2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Senator Sam Brownback Endorses John McCain For President

SENATOR SAM BROWNBACK ENDORSES JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today in Iowa, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) endorsed John McCain for President of the United States. Senator Brownback will serve as a General Co-Chair of the campaign as well as Chair of the newly formed McCain Judicial Advisory Team. Senator Brownback will join John McCain in a campaign swing today through Iowa and Michigan, making stops in Dubuque, Des Moines, Sioux City and Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Senator Brownback issued the following statement on his endorsement of John McCain:

"Today I am proud to endorse my friend and a true American hero, John McCain, for President of the United States. While I respect all of the Republicans running for president this year, John McCain is the only candidate who can rally the Reagan coalition of conservatives, Independents, and conservative Democrats needed to defeat Hillary Clinton or any other Democrat in the general election next year. John McCain has spent a lifetime standing up for human rights around the world, including a consistent 24-year pro-life record of protecting the rights of the unborn. John McCain alone has the courage, leadership and character to lead our party to victory in 2008 while keeping faith with our most cherished values -- life, faith and family."

John McCain issued the following statement accepting Senator Brownback's endorsement:

"I am deeply honored to receive the support of my friend Senator Sam Brownback. Sam Brownback is a man of faith and compassion whose integrity and unwavering commitment to protecting the dignity of human life, both born and unborn, has been an inspiration to me. We Republicans must stand firm in our deepest principles to rally the conservative Reagan coalition and win a great victory next November. Sam Brownback's counsel and friendship will be invaluable as we work to achieve this worthy goal, and I thank him for his support."

Senator Sam Brownback Endorses John McCain In Iowa

Senator Sam Brownback Endorses John McCain In Iowa

ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) will endorse John McCain for president in Iowa and travel with him around the Hawkeye State.

Pat Robertson Endorses Rudy Giuliani for President

Pat Robertson Endorses Rudy Giuliani for President

New York City – The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee today announced that Pat Robertson has endorsed Rudy Giuliani for President of the United States. 

“It is my pleasure to announce my support for America’s Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, a proven leader who is not afraid of what lies ahead and who will cast a hopeful vision for all Americans,” said Pat Robertson.  “Rudy Giuliani took a city that was in decline and considered ungovernable and reduced its violent crime, revitalized its core, dramatically lowered its taxes, cut through a welter of bureaucratic regulations, and did so in the spirit of bipartisanship which is so urgently needed in Washington today.” 

“I am very encouraged by Pat’s support,” Rudy Giuliani said.  “His confidence in me means a lot.  His experience and advice will be a great asset to me and my campaign.” 

About M.G. “Pat” Robertson:

M. G. "Pat" Robertson has achieved national and international recognition as a religious broadcaster, philanthropist, humanitarian, educator, religious leader, businessman, and author.  He is the founder and chairman of The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Inc., and founder of International Family Entertainment Inc., Regent University, Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, American Center for Law and Justice, The Flying Hospital, Inc. and several other organizations and broadcast entities.

After graduating with honors from McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a military prep school, Robertson entered Washington and Lee University in 1946, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.  In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.  After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Lee in 1950, Robertson served as the assistant adjutant of the First Marine Division in combat in Korea.  He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1952 upon his return to the United States.  Robertson received a juris doctor degree from Yale University Law School in 1955 and a master of divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary in 1959.

In November 1959 Robertson left New York with his wife, Dede, and their three children and drove to Tidewater, Virginia, where he planned to buy a bankrupt UHF television station in Portsmouth.  Arriving with only seventy dollars in his pocket, Robertson proceeded to raise the finances to purchase the station.  CBN was formed January 11, 1960, and on October 1, 1961, CBN went on the air for the first time. 

Robertson is the author of sixteen books including “Courting Disaster,” “The Ten Offenses,” “Bring It On,” “Six Steps To Revival,” “The Turning Tide,” “The New Millennium,” “The New World Order,” and his first fiction, “The End of the Age.”  “The Secret Kingdom” was number three on Time magazine’s national non-fiction list.  “The New World Order” was number four on the New York Times’ non-fiction list of America’s best selling books.  “The Secret Kingdom,” “Answers to 100 of Life’s Most Probing Questions,” and “The New World Order” were each in their respective year of publication the number one religious book in America.

Numerous governors, state legislators and mayors have recognized Robertson's humanitarian efforts with citations.  Robertson is past president of the prestigious Council on National Policy.  In 1982 he served on President Ronald Reagan's Task Force on Victims of Crime.  He previously served as a member of the Board of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors in the State of Virginia.

Pat and Dede Robertson have four children and fourteen grandchildren and reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

John Edwards For President Campaign Launched His New “Heroes” Ad In New Hampshire.

MOMENTUM BUILDS FOR EDWARDS CAMPAIGN IN KEY EARLY STATES

On heels of commanding debate performance, Edwards campaign launches ad buys in New Hampshire and Iowa, secures union endorsements and expands grassroots organizing efforts

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, the John Edwards for President campaign launched his new “Heroes” ad in New Hampshire. In the ad, Edwards reaffirms his commitment to honoring and fighting for America’s true heroes – the working men and women of our country. The ad features footage of Edwards speaking at a campaign event, interspersed with images of hardworking Americans.  A similar version of the ad went on the air in Iowa last Thursday.

“If you're looking for heroes, don’t look to me,” Edwards says in the ad. “Don’t look to Elizabeth. We have support. We have health care. We have the American people behind us. Look to them. They are the ones who we speak for. They are the ones that we stand up for. …It is time for our party, the Democratic Party, to show a little backbone, to have a little guts. To stand up for working men and women. If we are not their voice, they will never have a voice.”

The ad builds on the momentum from Edwards’ commanding debate performance last Tuesday in Philadelphia. Edwards proved himself to be the most effective and articulate challenger to Senator Clinton in the debate, pointing out her double-talk on ending the war in Iraq, going to war with Iran, releasing her records from her years in the White House to the public, and Social Security.

Edwards’ powerful performance at the debate added to the momentum already building for the campaign in the key early states and across the nation. Last week, Edwards won the endorsement of the New Hampshire Service Employees International Union. In October, the Iowa state council of the SEIU endorsed Edwards, along with 10 other state councils across the country, totaling more than 1.03 million rank-and-file SEIU members. These critical endorsements will allow SEIU members from any state that endorsed Edwards to travel to New Hampshire and Iowa to volunteer for the campaign. Edwards has also won key endorsements from the United Steelworkers, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners in America, the Iowa Postal Workers Union, the Transport Workers Union of America, and the United Mine Workers of America. 

Momentum on the ground in key early states has continued to build as the campaign expands grassroots outreach efforts. Last week, Edwards became the first – and only – Democratic candidate to have visited and taken questions from Iowans in all 99 counties and the campaign is focused on building a strong organization across the state. Edwards is also the only candidate with county chairs for all 99 Iowa counties as well as rural county chairs for all 99 counties.

In New Hampshire over the weekend, Edwards’ campaign manager Congressman David Bonior opened two new field offices - one in Rochester and one in Conway – bringing the total to 12 offices statewide. 

During his 16th campaign trip to his native state of South Carolina last weekend, Edwards picked up 10 new endorsements from key elected and local leaders. The campaign has built organizations in all 46 South Carolina counties and has plans to open a second campaign office in the Palmetto State.

And yesterday, the campaign announced it was adding three new senior staff to Nevada to expand the field team. This builds on last month’s announcement that the campaign would be enhancing its Nevada organization with the addition of about two dozen field organizers and opening new Nevada offices.

Dodd Campaign Announces Two New Field Offices In Fort Dodge and Ottumwa

DODD CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES TWO NEW FIELD OFFICES IN FORT DODGE AND OTTUMWA

DES MOINES – Continuing to build on a strong and well-established organization on the ground in Iowa, Presidential candidate Chris Dodd’s campaign today announced it is opening two new field offices in Fort Dodge and Ottumwa.

“The Dodd campaign understands that the key to success in the Iowa Caucuses is a strong, experienced organization that can talk directly to Iowans about Chris Dodd’s proven record of delivering results,” said Dodd’s Iowa spokeswoman Taylor West.  “We are proud of the work we’ve been doing for months to build this organization across the state, and we are excited to keep growing and reaching more Iowans in their communities.”

With the two new offices, the Dodd campaign now has 13 field offices in Iowa and nearly 80 paid staff on the ground, most of whom have been helping build the Dodd field operation for months.  Chris Dodd is currently in the middle of a nine-day swing through Iowa.

Information for the new offices is listed below:

Fort Dodge Field Office
1020 Central Avenue
Fort Dodge

Ottumwa Field Office
347 East 2nd Street
Ottumwa

Thompson to Begin TV Ad Campaign in Iowa, Nationally

Thompson to Begin TV Ad Campaign in Iowa, Nationally
Thompson: 'Our Rights Come From God, Not From Government'

McLean, VA -- Touting his 100 percent pro-life voting record and reminding voters that "our rights come from God and not from government," Senator Fred Thompson launched a pair of television ads set to begin airing on Wednesday statewide in Iowa and nationally on Fox News.  The 30- and 60-second spots are set in a diner, featuring the Senator sitting at a counter discussing his consistent conservative values.

"In eight years in the United States Senate, I fought for tax cuts, and for conservative judges," says Senator Thompson in the spot. "And if we stick to our basic conservative principles, we will win next November and the United States of America will be better for it."

The spots, both named "Consistent Conservative," can be viewed at https://www.fred08.com

In recent weeks, Sen. Thompson has aggressively campaigned in the early states, and will spend multiple days in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa in the first half of this month. He has also recently campaigned in the early-voting state of Nevada. 

Below are the transcripts of both advertisements.

Consistent Conservative (60 seconds)

I'm Fred Thompson and I approve this message.

I've been a conservative my whole life.

I grew up in a little hometown just like this.

Started the first Young Republican Club in Lawerenceburg, Tennessee. 

In eight years in the United States Senate, I fought for tax cuts, and for conservative judges.

And I'm proud to have had a 100 percent pro-life voting record.

Common sense conservative principles. Free people.  Free markets and a government that doesn't tax and regulate us to death, but defends us and protects our borders.

In a country where, if you play by the rules, you've got a fair chance to live the American dream.

My friends, we must remember that our rights come from God and not from government.

And if we stick to our basic conservative principles, we will win next November and the United States of America will be better for it.

Consistent Conservative (30 seconds)

I've been a conservative my whole life.

I grew up in a little hometown just like this.

I learned a long time ago that we're a country where, if you play by the rules, you've got a fair chance to live the American dream.

Common sense conservative principles. If we stick to those basic principles, we'll win next November and the United States of America will be better for it.

I'm Fred Thompson and I approve this message.

Thompson Campaign Announces Veterans for Fred Thompson Leadership

Thompson Campaign Announces Veterans for Fred Thompson Leadership

Mclean, VA - Today on the steps of the State House in Columbia, SC, surrounded by numerous veterans, Senator Fred Thompson was joined by Major General James Livingston and Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya to launch Veterans for Fred Thompson.

Major General James Livingston, a 33 year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, will serve as the National Co-Chair of Veterans for Fred Thompson.

“I am proud to support Senator Fred Thompson,” said Major General James Livingston. “He will bring to the White House a long record of support for our armed forces and veterans, coupled with a commitment to improving the effectiveness and accountability of the federal government.  This is critical if we are to rebuild the level of trust and confidence that our military personnel and their families have in the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya will serve as National Executive Director for Veterans for Fred Thompson.  Lieutenant Colonel Repya served 28 years in the United States Army from 1969-1998.  He was a combat infantry officer in Vietnam from 1970-1971 as well as a combat helicopter pilot in Desert Storm between 1990-1991.  Immediately following September 11, 2001, Lieutenant Colonel Repya was one of 12,000 retired US Army veterans to volunteer for retiree recall and he was one of 350 who were recalled to active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom.  At 58 years old, he returned to active duty in 2004 with the 101st Airborne Division.  Lieutenant Colonel Repya served as Minnesota Co-Chair and National Spokesperson for Veterans for Bush-Cheney 2004.

"If I have learned anything in my military and civilian life, it is that a good indication of someone's future performance is their past performance,” said Lieutenant Colonel Repya.  “There is only one Republican Presidential Candidate that has been constantly true to the principles of strong national defense, pro-life, pro traditional marriages, pro second amendment, smaller government and strong immigration reform. So it is a personal honor to join the team that will elect the 44th President of the United States, Fred Thompson."

“I am so honored to have the support of Major General Livingston and Lieutenant Colonel Repya,” said Senator Fred Thompson.  “These individuals have dedicated their lives to defending America and fighting for freedom throughout the world, and I am pleased to have their support.  I want to thank all of the veterans joining this coalition for their remarkable service to this great nation.  I am committed to ensuring that all of our nation’s veterans receive the very best, because their sacrifice demands no less.”

Veterans For Fred Thompson Coalition includes:

National Steering Committee

General Carl Stiner , Co-Chair
Major General James Livingston , Medal Honor Recipient, Co-Chair
Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Repya , Executive Director
Lieutenant General James Terry Scott
Brigadier General John C. "Doc" Bahnsen
Captain John Dowd
Captain James H. Warner               

Iowa

Tech Sergeant Royd Chambers (State Representative), Chairman

Republican Party Of Iowa To Host Presidential Debate In Des Moines

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF IOWA TO HOST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN DES MOINES
Debate to be nationally televised by FOX NEWS CHANNEL 

The Republican Party of Iowa announced today that it will hold its presidential debate at Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines.  The event, to be held the evening of December 4, 2007, will be the first debate in Iowa to be televised by FOX News Channel this election season, as well as the first debate sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa. 

Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Ray Hoffmann said, "With the caucuses less than a month away, our December 4 debate will be very telling to Iowans and the nation.  We are thrilled to be having this event in central Iowa, and right in downtown Des Moines which will be the epicenter on caucus night."

The debate will be limited to those candidates who have satisfied the following criteria

1. Announced a formal campaign for President: and
2. Filed the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission; and
3. Met all U.S. constitutional requirements; and
4. Garnered at least 5% of the national electorate as determined by an average of the most recent national telephone polls of registered voters conducted by non-partisan public opinion polling organizations leading up to the registration deadline as determined by Fox News Channel and the Republican Party of Iowa or garnered an average of at least 5% in the most recent polls of Iowa voters conducted by the American Research Group and the Des Moines Register.

Hillary Clinton Mason City Iowa Photos

Hillary Clinton Mason City Iowa Photos