Caucus News
Vilsack says Iowans can make history by backing Clinton
BY The Associated Press
POSTED: December 22, 2007
COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack on Friday told a high school gymnasium full of students and local townspeople that January’s caucus was about making history.
Asking caucusgoers and the students in this town of 1,900 people to support Hillary Rodham Clinton, he noted the opportunity to elect the nation’s first female president.
‘‘This is an opportunity to make a difference,’’ he said. ‘‘This time you get to make history by supporting Sen. Clinton.’’
Vilsack and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski were standing in for former President Bill Clinton, who was prevented from attending the event for his wife by a dense fog that prevented his plane from landing.
Bill Clinton was later able to land about 150 miles away in Des Moines, and he spoke by telephone, which was piped through speakers into the room.
He spoke for about 10 minutes, mostly about his wife’s health care plan, which he said is broad and has support from ‘‘every sector of the economy.’’
‘‘If you will nominate her, I believe she will be elected handily based on everything I know about politics,’’ he said. ‘‘It all starts in Iowa with your responsibility to caucus and I hope you will caucus for her.’’
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski discussed health care and Clinton’s promise to take care of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘‘We have to once again invest in these young soldiers, these young men and women who give their lives, give their time and their careers to protect you and me,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re entitled to health care and a job when they get back. We have to give them that opportunity.’’
Asking caucusgoers and the students in this town of 1,900 people to support Hillary Rodham Clinton, he noted the opportunity to elect the nation’s first female president.
‘‘This is an opportunity to make a difference,’’ he said. ‘‘This time you get to make history by supporting Sen. Clinton.’’
Vilsack and Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski were standing in for former President Bill Clinton, who was prevented from attending the event for his wife by a dense fog that prevented his plane from landing.
Bill Clinton was later able to land about 150 miles away in Des Moines, and he spoke by telephone, which was piped through speakers into the room.
He spoke for about 10 minutes, mostly about his wife’s health care plan, which he said is broad and has support from ‘‘every sector of the economy.’’
‘‘If you will nominate her, I believe she will be elected handily based on everything I know about politics,’’ he said. ‘‘It all starts in Iowa with your responsibility to caucus and I hope you will caucus for her.’’
Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski discussed health care and Clinton’s promise to take care of soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
‘‘We have to once again invest in these young soldiers, these young men and women who give their lives, give their time and their careers to protect you and me,’’ he said. ‘‘They’re entitled to health care and a job when they get back. We have to give them that opportunity.’’
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