Vilsack wants to run to "preserve IOWA's first in nation status"

[Eurobabe]

IOW, he is just doing it so they keep the primary start in IA.

Thoughts?

[mr_hat]

1. It's a caucus, not a primary.

[Parche]

5. caucus

I thought it was a DU Caucus

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. At a time like this...

The last thing we need is prosaic hackery.

Bye, Tom. Don't write.

[Hobarticus]

3. He was in the running for VP at one point...

He's a real-deal contender.

And may be the "middle American" the dems need.

I may be biased. He's been a fantastic governor here in Iowa and has done good work in the face of a hostile legislature.

To dismiss him as running to preserve Iowa's first-in-nation status is selling the man short.

[LightTheMatch]

4. Lame, really lame.

We need some new areas. Can we run our primaries in some states we expect to heavily contest and attack in during the general election? And maybe some with a few more electoral votes than Iowa, or at least some better diversity?

[Renew Deal]

6. He will be the first to win a primary

And the only one to win 1 primary.

[WI_DEM]

8. It will be like 1992 when Harkin ran and everyone else will

ignore it. It will enhance NH actually.

[WI_DEM]

7. So he already declared he is going to run?

he wasted no time.

[DuckFan4ever]

9. Iowa and New Hampshire....

Have too much power. Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois should have a greater voice, rather than keep rubber stamping who a few thousand people in Iowa and NH say should be the nominee.

[Pithy Cherub]

10. If Vilsack want to preserve something,

get some jelly or jam.

Iowa's caucuses are not built to select a presidential candidate. They are good for improving your horse trading skills. Iowa should move to the middle of the pack and turn it into a primary!

[Pirate Smile]

11. I've heard doing regional primaries or caucuses is an idea because

the candidates could reach more states without as much travel time as if the states where everywhere.

So what region?

I figured the Midwest might be good - take in some blue states - MN, WI, IL and some red states - IA (I still don't think of IA as red), MO,IN, OH.

What do you think?

[FeelinGarfunkelly]

12. Sounds do-able.

Instead of throwing all yer money into travel expenses of moving campaign staff, etc., have a hub office to work out of, kinda like air travel. That way more money can be spent on getting out the message.

no more Solid South: the age of the Concrete Coast, the Hardy Heartland, the Stalwart Southwest, the Noble Northeast.. <add your own region name here>

[AP]

13. Recent history shows that Iowans in primary make Iowa LESS relevant.

When Harkin ran, everyone else moved on to NH. His vicotry in IA meant nothing.

[Carolab]

14. Minnesota's caucus should be the same day

My fiance and I are planning to work toward this.

It is RIDICULOUS that one state with such heavy red leanings and such a small relative population should determine outcomes for the rest of the nation.

[ISUGRADIA]

16. Uh, what do you mean by "heavy red leanings"

Iowa went Dem for President 88, 92, 96, and 2000; this year it barely went for Bush by 13,000 out of 1.5 million.

[nolabels]

15. Note to Iowans

Are you not supporting your currently chosen candidate now?

48 of what