear her discuss military operations in that level of detail." [Huffington Post, 7/23/07 ]

WASHINGTON POST’S CHRIS CILLIZZA PRAISES CLINTON AS ‘STRONG AND STEADY’: “Clinton is, well, Clinton. Strong and steady.” [The Fix, 7/23/07 ]

WASHINGTON POST’S CHRIS CILLIZZA – HILLARY’S ANSWER TO GENDER QUESTION ‘WAS POLISHED’ [The Fix, 7/23/07]

ABC NEWS’ RICK KLEIN – HILLARY ANSWER ABOUT DIPLOMACY WAS THE STUFF OF ‘EXPERIENCE': "That was an interesting division between Obama and Clinton on whether the president should meet with the leaders of rogue nations. Obama's answer was strong, but Clinton's was the stuff of -- wait for it -- experience." [ABC News, 7/23/07 ]

ABC NEWS’ RICK KLEIN – 'CLINTON IS JUST AMAZING IN THIS FORMAT': "I'm sick of saying it myself, but Clinton is just amazing in this format. Really nice answer about why Congress isn't acting faster to end the war." [ABC News, 7/23/07 ]

ABC NEWS’ RICK KLEIN – HILLARY'S ANSWER ABOUT HER GENDER WAS 'CONCISE AND RIGHT-ON': "Experienced and strong leadership" -- there's the Clinton message. Like in previous debates, her answer was concise and right-on." [ABC News, 7/23/07 ]

MYDD.COM – CLINTON’S SELF-IDENTIFICATION AS A ‘MODERN PROGRESSIVE’ IS A ‘PRETTY GOOD ANSWER’ [MyDD.com, 7/23/07 ]

Clinton Campaign Statement On The South Carolina Debate

Hillary: The Strength and Experience to Make Change Happen

Tonight in South Carolina, Hillary again demonstrated that she has the strength and experience to lead our country and deliver the change Americans want.

Hillary made it clear that she would engage in diplomacy around the globe, but would not meet unconditionally with dictators like Fidel Castro and Kim Jong Il who have shown no willingness to come to the bargaining table.

And she pressed President Bush to begin planning to redeploy our troops safely, so that we are better prepared to get out of Iraq then we were getting in.

Americans are ready for change, and Hillary showed she is ready to lead that change. She demonstrated her deep understanding of the issues and proved that she has the strength to tackle the big challenges facing America today. She outlined her plan to create a $50 billion strategic energy fund that would end tax breaks for oil companies and spur innovation and investment in clean and renewable technologies.

Hillary made clear: “We may be able finally to break that hardest of all glass ceilings, but obviously I’m not running because I’m a woman. I’m running because I think I’m the most qualified and experienced person to hit the ground running in January 2009.”

Clinton Campaign Announces Grassroots Drive To Reach One Million Supporters

One Million Making History
Campaign Announces Grassroots Drive To Reach One Million Supporters; Millionth Supporter Will Hit Campaign Trail With Hillary

As Hillary galvanizes grassroots support across the country, her campaign announced the “One Million Making History” drive today to sign up Hillary’s one millionth supporter.

Hillary’s one millionth supporter and a current supporter will be given a chance to hit the campaign trail with Hillary, joining her and her staff for a whirlwind day of campaigning.

“Every letter of support you’ve sent, every dollar you’ve contributed, every friend you’ve recruited, every blog you’ve written, every house party you’ve attended, every petition you’ve signed, every time you’ve shown your support, every one of these actions is the heart and soul of my campaign,” Clinton said.

Within 48 hours of launching her campaign, 100,000 people signed up to join Hillary’s effort. Six months later, the campaign is closing in on one million supporters, with more than 981,000 signed up today.

Grassroots support for Hillary’s historic candidacy is broad and deep. Supporters have joined Hillary’s email list, filled out supporter cards at rallies, made donations, signed up to volunteer, joined Women for Hillary, added their names to online petitions and held hundreds of debate watch parties

Clinton Sends DVD/Mailer to Iowa Democrats

Clinton Sends DVD/Mailer to Iowa Democrats Outlining Her Plan to End Iraq War

Early next week, Iowa Democrats will receive a DVD and mailer from Hillary Clinton outlining her plan to end the war in Iraq.  

The DVD features a recent conversation Hillary held in Muscatine with residents of Iowa to discuss her three-step plan to end the war. Clinton’s plan includes bringing our troops home safely, working to bring stability to the region, and replacing military force with a new diplomatic initiative to engage countries around the world in securing Iraq's future.

“I have said consistently that if [President Bush] doesn’t end the war in Iraq, I will,” Clinton says in the video. “When I am President, what I intend to do is send out a clear message to the rest of the world that diplomacy is back.”

The DVD includes interviews with Iowa caucus-goers about Hillary’s Iraq plan, as well as commentary from former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, retired Lt. General Don Kerrick, Dr. Julie Thomas of Cedar Rapids and former Ambassador Joseph Wilson. The mailer will arrive in Iowa homes early next week.

Fmr. Ambassador Joseph Wilson Endorses Clinton

Fmr. Ambassador Joseph Wilson Endorses Clinton

The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of leading Iraq war critic and former Ambassador Joseph Wilson.

“I have known Hillary Clinton for a decade. She is the one candidate who, in my judgment, understands the need to get Americans out of harm’s way and to move this to a political process,” Wilson said. “She knows what to do. She has the leadership. On day one, she will be able to reach out to the international community, and I am delighted to fight the fight with her.”

“Joe Wilson has stood up to this administration and held it accountable for the misinformation that led us into the Iraq war,” Clinton said. “I’m so pleased that we share the goal of ending this war so that we can begin bringing our troops home safely.”

A career diplomat in the US Foreign Service, Wilson spent more than 20 years in postings across Africa and the Middle East. He served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad, Iraq, from 1988-1991 on the eve of the Gulf War, and defied Saddam Hussein by giving shelter to hundreds of Americans and other foreigners. From 1992 to 1995 Wilson was Ambassador to Gabon and São Tomé and Príncipe, and later served as a special assistant to President Clinton and Director for African Affairs at the National Security Council.

Wilson is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Politics of Truth: Inside the Lies that Led to War and Betrayed My Wife's CIA Identity: A Diplomat's Memoir.

Richard Gephardt Endorses Hillary Clinton

Fmr. Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt Endorses Clinton
Gephardt Will Serve as Economic Adviser and Campaign Co-Chair

The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of former House of Representatives Majority Leader Richard Gephardt. He will serve as an Economic Adviser and Co-Chair of Hillary’s campaign.

“Hillary Clinton is the champion working families deserve in the White House,” Gephardt said. “Her commitment to health care for all Americans and her vision for this country make her uniquely qualified to be President. She’s got the strength and experience to deliver the kind of change America wants.”

“Dick Gephardt has devoted his life to public service, and will be an invaluable adviser and friend in this campaign,” Clinton said. “I’m honored that he will join me in our efforts to expand economic opportunity for all Americans.”

“Throughout his entire career, Congressman Gephardt has consistently stood with workers, and his endorsement of Sen. Hillary Clinton sends a powerful message,” said International President Michael Goodwin of the Office and Professional Employees International Union.  “Congressman Gephardt's role within Senator Clinton’s campaign combined with her strong record on behalf of working families in New York and throughout the nation ensures that the issues workers care deeply about will be central to her campaign.”

Gephardt was the leader of the House Democrats for nearly 14 years, serving as House majority leader from 1989 to 1995 and minority leader from 1995 to 2003. He became a national leader on health care, trade and tax fairness during his 28 years in Congress representing St. Louis.

As a Presidential candidate in 1988 and 2004, Gephardt elevated the economic concerns of working families, focusing on universal health care, retirement security, fair trade policies, shrinking school class sizes and promoting energy independence.

Gephardt is currently President and CEO of the Gephardt Group, and serves as advisory board chairman of the Richard A. Gephardt Institute for Public Service at Washington University in St. Louis.

Hillary Clinton Clear Lake Iowa Photos