2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Hillary Clinton Schedule: December 30-31, 2007

Hillary Clinton Schedule: December 30-31, 2007

Hillary Clinton continues her “Big Challenges, Real Solutions– Time To Pick A President” Tour in Iowa on Sunday, December 30.

On Sunday, December 30, Hillary will appear on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Clinton attends church in the morning in Des Moines. In the afternoon, Clinton attends “Pick a President” events Vinton, Traer, Cedar Falls, and Iowa Falls.

On Monday, December 31, Hillary attends “Pick A President” events in Keokuk and Fort Madison. In the afternoon, she will attend “New Year, New Beginnings Celebration” events in Muscatine and Waterloo, and Des Moines. The Des Moines event will also hosted by President Clinton.

Edwards To Hold 36-Hour "Marathon For The Middle Class" Starting January 1st, 2008

EDWARDS TO HOLD 36-HOUR “MARATHON FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS” STARTING JANUARY 1ST, 2008
Over 36 hours, Edwards will discuss 36 bold ideas for strengthening the middle class

Des Moines, Iowa – In the final hours leading up to the Iowa caucuses, Senator John Edwards will hold a 36-hour “Marathon for the Middle Class.”  Starting January 1st, 2008, Edwards will campaign across Iowa for 36 hours to talk to thousands of caucus goers and share 36 ideas to strengthen the middle class.  As he makes his closing argument to Iowans, Edwards will highlight his bold plans to stand up to the powerful special interests and give hard working, middle class families a voice in Washington.

“Middle class families are working hard everyday just to get by, and they deserve a president who will work just as hard on their behalf,” Edwards said.  “I’m looking forward to meeting with Iowans across the state over the 36 hours who are as restless as I am for change – and who understand that making change happen is going to take a fight.  Together, we can take on the special interests and do what’s right for middle class families.”

During each hour of the 36-hour marathon – at events and on JohnEdwards.com/Iowa – Edwards will highlight one specific step to strengthen the middle class.  Edwards has outlined his bold solutions for change in an 80-page policy book, “The Plan to Build One America.”

Edwards will kick off the 36-hour “Marathon for the Middle Class” the morning of January 1st, embarking from Des Moines for a New Year’s Day event in Ames.  The marathon will end with a “This is our Country” rally back in Des Moines with John Mellencamp.  During the marathon, Edwards will campaign in 15 different counties across the state: Appanoose, Cass, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Johnson, Lee, Linn, Polk, Pottawattamie, Poweshiek, Story, Union, Wappello, and Webster.

During this final eight-day, “America Rising: Fighting for the Middle Class” bus tour, Edwards is traveling to 38 counties around the state, meeting with caucus goers to highlight his plans and answer their questions.  Edwards is holding small roundtable discussions and community gatherings, meeting with Iowans at local diners, and holding “America Rising” town halls to encourage Iowans to caucus for him and help change America.

The Edwards campaign recently announced the “Ask John” program, which allows undecided voters from across Iowa to submit questions about Edwards’ plans to fight for the middle class and receive answers by caucus time.  As part of the “Ask John” program, Edwards will answer questions from caucus goers in all 99 counties.

Obama Campaign Releases New TV Ad: “Hope”

Obama Campaign Releases New TV Ad: “Hope”

DES MOINES – Today, the Obama Campaign began airing a new television ad titled, “Hope”.  Newspapers across Iowa have praised Obama’s politics of hope and commitment to unify our country to bring about change we can believe in.  The Sioux City Journal said Obama “can bring a fractured people together” and “take on special interests.”

The campaign’s new ad highlights praise from Iowa newspapers.

See below for the ad script:

"Hope"

["I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message."]

“We want a politics that’s not based on fear but based on hope.”

Only Barack Obama can bring a fractured people together.

He’ll inspire and get things done and take on the special interests.

Obama will reset our foreign policy and global reputation, and he embodies the hopes of our nation.

Iowa’s newspapers have spoken –- now you can stand up for change.

“If you join me, we’re going to take our country back.”

Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Permanently"

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "PERMANENTLY"

Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Permanently."  The ad highlights the critical choice Americans will have to make when it comes to confronting the growing problem of illegal immigration.  On this issue, the records are very clear.  In the United States Congress, Senator John McCain championed a bill to let every illegal immigrant stay in America permanently.   In Massachusetts, Governor Romney opposed driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, vetoed in-state tuition breaks for illegal immigrants and authorized state law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.  On enforcing our immigration laws, there's a big difference between Senator McCain and Governor Romney.    

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in New Hampshire.

Script For "Permanently" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY:  "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER:  "Mitt Romney and John McCain on immigration.

"McCain championed a bill to let every illegal immigrant stay in America permanently.

"He even voted to allow illegal immigrants to collect Social Security.

"Mitt Romney said 'no' to driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

"'No' to tuition breaks for illegal immigrants, and he authorized his State Police to enforce federal immigration law.

"On illegal immigration, there's a big difference."

Edwards To Hold "This Is Our Country" Rally With John Mellencamp

EDWARDS TO HOLD "THIS IS OUR COUNTRY" RALLY WITH JOHN MELLENCAMP

Des Moines, Iowa - On Wednesday, January 2, 2008, Senator John Edwards will hold a "This Is Our Country" rally in Des Moines with singer-songwriter John Mellencamp. The rally will be the culmination of seven days on the road as part of Edwards' 38 county "America Rising: Fighting for the Middle Class" bus tour. 

"Hard working Americans are struggling to get ahead, while big, powerful corporations are threatening our children's futures," Edwards said. "I've been fighting my whole life for people like the ones I grew up with in the small town of Robbins, North Carolina. It's time for America to fight against these special interests and save the middle class - to start a wave of change right here in Iowa."

Edwards and Mellencamp are longtime friends. They both grew up in small American towns, Edwards in Robbins, North Carolina and Mellencamp in Seymour, Indiana.  Mellencamp, nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008.

Edwards' "This Is Our Country" rally will take place in the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines.  Doors open at 8:30 PM on January 2. Tickets are limited. Members of the general public can pick up tickets at the John Edwards for President Iowa headquarters or the office of United Steelworkers Local 310, both in Des Moines, during select times between Sunday, December 30th and Wednesday, January 2.

New Barack Obama Website Design Preview

The Barack Obama website is down for maintenance and it looks like it will be back up with this new design soon.

The Web Site: A Little Refresh
By Joe Rospars - Dec 29th, 2007 at 7:54 am EST

It starts with Iowa and before you know it more than half the states in the country will have weighed in by February 5th. We're about to head into what will be the decisiive contests of this election, and this morning we gave our web site a bit of a refresh in order to prepare for it.

Things may look a little different, but the experience should be familiar for those of you who are regular visitors. My.BarackObama.com, for example, has been a work in progress from the very beginning thanks to your suggestions and feedback, and it will continue to evolve over the coming weeks.

Instead, we've focused this refresh on making sure those coming to the site for the first time are able to get all the information they need and find their way to what interests them the most.

The biggest changes are to the front page of the site, where we'll now be able to present a lot more information in a clear, concise format. You'll see more of the blog, more of the latest news, and more about events across the country on top of all the ways you can get involved. You'll also find a map and a list of states to help folks find ways to get involved wherever they live.

For those looking to learn more about Barack's positions, we also expanded the policy/issues section with more topic areas and more types of content for the various topics.

As with any changes, there are bound to be bugs and breakages, so please let us know in the comments of this post if you experience any problems.

We hope you and the thousands of new people who join over movement every day will find the site that much more useful as a result.

John McCain 2008 Launches New Television Ad, "Consider"

JOHN MCCAIN 2008 LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "CONSIDER"

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today launched a new television ad in New Hampshire, entitled "Consider," responding to Mitt Romney's negative attack ad.
"Consider" will run on New Hampshire and Boston television.

Script for "Consider" (:30-TV)

JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

ANNCR: As you hear Mitt Romney attack John McCain, consider these words from New Hampshire newspapers.

The Union Leader says John McCain has "conviction" and "Granite Staters want a candidate who will look them in the eye and tell them the truth."

"John McCain has done that."

"Mitt Romney has not."

The Concord Monitor writes, "If a candidate is a phony ... we'll know it."

"Mitt Romney is such a candidate."

That's why Romney's hometown newspaper says the "choice is clear:" John McCain.

Obama Campaign Unveils TV Ads: “Interest” and “Listening”

Obama Campaign Unveils TV Ads: “Interest” and “Listening”
Obama: Lobbyists’ Days of Setting Agenda in Washington Are Over

DES MOINES – The Obama Campaign announced the airing of 2 new television ads in Iowa.  As more than $4 million in television ads and mailers from Washington, DC-based outside groups flood Iowa on behalf of Obama’s opponents, these ads show that Obama’s campaign is getting its support from ordinary Americans who have “lost their trust in their government.”

“Interest” highlights the millions of dollars spent by some of those Washington, DC-based groups to falsely attack Obama’s health care plan. 

“Listening” features footage of Obama’s speech before Iowa Democrats at this year’s Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner and endorsements from Iowa newspapers. 

The scripts are as follows:

"INTEREST"

Script

[I'm Barack Obama and I approve this message]

While Iowans struggle with health costs, outside groups are spending millions to stop change, including false attacks on Barack Obama's health plan. But experts say Obama's plan is "the best." It "guarantees coverage for all Americans."

Putting "pressure on insurance and drug companies," his plan cuts costs more than any other – saving twenty five hundred dollars for the typical family.

The same old Washington politics won't fix healthcare. But we can.

“LISTENING”

Script

[I’m Barack Obama, and I approve this message.]

America is listening. Not just Democrats, but Republicans and Independents who’ve lost trust in their government but want to believe again.

I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over.

I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on the lobbyists, and I have won. They have not funded my campaign, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president.

I am in this race to take those tax breaks away from companies that are moving jobs overseas and put them in the pockets of hard-working Americans who deserve them.

I want to stop talking about the outrage of 47 million Americans without healthcare and start actually doing something about it.

That’s why I’m running, Iowa.

Your future is our future, and our moment is now.

Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Ready"

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "READY"

Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Ready."  The ad highlights the very important choice voters will have to make when it comes to electing a candidate ready to make tough decisions.  In Arkansas, Governor Mike Huckabee increased state spending, backed in-state tuition benefits for illegal immigrants and granted over 1,000 pardons and commutations.  Governor Huckabee's attacks on the Bush administration's foreign policy have been called "ludicrous."  In Massachusetts, Governor Romney took a different course.  He held spending down and granted zero pardons.  There is a clear difference in leadership.    

The ad will begin airing today as part of the campaign's rotation in Iowa.

Script For "Ready" (TV:30):

GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY:  "I'm Mitt Romney and I approved this message."

ANNOUNCER:  "Two good men.

"But who is ready to make tough decisions?

"Mike Huckabee?  Soft on government spending.  He grew a $6 billion government into a $16 billion government.

"Backed in-state tuition benefits for illegals, and granted 1,033 pardons and commutations, including 12 murderers.

"His foreign policy?  'Ludicrous,' says Condoleezza Rice.

"Mitt Romney held spending down below inflation.  Cut taxes.  Zero pardons.

"The difference? Strong leadership."

New Clinton Ad Highlights Hillary’s Plan For The Troubled Economy

New Clinton Ad Spotlights Big Challenge and Hillary’s Real Solution to Fix the Housing Crisis
Ad Highlights Hillary’s Plan for the Troubled Economy

DES MOINES, IA – Continuing to build on Hillary’s growing momentum, the Clinton campaign today launched a new ad in Iowa that highlights the big challenge of the housing crisis and Hillary’s real solution to fix it. The ad is being released in the midst of Hillary’s “Big Challenges, Real Solutions: Time to Pick a President” tour across the Hawkeye State.   

The new 30 second spot, titled “President,” spotlights the costs of the Bush Administration’s inaction on the housing crisis and calls attention to Hillary’s plan to freeze home foreclosures, freeze rates on adjustable mortgages and provide real tax relief for the middle class. The ad concludes by asking Iowans to choose a President that would not have missed any opportunity to solve this challenge.

The Television ad began airing today in Iowa.

Hillary For President

“President”

TV:30

ANNCR: What if we had a different president this year?

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton called for action on America’s housing crisis in March… in June… in August.

ANNCR: George Bush and Wall Street did nothing.

ANNCR: Since then home prices have plummeted and millions may lose their homes.

ANNCR: Hillary’s plan: freeze home foreclosures, freeze rates on adjustable mortgages, provide real tax relief for the middle class.

ANNCR: When we choose a president next year, let’s choose one that would have started fixing our economy this year.

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton: "I’m Hillary Clinton and I approve this message"