2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Thompson To Announce Run For President With Online Video Followed By Three-State Campaign Tour

Thompson to Announce Run for President with Online Video Followed by Three-State Campaign Tour

McLean, VA – On September 6, 2007, Fred Thompson will be announcing his intention to run for President of the United States with a webcast available to millions at www.imwithfred.com. The launch of the video will be followed by a five-day campaign tour through Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

“I believe that there are millions of Americans who know that our security and prosperity are at risk if we don’t address the challenges of our time; the global threat of terrorism; taxes and spending that will bankrupt future generations, and a government that can’t seem to get the most basic responsibilities right for its citizens,” stated Fred Thompson.

“The response that we’ve received makes me confident that we have an opportunity to change politics in Washington and across the country, and take on these challenges the way every generation of Americans has faced the challenges of their time – with unity, hard work and a belief that we will come out on the winning side,” continued Thompson.

“We enter this campaign in a strong position,” said committee manager Bill Lacy. “Fred is consistently near the top in the polls, and conservatives across the country have put together the closest thing to a draft in recent presidential campaign history in an effort to bring about this day. The next few weeks will only serve to build upon those efforts, with house parties nationwide on the 6th, and visits to the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, quickly followed by stops in Florida and a homecoming in Lawrenceburg, TN on the 15th.”

“By announcing via webcast, Fred is able to take his consistently mainstream conservative message directly to the voters, who are already responding to that message with a strong upwelling of grassroots support. The webcast and the following campaign tour will play to Fred’s strengths, a consistent record of conservatism, his ability to clearly spread his message, and his ability to work with and connect with Americans from all walks of life,” said Lacy.

The committee will file our formal paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission within 15 days, the time allowed by law after Fred decided to run. Additionally, we will begin to consider candidate based events following Fred’s broadcast on September 6, 2007.

Campaign tour cities and dates are listed below. Exact event locations will be released in the coming days.
Thursday, September 6

Afternoon Des Moines, IA
Evening Council Bluffs, IA

Friday, September 7

Morning Sioux City, IA
Evening Mason City, IA

Saturday, September 8

Morning Cedar Rapids, IA
Afternoon Davenport, IA
Evening Portsmouth, NH

Sunday, September 9

Afternoon Manchester, NH
Evening Nashua, NH

Monday, September 10

Morning Charleston, SC
Afternoon Columbia, SC

Richardson For President Campaign Announces Addition Of National Press Secretary

Richardson for President Campaign Announces Addition of National Press Secretary

SANTA FE, NM-- The Richardson for President campaign today announced that Tom Reynolds, currently the campaign's Iowa communications director, will become national press secretary, serving as a lead spokesman and day-to-day contact for all national media.

"As Governor Richardson's poll numbers and the campaign's momentum continue to increase, the attention from the media in Washington, DC and across the nation has grown exponentially," communications director Pahl Shipley said. "Tom has done an exceptional job in raising Governor Richardson's profile in Iowa and we know he can continue to do the same at the national level."

Prior to joining the campaign in April, Reynolds most recently served as the press secretary for Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Before that, Reynolds worked as the communications director for Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), then-Ranking Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

"Tom is an experienced professional who will be a great addition to our national communications team," Governor Richardson said.  "I am confident, with his campaign experience and his work on Capitol Hill, that Tom will continue to contribute as we move forward."

Shipley said the campaign is looking for a replacement for Reynolds in Iowa and the state will remain a focus of the campaign.

"Iowa is critically important to Governor Richardson," Shipley said.  "Our numbers are on the rise, our support is strong and growing, and we plan to keep the momentum going.

Poll: Huckabee Surges In Iowa, New Hampshire And South Carolina

POLL:  HUCKABEE SURGES IN IOWA, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND SOUTH CAROLINA 
Leads Fred Thompson in Iowa , N.H.; Easily Outdistances Brownback in All Three

Little Rock, AR – Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has surged to third place in the Republican presidential contest in Iowa, leading potential candidate Fred Thompson in that state and New Hampshire , according to an American Research Group poll released today.

Huckabee, who scored a stunning second-place in the Republican Party of Iowa straw poll on Aug. 11, received support from 14 percent of Iowans and 9 percent of New Hampshire Republicans in the new ARG poll.  He had been at 1 percent in each state in July.  Huckabee stands at 9 percent in South Carolina , up from 3 percent in July, and is tied with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for fourth place.

Thompson's Iowa support remained stuck at 13 percent for the second month after peaking at 14 percent in June, according to the poll.  He trails Huckabee in New Hampshire and is down from 13 percent in July to 8 percent.  The former U.S. senator from Tennessee is also off his peak in South Carolina , down from 27 percent in July to 23 percent this month.

"Mike Huckabee clearly remains an underdog in the race, but he is the real surprise in the field. Republicans in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina – the three states most focused on the 2008 presidential contest – are sizing him up and they obviously like what they see.  When they see him, meet him and hear them, they come away convinced that he ought to be in the top tier of candidates," said Chip Saltsman, Huckabee's national campaign manager. "That's why he's gaining momentum in all three crucial early states when other campaigns have stalled or are on a downward path."

U.S. Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, who finished behind Huckabee in the straw poll, has no measurable support in Iowa , according to the poll. His peak in Iowa was 3 percent in June. Brownback's support among likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters has remained at 1 percent since April. He is at 2 percent in South Carolina .

U.S. Senator John McCain of Arizona, who was at 17 percent in Iowa in July, opted not to compete in the Iowa straw poll – considered to be the first test of the candidates' organizational strength – after spending more than $25 million nationwide.  He fell to 5 percent in Iowa , according to the ARG poll. In South Carolina, McCain, who was at 36 percent in South Carolina , is now at 12 percent, while Huckabee's numbers are on the rise. McCain climbed 2 percent in New Hampshire in August, up from 10 percent to 12 percent but still down sharply from his April high of 29 percent.

Huckabee welcomed the good news: "Today's new poll shows a growing momentum that we've felt on the ground for weeks.  It also proves what voters across America know, that message matters. While I am truly encouraged by these upward trends in all Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina , I look forward to working even harder in the days and weeks to come."

Edwards Receives Support Of Carpenters Union

EDWARDS RECEIVES SUPPORT OF CARPENTERS UNION
Union endorses Edwards as the strongest candidate to win the election and help working Americans

Chapel Hill, North Carolina - The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, representing more than 520,000 members from all political affiliations, today endorsed Senator John Edwards for president.  After carefully considering all the candidates from both parties, the Carpenters Union chose Edwards as the candidate with the best chance of winning the White House and the person who will best represent hard-working families.  Following a meeting with the union's executive board and 35 key leaders from throughout the United States last week in Las Vegas, they voted overwhelmingly to endorse Edwards. The formal endorsement will be made at a rally of union members on September 8th in New Hampshire.  Edwards' endorsement is the union's first endorsement in the primaries in several presidential cycles.

"I am honored to receive the support of the Carpenters Union," said Edwards.  "For more than a century, they have been fighting for working Americans and standing up for the values that have made our country great - hard work, responsibility, and fairness.  America was built by men and women who worked with their hands, and it's labor that made our country great. I look forward to joining with the Carpenters to build One America, where every person has the chance to work hard and get ahead."

"Our endorsement is based on the Senator's outspoken support for all of organized labor and his focus on America's working families," said Carpenters President Douglas J. McCarron.  "In addition to his support for labor, our leadership was particularly impressed with the Senator's strong stand on trade."

"We also believe that Senator Edwards will have a great appeal in a general election," McCarron continued.  "He has the ability to reach out to moderate voters, including the members of our union, and to address their very real concerns about jobs, health care and the economy."

Senator Edwards believes that in order to strengthen the middle class and build One America, we need to strengthen the union movement in our country.  He has traveled across the country to walk picket lines and has helped organize thousands of workers into unions.  Edwards is a strong supporter of workers' rights and has laid out a comprehensive agenda to help working families, which includes raising the minimum wage, guaranteeing universal health care, enacting smart and safe trade policies and protecting a worker's right to organize.

"More than ever, America needs a president who will stand up for working families and the middle class," Edwards said.  "I have walked picket lines and helped organize thousands of workers, and I've seen firsthand what unions go through every single day trying to protect the right to organize, trying to bargain collectively, and trying to get a decent wage and health care.  If we're going to grow the middle class and ensure fairness, we need to strengthen workers' rights.  I have always stood on the side of working Americans and I always will."

Mike Huckabee Wins Support From Machinists And Aerospace Workers

Mike Huckabee Wins Support from Machinists and Aerospace Workers

LITTLE ROCK, AR – Former Governor Mike Huckabee (AR) won the support of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today. The IAM, for the first time in its 119 year history, endorsed candidates in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Huckabee welcomed the IAM endorsement stating, "I'm proud to have the support of the workers who bring prosperity to America on a daily basis."

Huckabee spoke before over 700 members of the IAM in Orlando, Florida on Monday about jobs, globalization, health care, and other 21st century domestic issues. During his conversation with IAM workers, Huckabee stated, "In order for this country to be free, there are three things we must do: feed ourselves, fuel ourselves and fight for ourselves. That means we need to be manufacturing our own means of defense and making it a national security issue."

During his speech on Monday night, Huckabee outlined his program to improve the lives of working Americans, including his support of the Fair Tax.  Under the Fair Tax, he said, "American companies are far less likely to move overseas and foreign companies are far more likely to come here, hiring Americans to build and work in their new plants."

Huckabee also said he believes in fair trade. "Free trade has to be fair trade. We are losing jobs because of an unlevel, unfair trading arena that has to be fixed. Behind the statistics, there are real families, real lives, and real pain. I'm running for President because I don't want people who have worked loyally for a company for 20 or 30 years to walk in one morning and be handed a pink slip and be told, 'I'm sorry, but everything you spent your life working for is no longer here.'"

Huckabee received the historic endorsement this morning during the final day of IAM's National Staff Conference.  Shortly after receiving the news, Huckabee thanked President Tom Buffenbarger on a phone call morning: "I appreciate the unprecedented opportunity to participate in the IAM meeting this week and to receive this historic endorsement."

Jonathan Martin Reports That Fred Thompson Will Announce Sept 6th

Sources: Thompson to announce Sept. 6th

"Fred Thompson's campaign-in-waiting will hold a 4 p.m. conference call today with supporters to brief them on plans for the former Tennessee senator's presidential announcement next week, according to an e-mail obtained by Politico.com."

2008 Republican National Convention Launches Website

2008 Republican National Convention Launches Website
One Year Out, GOP Making Strides in Minneapolis-Saint Paul

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - One year out from the 2008 Republican National Convention, the Committee on Arrangements (COA) today launched the initial phase of its official convention website, www.GOPConvention2008.com. Additional phases, offering visitors expanded information and interactive capabilities, will be unveiled throughout the coming year. The website launch is another important step in organizing the four-day event in Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

The 2008 Republican National Convention will be held at Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center from September 1-4, 2008. An experienced team is hard at work in the host cities, making great strides in the areas of housing, operations, hospitality, administration, information technology, among others. Approximately 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates, members of the media, volunteers and other guests are expected to attend the convention - and www.GOPConvention2008.com will allow millions more to participate in the event from around the world.

The initial website structure features the latest news and headlines from convention headquarters; a frequently asked questions or “FAQ” section; information on volunteering; and the option to subscribe to regular electronic updates, among other components. Future phases will incorporate more cutting-edge features, including video and additional forms of user-generated content.

“Our website, www.GOPConvention2008.com, will be more than a one-way communication tool that provides information to those traveling to the convention,” COA President and CEO Maria Cino said. “In the coming months, it will become a fully interactive community that encourages everyone to become involved in the Republican Party's nomination of the next President of the United States.”

Cino is currently leading a convention team of more than 15 COA staffers in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and that number will eventually grow to more than 150.  The COA and the 2008 Minneapolis-Saint Paul Host Committee are each doing their part to ensure that the convention is a triumph for the Republican Party, as well as for the host cities.

After a thorough site selection process, Minneapolis-Saint Paul was chosen for its vibrant communities, outstanding hotels and event venues, and a clear enthusiasm to host the convention. Staff is in the process of contracting with nearly 100 hotels and 70 venues throughout the metropolitan area - and the local business community is already reaping the benefits of the additional visitors scheduled for 2008.  In total, the host cities are projected to receive an estimated $150-$160 million positive economic boost.

“With planning on track and momentum building on the ground, we're confident the 2008 Republican National Convention will provide our nominee with an effective vehicle to share his vision for the future of America,” Cino added. “The boost the convention provides will propel our nominee to victory in November.”

The latest news and headlines will continue to be posted on www.GOPConvention2008.com - the source for convention news in the year to come.

International Association Of Machinists And Aerospace Workers Endorses Clinton

International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Endorses Clinton

The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The IAM is among the nation’s largest industrial trade unions, representing over 700,000 active and retired members in airline, aerospace, manufacturing, railroad, woodworking and shipbuilding industries, and is a member of the AFL-CIO.

“Hillary Clinton earned the IAM’s endorsement by focusing on jobs, health care, education and trade – the bread and butter issues of the American middle class,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “She is the only candidate of either party to come forward with a comprehensive manufacturing policy and the only candidate to connect with millions of Americans who feel invisible to the current administration.”

The IAM will launch a massive education campaign among IAM members and extensive publicity in union publications and websites nationwide. Twenty-five states with over 450,000 active and retired IAM members will vote in the three weeks starting with the Iowa caucuses and ending with the polls closing in California on February 5th

“I am honored to receive the support of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers,” Clinton said. “It is time for America’s working families to again share in our nation’s prosperity. They will not be invisible to my administration.”

The United Transportation Union and its 125,000 active and retired members endorsed Clinton earlier this week.

Romney For President Launches New Television Ad, "Leadership"

ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NEW TELEVISION AD, "LEADERSHIP"

Boston, MA – Today, Romney for President launched its newest television ad, "Leadership."  The ad highlights Governor Romney's leadership in turning around the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, numerous companies and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  With his proven experience running businesses and institutions, Governor Romney will bring his energy to changing Washington.

The ad will begin airing as part of the campaign's rotation today in Iowa and New Hampshire.  Script and viewing links are below.

Script For "Leadership" (TV:30):

ANNOUNCER:  "An Olympics hit by scandal and deficits, he rescued them.

"He turned around dozens of companies and became a business legend.

"A state losing jobs, with huge deficits, Governor Mitt Romney turned it around – cutting spending, instead of raising taxes.

"At every step, he's met extraordinary challenges.  Mitt Romney – the energy and experience to turn around Washington."

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

Friends Of Fred Thompson Announce The Hiring Of New Communications Director

FRIENDS OF FRED THOMPSON ANNOUNCE THE HIRING OF NEW COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

The Friends of Fred Thompson committee today announced the hiring of Todd Harris as Communications Director.  In this capacity, Harris will oversee all communications efforts, including press and messaging.

Harris has worked on dozens of political campaigns and has served as a senior communications strategist for some of the nation's most prominent elected officials, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. John McCain.

Roll Call called him "a spinner extraordinaire in the world of political communication," while The New Republic dubbed him a "press guru."

"Our team is further strengthened with the hire of Todd today," said committee manager, Bill Lacy.  "His experience at the national level is invaluable."

Currently a principal of Navigators, Harris counsels clients on media relations, communications and message strategy.

Harris served as communications director and spokesman on Florida Governor Jeb Bush's victorious reelection campaign in 2002, during which Florida Today wrote, "The man managing Gov. Jeb Bush's image in Florida and nationwide handles media coverage like a combat sport."

More recently, Harris has served as a senior communications strategist for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and was co-communications director on Schwarzenegger's historic victorious 2003 gubernatorial campaign. 

In 2000, he was the traveling press secretary and spokesman on Senator John McCain's campaign for the White House.