- Daily Photo: Obama Jokes Around at G-20
- Blackwater gets replaced in Iraq
- Daily Photo: U.S. Marines Look Out for Taliban in Afghanistan
- Hillary Clinton the Tomboy and Her "Ah-Ha" Moment
- Obama Administration Sudan Envoy Headed to Region
- Daily Photo: Potential Flashpoint in Iraq
- Clinton Says New Afghanistan-Pakistan Plan Depends on Diplomacy
- Exclusive: Three Israeli Airstrikes Against Sudan
- Additional 4,000 Troops to Be Ordered to Afghanistan
- Daily Photo: Navy Submarine Trains in the Arctic
- Alarm Over North Korea Missile Prep
- Anti-Terror Stimulus? US Offers Rewards for Top Terrorists
- Daily Photo: Pakistani Women in Refugee Camp
- Condoleezza Rice Appears on "The Tonight Show"
- Diplomat and Aid Group Sound the Alarm on Darfur Camp Situation
- auto industry rescue
- Ballotwatch
- Biden, Joe
- Bush, George W.
- Clinton, Bill
- Clinton, Hillary
- Dodd, Chris
- Edwards, John
- Giuliani, Rudy
- Gravel, Mike
- Huckabee, Mike
- Hunter, Duncan
- Inauguration
- Iraq
- Kucinich, Dennis
- McCain, John
- Obama, Barack
- Palin, Sarah
- Paul, Ron
- Romney, Mitt
- Tancredo, Tom
- Thompson, Fred
- Veepstakes
- Vote 2008: Democrats
- Vote 2008: Republicans
- Washington
- White House
« Previous | Main | Next »
Vilsack Out Of Steam
Email
ShareFebruary 23, 2007 2:56 PM
ABC News' Mark Halperin and Teddy Davis Report: On a conference call with reporters Friday afternoon, former Gov. Tom Vilsack, D-Iowa, said that his decision to end his bid has been "on-going for the last several weeks."
He made his comments after being asked why he is pulling the plug after seeming to operate "full steam ahead" just two days ago when he participated at a Democratic presidential candidates' forum in Carson City, Nev.
Vilsack said that with big states like California, Florida, and Texas thinking about moving up their nominating contests, "you're talking about a significant sum of money: tens of millions of dollars."
In the end, his decision was "ultimately about money."
Asked if he would make an endorsement in the presidential race, Vilsack said, "My focus, my heart and my head is not on endorsements."
There are a number of elected officials who have been for the former governor who are now up for grabs, most especially Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who is very close to the Clintons.
Vilsack's wife Christine--whose endorsement of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004 gave him a slight lift among Iowa voters--will likely be a highly sought in the 2008 race.
Several other campaigns will feel the same fundraising pressure Vilsack did throughout the year, particular as the first-quarter fundraising deadline approaches on March 31.
Clinton on Friday issued a statement saying that she and Vilsack share a passion for expanded health-care options, early childhood education, and making higher education more accessible.
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who opposed the Iraq war before it began, said he appreciates the governor's "passionate advocacy for an end to the war in Iraq."
Of the major candidates, Vilsack had staked out the position furthest to the left on the Iraq war: he wanted to cut off funding for all U.S. fighting in Iraq.
February 23, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (2)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
I think that the presidential candidates have no clue what the American people really want. They should focus less on their own personal gain and more on the well being of the country.
Posted by: Chuck Norris | Feb 26, 2007 12:27:31 PM
I think that the presidential candidates have no clue what the American people really want. They should focus less on their own personal gain and more on the well being of the country.
Posted by: Chuck Norris | Feb 26, 2007 12:30:07 PM
Post a comment
