Looking like a Democratic Primary in Iowa's 4th District

Ever since Selden Spencer decided against running, Democrats were busy looking for a candidate to run against Tom Latham in Iowa's 4th District. Now it is looking like there will be a contested primary. I have heard of 2 candidates that have declared and one candidate that is seriously thinking about a run.

The first candidate is Kurt Meyer and I have heard that he is a solid candidate. Meyer lives in Mitchell County and is a graduate of Luther College. He worked on Mike Blouin's campaign in 1976 and was finance chair of John Culver's Senate campaign in 1980. He then started a political consulting firm based in Minneapolis and has done fundraising.

The other candidate is William Meyers from Humboldt. Meyers is a veteran and wants to bring a fresh voice to Congress. He is more of an unknown among the party officials, but he has a lot of info at his website .

A primary between Meyer and Meyers would be a little confusing at the ballot box since their last names are basically the same.

The other name that I am hearing is Kevin Miskell of Stanhope. Miskell is the Vice President of the Iowa Farmer's Union and was a big Edwards supporter in north central Iowa.

Who should run in the 4th District?

Last month, Selden Spencer surprised many when he announced that he would not run again in Iowa's 4th district. That left Democrats searching for a candidate to unseat Rep. Tom Latham, who votes with President Bush nearly 90% of the time. I know party leaders have been asking different people about a possible run, but with no luck.

William Myers from Humboldt is an Iraq Vet who is considering a run, but he is virtually an unknown among Democratic activists in the district. Also, I have rumors that Kevin Miskell, who is Vice President of the Iowa Farmer's Union, is considering a run.

I thought I would rank the possible candidates that could run in the 4th district. My criteria are experience and location within the district. One problem with Spencer's campaign was it was very Ames (Story Co. ) centered. The size of the district (28 counties) means the candidates must do well in Ft. Dodge (Webster Co.) and Mason City (Cerro Gordo Co.) and not just Story County to win. The candidate also needs a hook that would make them credible with rural voters.

Here are my rankings of possible candidates to run against Latham in Iowa's 4th District...

1. Daryl Beall- State Senator from Ft. Dodge. Would help win Webster County and probably has better name recognition throughout the northern parts of the district. Not up for reelection in 2008.

2. Jack Kibbie - One reason Democrats might be having a hard time recruiting a candidate is because it is the expected the 4th district will be redistricted out when Iowa loses a House seat in 2012. Running for Congress could cap off a long political career for Kibbie, who first served in the Iowa House in the 1960's and then later ran for the Iowa Senate in 1988. Kibbie currently is the Senate President and is up for reelection in 2008.

3. McKinley Bailey - Bailey was elected to the Iowa House in 2006 and is only 26 years old. However, his experience serving in Iraq would instantly make him credible on the top issue in the campaign. Bailey represents Webster County, an area Democrats must win to beat Latham.

4. Lisa Heddens - Heddens is currently an assistant Majority Leader in the Iowa House, where she has served since 2002. Iowa has never elected a woman to Congress or as Governor and Heddens would be a strong opponent. She is from Ames and would need to campaign hard in northern Iowa. If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee and there is a large turnout among woman, Heddens could win.

5. Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald - Fitzgerald's brother, Michael, is the State Treasurer. Since he is up for reelection as County Sheriff, he'd be a longshot to run.

Others...

• State Rep. Mark Kuhn of Charles City
  
• State Rep. Mark Smith of Marshalltown
• State Sen. Amanda Ragan of Mason City
• State Rep. Marcella Frevert of Emmetsburg
  
• activist Sue Dinsdale
• John Norris, who ran against Latham in 2002
• A young activist from the Ames area - There are many from the area who have worked on campaigns the past few years that could step into the race.
  

Please chime in with your thoughts.

Selden Spencer Will Not Be Running in Iowa's 4th District

I recieved a letter from the Selden Spencer campaign saying that Dr. Spencer will not be running for Congress in Iowa's 4th District. Spencer cited personal and professional reasons for his decision.

Dr. Spencer had this to say in the letter...

This remains a crucial time in our history, a time in which we struggle to regain the soul of our nation - an American spirit that respects all, works for the common good, and speaks truth and honesty to the multiple grave challenges that we face. Each of us has a role to play in this struggle. I urge you to continue to use your time, treasure, and energy to help achieve this goal for the sake of our children and the future of this great country we all love.

In 2006, the deck was stacked against Dr. Spencer's attempt to defeat Rep. Latham. Spencer entered the race late, he didn't get much support from the state party (because they were already investing in the 1st and 2nd districts and protecting Boswell's seat in the 3rd district), and he didn't have any name recognition at all. When put together, Spencer had a hard raising the money needed and a hard time getting his name out there to voters.

Spencer was also a first time candidate that was new to the campaign trial. However, Dr. Spencer passion and knowledge always was visable and as the campaign went along, he got more and more comfortable and became a more compelling speaker on the campaign trail.

With the experience he gained in 2006, Tom Latham's continued support for Bush's war in Iraq, and the fact Spencer was looking to get into the race earlier, I thought Spencer really had a shot of defeating Tom Latham in 2008.

Hopefully, Democrats in Iowa's 4th district will be able to find a candidate by the end of the year and build on the momentum that Dr. Spencer created to defeat Tom Latham.

Thank you, Dr. Spencer, for all the hard work and passion you poured into the making this country a better place.

Iraq Power Grid Nearing Collapse

From Yahoo...

BAGHDAD - Iraq's power grid is on the brink of collapse because of insurgent sabotage, rising demand, fuel shortages and provinces that are unplugging local power stations from the national grid officials said Saturday.

Electricity Ministry spokesman Aziz al-Shimari said power generation nationally is only meeting half the demand, and there had been four nationwide blackouts over the past two days. The shortages across the country are the worst since the summer of 2003, shortly after the U.S.-led invasion to toppleSaddam Hussein, he said.

Power supplies in Baghdad have been sporadic all summer and now are down to just a few hours a day, if that. The water supply in the capital has also been severely curtailed by power blackouts and cuts that have affected pumping and filtration stations.

Karbala province south of Baghdad has been without power for three days, causing water mains to go dry in the provincial capital, the Shiite holy city of Karbala.

"We no longer need television documentaries about the Stone Age. We are actually living in it. We are in constant danger because of the filthy water and rotten food we are having," said Hazim Obeid, who sells clothing at a stall in the Karbala market.

4th District candidate Selden Spencer was exactly right when he wrote last summer while traveling Afghanistan...

If we could just do a better job of providing the basics, our presence here and in Iraq might be more tolerated, and perhaps even welcomed.

Is this Progress in Iraq?

As the Bush administration and other Republicans insist progress is being made in Iraq, the amount of electricity in Baghdad has dramatically dropped.

Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week that Baghdad residents could count on only "an hour or two a day" of electricity. That's down from an average of five to six hours a day earlier this year.

But that piece of data has not been sent to lawmakers for months because the State Department, which prepares a weekly "status report" for Congress on conditions in Iraq, stopped estimating in May how many hours of electricity Baghdad residents typically receive each day.

Instead, the department now reports on the electricity generated nationwide, a measurement that does not indicate how much power Iraqis in Baghdad or elsewhere actually receive. [emphasis added]

This reminds of something 4th District candidate Selden Spencer wrote last summer while traveling Afghanistan.

If We Could Just Do a Better Job of Providing the Basics, Our Presence Here and in Iraq Might Be More Tolerated, and Perhaps Even Welcomed.

Selden Spencer to Ride RAGBRAI on Tuesday

From the Selden Spencer for Congress campaign...

SELDEN SPENCER RIDES IN RAGBRAI TUESDAY

HUMBOLDT, IA, JULY 24, 2007 – Selden Spencer, candidate for Congress in 2008, member of the HAWK-I board and Chair of Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge's Wellness Commission, will ride in the third day of RAGBRAI tomorrow, Tuesday, July 24, 2007 from Humboldt, Iowa, to Hampton, Iowa.

Selden Spencer joins the RAGBRAI route to welcome riders to the 4th District. Friends, family and supporters will be joining Selden for the 71-mile ride. The route will begin in Humboldt and end in Hampton. There will be stops in Eagle Grove, Lake Cornelia and Alexander. There will be a lunch stop with supporters in Clarion.

Team Spencer RAGBRAI Schedule

7:00 AM – 7:30 AM Supporter Meet – Up in Humboldt at RAGBRAI registration

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch with supporters in Clarion

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM End of ride and Dinner with supporters in Hampton

2nd Quarter Fundraising Numbers

Jane Norman of the Register has a summary of the 2nd quarter fundraising numbers. Here they are...

1st District
Bruce Braley - D $115,000 raised and $220,000 cash on hand

2nd District
Dave Loebsack - D $154,000 raised and $251,000 cash on hand

3rd District
Leonard Boswell - D $242,000 raised and $525,00 cash on hand

4th District
Tom Latham - R $181,000 raised and $364,000 cash on hand
Selden Spencer -D $88,000 raised and $108,000 cash on hand

5th District
Steve King - R $94,000 raised and $71,000 cash on hand
Ron Hubler - D $ 7,000 raised and $17,800 cash on hand

Show the DC Bigwigs Seldon Spencer is the Real Deal

After winning the 1st and 2nd Districts in 2006, Iowa Democrats have their sights set on Tom Latham's seat in Iowa's 4th District.

Dr. Selden Spencer is committed to running again in the 4th district, a district Gov. Culver won with 59% of the vote. In 2006, Dr. Spencer had a winning message, but he entered the race late and was fighting an uphill battle. He is starting early this time around and has been busy raising money.

This week Dr. Spencer sent this email out to supporters ...

This may be the most important date of this election for taking back the 4th District for the people of Iowa. June 30, 2007 is the second quarter filing deadline for the Federal Election Commission. On this day, all federal campaign committees must report their donations. Together, we can elevate this race to the national level. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and other national groups, will be looking at this quarter to find the candidates and campaigns to target to win in 2008…and they want to help our race here in Iowa. We need to show support in the district now. I am fully committed to winning in 2008, but my commitment is not enough. It takes more than one person to create change. I am asking you to match your previous donation of $ or send $25, $50, or $100 to show Washington we are serious about 2008. It may seem early, and like I mentioned before, this is a big quarter to show support. Your contribution now means more support from the national committees who will elevate this race to the most competitive level in 2008.

Every dollar you can send will show the DC bigwigs that Dr. Spencer is the real deal. Every dollar you can send has the chance of turning into more money for the Spencer campaign down the road.

Please help out Selden Spencer's campaign by donating whatever you can before Saturday's deadline.

Peace Rallies taking place this week

Monday, March 19th marks the 4th anniversary of the Iraq invasion. There are peace rallies taking place all around Iowa. Here is a list of events...

Saturday, March 17th

The Art of Peace West Branch, Iowa
West Branch Community Hall, 201 E Main St, West Branch, IA
Saturday, March 17th 2007 events beginning at 3:30.

Paint Peace banners to display in the community on March 19. Potluck and children's activities.
Film: "I Know I'm Not Alone: A Musician's Search for the Human Cost of War" at 7:00. Live music by "Porch Builder" at 9:00.

Sunday, March 18th

We the People Want Peace! Cedar Falls, Iowa
Cedar Falls Public Library
Sunday, March 18th, 2007, 1:30 pm

Half rally, half vigil. The first part of the program will consist of speakers dealing with the state of the nation, life under communism, and about a positive message. The second part will be a vigil honoring our troops.

Monday, March 19th

Not One More Death ... Petition Parade Des Moines, Iowa
Sen. Harkin's office at the US Federal Bldg. 210 Walnut St. Des Moines, IA
Monday, March 19th, 2007, 3:00 pm - 6:30

Vigil & petition delivery to Senate offices in DM. The Names of the Iraqi & US deaths in the war will be read outside as petitions are delivered to Senators Harkin and Grassley offices. Sen. Harkin's office will stay open until 6:30. Visitors must arrive by 5:45 to be allowed in the building.

Tuesday, March 20th

Peace Rally Iowa City, Iowa
First Avenue Bridge, Downtown Cedar Rapids
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007, 5 PM
Speakers and Rally


Ames Peace March Ames, Iowa
Lincoln Center Parking Lot in front of east Hy Vee, then marching to Ames City Hall at 515 Clark Ave.
Tuesday, March 20th. March starts at 5:30, Public meeting starts at 6:15 at Ames City Hall.

Speakers at the public meeting will include Sue Dinsdale, whose son has served two tours in Iraq; former Congressional candidate Selden Spencer, ICAN Political Director Amy Logsdon, community leaders and high school students from Ames, former State Representative Ed Fallon, and current State Representatives Beth Wessel-Kroeschell and McKinley Bailey (if the legislative schedule that day permits).

Fourth Anniversary of the War Vigil Cedar Rapids, Iowa
First Avenue Bridge, Downtown Cedar Rapids
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007, 8 PM
Silent Candlelight Vigil

**Update**
Here are some more events that are taking place in Iowa City...

Mon , March 19th, start 6:45 PM, corner of Washington & Linn, Iowa City. Candlelight vigil.

Tues, March 20th, start 5PM, Pentacrest, organized by U of Iowa Anti-war Committee

Every Friday afternoon, 5:15 - 5:45, corner of Washington & Clinton Peace Vigil

and here is an event in the Quad Cities on Monday...

Monday, March 19th, start at 6:00, Peace Vigil at the foot of the Centennial bridge Gaines Street in Davenport.

Vilsack, Loebsack, Spencer to Speak at DFA Training

On Saturday, March 24th Governor Tom Vilsack, Rep. Dave Loebsack, and Selden Spencer will be speaking at the Democracy for America (DFA) training in Cedar Rapids. Spencer is scheduled to speak at breakfast starting at 8:30. Rep. Loebsack will be the speaker at lunch beginning at 12:30. Gov. Vilsack will speak that night at 7:00.

The training takes place from 9-6 on Saturday, March 24th and 9-6 on Sunday, March 25th.

Here is more information on the training...

Have you thought about running for office and wondered what was involved?

Would you like to be more helpful in supporting your favorite candidate for office?

Do you wonder about how elections are run and why campaigns do what they do?

If any of the above applies to you, please think about attending the Democracy for America Training Academy to be held March 24-25 from 9AM-6PM at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids. National and local experts have been recruited to conduct sessions, and progressive political activists from around Iowa and the Midwest will be in attendance.

A contribution of $70 the day of training or $60 in advance is requested, but low income individuals and students may pay $30. A limited number of scholarships are available. Lunch will be provided. Visit the Democracy for America website for more information or to register.

Spencer Forms Exploratory Committee for 2nd Run in 4th District

Today, Selden Spencer formed an exploratory committee to look into a possible 2nd run for Congress in the 4th District. Spencer lost to Tom Latham in the 2006 elections 57% to 43%. Spencer entered the race late and battled name recognition and slow fundraising the entire race. As a first time candidate, though, Spencer greatly improved as the campaign went on.

I would be excited to see Dr. Spencer run again in 2008. By looking into a possible run now, Spencer will be able to negate the affects from entering the race late in 2006.

Spencer had this to say about the exploratory committee...

Finally, we are set to announce the exploratory committee and hope they will be able to guide us in the process of making the 4th District a Democratic voice in Washington. Members include John Norris, Sandy Opstvedt, Bob and Debbie Gitchell, and Berkley Bedell.

Spencer Considering Running Again in 2008

Radio Iowa is reporting that Selden Spencer is considering running again in 2008 in Iowa's 4th District.

Dr. Seldon Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley who was the Democrat challenging Latham's re-election bid this year, said late last night that he may run against Latham again in '08. "I'm very comfortable with analyzing the data..and starting to work on it (Wednesday)," Spencer told Radio Iowa. "I think I would like to plan for 2008."

Latham beat Spencer by 14 percentage points in this year's election. With 99 percent of the precincts reporting in the fourth congressional district, Latham is beating Spencer 57 to 43 percent.

Spencer made great strides from when he announced in March to the last weeks of the campaign. His message was strong and he was improving as a public speaker. I think 2 things hurt Spencer's campaign and they were time and money. He entered the race late and was always facing an uphill climb to raise money. The big time donors had already placed their bets on other races. It was also Spencer's first time as a candidate and he had no name recognition. Without the money, Spencer couldn't do the ad blitz that was needed to get his name and message out there. I think a lot of Democrats in the 4th District would be happy to see Dr. Spencer run again.

Looking at the Key Counties in Each District

Here are the counties that I will keeping a close eye on in each district. I didn't include the 3rd because I expect Chris, at Political Forecast, will have those results.

1st District
As I mentioned in a previous post, Dubuque is a key in the district. I will also be looking at Scott Co to see how Whalen does on his home turf.

**Update at 10:30**
Braley won Scott Co. 53%-45% with a margin of over 4,000 votes.
**Update at 10:42**
The Quad City Times is calling it for Braley
**Update at 12:36**
Braley won Dubuque Co. 59% to 40% wiht a margin of over 6,000 votes.

2nd District
Loebsack needs big margins in Linn Co.and Johnson Co.

**Update at 10:44**
Loebsack is doing very well in Des Moines and Lee Counties getting 57% and 58% respectively.
**Update 11:04**
Chris Woods is hearing that KCCI is about to call the race in the 2nd District for Loebsack. CNN has Loesback up 51%-49% with 71% of the precincts in.
**Update 11:50**
This one is going down to the wire. Loebsack is up by just under 1000 votes with 94% in. I was totally off on my analysis of Linn Co. Loebsack won Linn by about 275 votes. Still some of Johnson Co that needs to report.
**Updatee 1:06**
100% of Johnson County has reported and Loebsack won 60%-40% with over a 6,000 vote margin. Loebsack had an overall victory margin of less than 6,000 votes.

4th District
Spencer should do well in Story County, his home county. Spencer will need to win Cerro Gordo, Marshall, Warren, and Webster, and not get blown out in Dallas.

**Update 12:37**
Spencer won Story Co, but lost all of the other important counties. His closest was Cerro Gordo where he pulled 48%.

5th District
I will be watching Sioux County to see how big of margin Steve King actually has out there. Sioux Co. went a larger margin for Bush in 04 than Bush won the entire state of Iowa by. As John Deeth said...

Put it this way: if Sioux County were sawn off the rest of the state and annexed to South Dakota, John Kerry would have won Iowa. The Sioux County Bush margin was more than the STATEWIDE margin.

**Update 11:55**
King won Sioux County by about 8,400 votes with 82%.

More Reasons to Vote for Spencer

From Dr. Selden Spencer's campaign website...

Need more reasons to vote for Dr. Spencer?

“It would be great to have more representatives in Washington who know about health care, an issue the current Congress has ignored. Iowa should send to Congress Dr. Selden Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley.” -- Des Moines Register

“It’s unfortunate, but Latham is linked to the president in everything he says and in every vote he takes. We’ll all be better off if that link is broken. That’s one of the reasons Spencer is our choice for the House of Representatives.” -- Mason City Globe Gazette

“Spencer is an impressive candidate, well-spoken, with strong convictions. Most notably, he has done his homework to the extreme.” -- Ames Tribune

Latham On the Attack

Tom Latham promised 2 weeks ago in a debate on WHO Radio with Selden Spencer that he would keep his campaign positive and not run negative ads. However, in the past week, Latham has pulled his postive ads in favor of negative ads that attack Spencer.

Then I heard that Latham's campaign sent radio stations around the 4th District a fax that says Spencer's radio ads featuring Wes Clark are against the FEC laws and should be pulled. One problem. The fax quotes the FEC regulations for TV ads, not radio ads. Spencer's ads with Clark are totally legal, Latham just doesn't like them because they tell the truth. This makes me wonder what Latham's internal polling numbers are showing.

Election 2006 Posts

I thought I would go through the posts that I have written on the candidates and put them in one post to make it easier for people to find.

Governor
Quad City Times Endorses Culver
Watch out Chet, the Boogeyman is Catching Up! - recommended
Report from the Johnson County Democratic BBQ -recommended
Lamberti Attacks Nussle's budget record
Nussle Scams Teachers, Children, and Future with NCLB
Iowa Teachers Endorse Culver

1st District
Braley Endorsed by the Dubuque Telegraph Herald
Meet the Real Bruce Braley
Braley Profiled on FireDogLake

2nd District
New Poll in 2nd District...Leach 50%, Loebsack 48%
Comments on Leach and Loebsack Debate - recommended
My Meeting With Dave Loebsack - recommended
Report from the Johnson County Democratic BBQ - recommended
Centrism is for Suckers (or the Sierra Club and NEA get swindled) - recommended
Leach Votes to Give Rich Another Tax Break and Hurt Working Iowans
2nd District Convention Report -recommended

4th District
Message from Selden Spencer
Spencer Endorsed by the Mason City Globe Gazette
Wes Clark Raising Money for Selden Spencer - recommended
Spencer's TV Ad Up and Ready To Go
Notes from Spencer's Campaign Stop -recommended
Latham Criticized for Negative Attack
Not Very Many People Like Tom Latham
Spencer's Speech at the Harkin Steak Fry - recommended
Selden Spencer Media Day
Selden Spencer Blogging from Afghanistan - recommended
Spencer Gets Props on MyDD - recommended
Latham Better Watch Out
Spencer Barnstorming the 4th District
4th District Convention Report

Sec. of Agriculture
Meeting Denise O'Brien - recommended
Met Denise O'Brien Over the Weekend

Mason City Globe Gazette Endorses Selden Spencer

The Mason City Globe Gazette has endorsed Selden Spencer in the race for US Congress in the 4th District. Here's part of their endorsement...

But it’s time for a change. In the last six years, Republican leadership has buried this country under a mountain of debt while entangling it in two wars that seem to have no clear-cut objectives and offer no road home. We believe the war in Iraq has become the motivator for more terrorism in the world, not the solution to it.

The administration and Congress have fared little better with domestic matters such as immigration and health care reform, and the partisanship and rancor exhibited by this group of Republicans are tearing this nation apart.

For the sake of our country, this state of affairs must change. It won’t change unless the Democratic Party has the strength needed to oppose the White House.

“We must hold the other party accountable. We have a president, a Senate and a House of Representatives that have failed us,” said Spencer in a story published in the Globe Gazette on Oct. 19.

Dr. Spencer House Call Tour Begins on Monday

I know there a couple of loyal readers of this blog from Waukee and thought they might be interested in attending this event tomorrow with Selden Spencer.

Spencer to Kick-Off House Call Tour With Waukee Press Conference

Harkin, Pederson, Culver and Others to Join Spencer on Tour

Ames, IA— On Monday, October 30, Fourth District Democratic congressional candidate Selden Spencer will kick-off “Dr. Spencer’s House Call Tour” with a press conference in Waukee. Spencer will spend eight straight days prior to the midterm elections traveling the district, meeting with supporters in their homes and knocking on doors in an effort to personally reach out to voters before they go to the polls on November 7th.

Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley, is challenging Republican incumbent Tom Latham from Alexander who is seeking a seventh term.

“Dr. Spencer’s House Call Tour” will encompass more than 20 of the district’s 28 counties. Spencer will make appearances in over 30 cities, canvassing and talking with supporters about issues and his vision for a better America.

During Spencer’s eight day tour, he will cross paths with several local and state figures. Spencer will begin the tour on Monday in Waukee, before meeting with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Iowa’s Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, Iowa gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver, and others later in the week.

“I think this will be a lot of fun. I look forward to every opportunity I get to talk to supporters and get to know them on a one-on-one basis,” said Spencer. “There’s nothing that signifies what America is about than having candidates travel town-by-town, block-by-block and share their vision for a better country. It will come down to who the people in the Fourth District can trust to get the job done.”

“Dr. Spencer’s House Call Tour” begins at 1760 Birchwood Drive in Waukee, on Monday, October 30 at 9:00 a.m. For the schedule of Spencer’s tour, please visit his website at http://www.spencerforcongress.com. It will be updated throughout the week.

If you live in the 4th District keep an eye out for when Dr. Spencer will be in your area. Here are the events that are planned so far.

Des Moines Register Comes Out With Their Endorsements

The Des Moines Register has come out with their endorsements for the upcoming election and mostly favored Democrats over Republicans. Here they are...

Governor...Chet Culver

Culver has taken his working knowledge about state government and molded it into proposals on education, economic development and renewable energy. He correctly identifies renewable energy as a historic opportunity for Iowa to remake its economy, and he has presented reasonably detailed ideas for helping it happen.

Congress
1st District...Bruce Braley

But what really sold us on Braley was his respect for the U.S. Constitution, which he called "one of the greatest documents written in the history of mankind." He recognizes the responsibility of Congress to uphold the Constitution and exercise oversight of the executive branch - a perspective sorely lacking in today's Washington. Braley is young, but polished. He is optimistic, but realistic. And he is the better choice to represent the interests of Iowans.

2nd District...Jim Leach

Jim Leach was the only member of the Iowa delegation to vote against the war in Iraq. That alone is reason enough to re-elect him.

A Republican, Leach has a reputation for integrity and independence of mind. That's demonstrated by his voting record, one of the most independent of any member of Congress.

3rd District...Leonard Boswell

On most issues, Boswell is right, from supporting a woman's right to choose to calling for fiscal responsibility. He has fought to oppose private accounts in Social Security and opposes tax cuts for the "richest 1 percent."

His experience and personal connections with people all over the world make him the better choice for representing Iowa and the country.

4th District...Selden Spencer

It would be great to have more representatives in Washington who know about health care, an issue the current Congress has ignored. Iowa should send to Congress Dr. Selden Spencer, a neurologist from Huxley.

Spencer, a Democrat, has been not only a faculty member at the University of Iowa but also a community physician for 22 years. He knows about the real-world health-care crisis facing this country. He also favors embryonic stem-cell research, a pursuit "near and dear to my heart" that has great potential for advancing medicine.

5th District...Joyce Shulte

King has been an embarrassment to Iowa, making the news for everything from referring to the Abu Ghraib prison abuses as "hazing" to calling for "cultural continuity" in America to describing disgraced U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy as a hero to pushing to build a 700-mile wall on the nation's southern border. This space won't allow listing all his outrageous remarks and positions.

and about Shulte...

Schulte would bring a breadth of experience to Washington, having worked in the mental-health field, small business and education. She's now director of the Student Support Services program at Southwestern Community College in Creston. So she knows firsthand how government policies impact the lives of students, the mentally ill and average Iowa families. And Iowa is long overdue in sending a woman to Washington.

I was surprised that the Register endorsed Selden Spencer in the 4th District, but Tom Latham has a long record of toeing the party line. As the Register says about Latham...

Spencer was right during a recent meeting with the Register when he noted that the current Republican leadership in Washingtoin has failed the country. And Latham has been part of the problem.

Unfortanately in the 2nd District, the Register doesn't understand that a vote for Leach is also a vote for Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, and Hastert. In the 2nd district, the bluest district in Iowa, they should elect a Democrat that would vote for Democratic leadership in Washington. By voting for Leach, you are voting to continue the failed leadership in Washington. If Bush was truly a uniter and not a divider, like he campaigned as, then a person like Leach would have a place in Congress.

Dave Loebsack is the Democrat in the race and holds Democratic values like the majority of people in the 2nd District. He is against the war in Iraq, for health care for everyone, for increasing the minimum wage, for energy independence, and most importantly for change in Washington.

Wes Clark Raising Money for Selden Spencer

Wes Clark is helping Selden Spencer raise money to run the radio ad that Clark did in Spencer's behalf. Here's my post about the radio ad and here's what Clark has to say...

This year's midterm elections present American voters with a clear choice on the type of leadership we want for our country. Do we want to continue with the Republicans' current "stay the course" status quo? Or do we want new leadership on the critical issues that we face -- in particular the situation in Iraq -- the type of new leadership that only Democrats can provide?

For those who choose new leadership, they need look no further than Dr. Selden Spencer, who is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Iowa's 4th district.

I just recorded a radio ad in support of Dr. Spencer's campaign, and we are looking to raise $10,000 in order to play the ad across the 4th Congressional District. Please contribute what you can to air this important message.

Click here to listen to the radio ad.

Help us put my ad in support of Selden's campaign on the air -- contribute today!

I served in the military for 38 years. From my experience, it is clear that our policies are not leading us to victory in Iraq, Afghanistan, or the rest of the Middle East. It will take more than military might alone to secure America

Dr. Selden Spencer of Huxley has been on the ground in Afghanistan. He sees that we need a new direction in the Middle East that includes diplomacy and economic development, in addition to the strong military component of the mission.

Dr. Spencer served in Kabul as a physician with Northwest Medical Teams, and while there it became crystal clear to him that a critical component of our battle in the Middle East needs to be winning the hearts and minds of the people there. This is a lesson the Republicans in Washington refuse to learn, and is one of the primary reasons we need Dr. Selden Spencer in Congress.

Help Dr. Spencer bring the experience he gained on the ground in Afghanistan to Washington -- contribute towards our radio ads today!

Dr. Spencer's opponent, Republican Tom Latham, told the Mason City Globe Gazette that he supports George Bush's Iraq policy because he has no choice.

But this is clearly mistaken: there are choices in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the rest of the Middle East, and it says a lot about Latham's leadership abilities that he thinks his only option is to blindly follow President Bush. Come November 7, you can exercise your own choice by voting for a candidate who supports change in our foreign policy, not just "stay the course."

To bring change to our nation's capitol, we need to make clear to undecided voters throughout the 4th District that Dr. Selden Spencer will provide new leadership on foreign policy in Washington.

Contribute today to help us run my radio ad in support of Dr. Spencer's campaign!

In these closing weeks of the campaign, Dr. Selden Spencer needs your support. With your help, Dr. Spencer will help us build a stronger and safer America.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark