Edwards issues caucus instructions
It's part of presidential political lore how complicated and confusing the Iowa caucuses can be for the uninitiated.
To make sure his supporters are up to speed, Democrat John Edwards today put out a video with detailed, step-by-step instructions. The seven-minute video, titled "The Adventures of Jane and Joe," follows a couple of precinct leaders for Edwards throughout caucus day on Jan. 3.
"This innovative new effort will help us continue to train and mobilize precinct captains across the state to help John Edwards score victory on January 3rd and bring bold change to America as president," Jennifer O'Malley Dillon, Edwards' Iowa state director, said in a statement.
The campaign also launched an online command center, where supporters will be able to find their precinct location, offer to drive fellow supporters to caucus, request a ride to the caucus, and get detailed information about how caucusing works.
Unlike primaries, where voters go to their polling place to cast secret ballots, in a caucus, voters must go to church basements, community centers, and other locations and publicly declare their support.
Democratic rival Hillary Clinton released a similar video last month that tried to add a touch of levity. It showed Bill Clinton, who had the reputation of rarely meeting a hamburger he didn't eat, sweating on a treadmill and had the message: "Exercising is hard. Caucusing is easy."
John Edwards is clearly the only man who can sucessfully create a universal health care system, repair relations with our European allies, create an easier immigration process and sucessfully fight against global terrorism. Mr. Edwards as an Irish immigrant to this grand country, you sir are the man i will vote for. It is because of men like you that i desire to be apart of this country. God bless you sir and you have my vote!
I am a second cousin of Nora Owen who will be running for President of Ireland in late 2009 and sir i believe you can bring the United States back to it's former glory. We believe in you!
Another example of the importance of field organizing in a caucus state.
While much of the media ignores this critical part of the race, each of the leading campaigns has been gearing up for months. Edwards has the distinct advantage of being the only top-tier candidate to have run in the caucuses and he has kept up those contacts. He has almost every single one of his 2004 country chairs back, he's visited all 99 counties twice (Hillary and Barack have visited less than 50% of the Iowa counties), and he has selected and trained precinct captains in over 90% of the precincts so far.
It's going to be a close and exciting race.
John Edwards will also pursue vigorous measures to fight global warming and build jobs in the clean technology and clean energy sectors. He wants to have well-paying jobs for Americans and to address the growing gap between rich and poor by giving students more access to higher education, making sure that all Amercians have health insurance and by making sure that foreign trading partners follow environmental and labor laws.
This is an important election. I hope that every citizen registers to vote and that each of us votes in the caucuses, primaries and general election.
Iam writing a report on you because i agree with mostly all of the choices you have made so far dont let me down or i am not going to have much to write.
sincerely,
Worried senior
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