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CAUCUS COUNTDOWN: Groups hit the campaign trail, target presidential candidates

By Chris Dorsey
IowaPolitics.com Des Moines Bureau Chief

Candidates with presidential aspirations have crisscrossed Iowa in hopes of reaching potential supporters for the Jan. 14, 2008 caucuses.

However, they aren't the only ones on the campaign trail. Three former Iowa governors as well as members of congressional delegation and state lawmakers are part of a couple non-partisan action groups that are taking their campaigns to prospective caucus-goers and the presidential candidates.

Former Iowa Govs. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat, and Robert Ray, a Republican, joined former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer, chairman of the Strong American Schools "ED in 08" campaign last week at the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines. The three governors are part of a non-partisan group, funded in part by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who are calling upon Iowans and people across the nation to raise the issue of education when presidential candidates visit their communities.

"Here in Iowa, we value our position as one of the leading states in helping decide who will have a successful run at the presidency," Ray said. "We understand how important it is to really evaluate the candidates on their policy positions."

And, the education issue hasn't been addressed nearly as much in the first several debates, which is a mistake, Vilsack said.

"We need to set high expectations and require high standards for every school in America," Vilsack said. "Anything less will not adequately prepare our children for the tough global competition they will face. Today, we are simply not doing anywhere near enough to raise those expectations or set those standards."

The ED in 08 campaign announced its Iowa advisory board at Tuesday's event. The board is comprised of elected officials, school officials and business people. Included on the list are Congressman Leonard Boswell, former Gov. Terry Branstad and state Reps. Steve Lukan and Phil Wise.

Then, there's Iowa One Vote '08, which featured an appearance by Branstad, a Republican, and former Lt. Gov. Sally Pedersen, a Democrat, at its kickoff ceremony last week in Des Moines. The purpose of the One Vote group is to interact with the 2008 presidential candidate to promote the fight against global poverty and disease. More than 20,000 Iowans have already joined the group, according to organizers.

"The Iowa One Vote '08 Campaign is a way to combine our voices to send a message to our next president and other policymakers that Iowans are ready to step up to this challenge," said Branstad, who is also involved with the Divided We Fail initiative that focuses on financial security and health care.

Two former U.S. Senate majority leaders, Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Tom Daschle, D-South Dakota, serve as chairs of the national organization. Iowa One Vote '08 is part of a national campaign focusing on the early primary states. The group consists of bi-partisan leaders, musicians, community leaders, political strategists and faith leaders.

"Iowa One Vote '08 is an exciting opportunity to increase awareness of these issues and raise their visibility in the upcoming Iowa caucus," Pedersen said.

-- Dorsey is the Des Moines bureau chief for the non-partisan political news site IowaPolitics.com. To learn more about the Iowa caucuses, which are tentatively set for Jan. 14, 2008, and the field of Democratic and Republican candidates, go to www.iowapolitics.com