VILSACK WITHDRAWS
AS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Will
Continue Fight to Defund Iraq War, Achieve Energy
Security
Organization & Message Trumped by Money
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February
23, 2007
DES MOINES, IA --
Former DGA Chair and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack today
announced that he is ending his presidential
campaign, citing money -- the so-called "invisible
primary" -- as the only reason for getting out of
the race.
According to Vilsack:
"I am a very luck guy, blessed in love, family,
friends, job, and by this campaign.
"I have the boldest plan to get us out of Iraq and a
long-term policy for energy security to keep us out
of future oil wars. Our campaign has built the
strongest organization here in Iowa, with almost
3,000 supporters among Democratic caucus goers. We
are organizationally positioned to win the caucuses
in January 2008. We have everything to win the
nomination and general election.
"Everything except money."
Media-expensive states that have moved, or are
considering moving their primaries or caucuses to
early February 2008 include: Alabama, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois,
Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, New Jersey, North
Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah.
Vilsack, a native of Pittsburgh and successful
two-term governor of Iowa, vowed to continue
fighting for bold changes in America's international
and domestic policies:
"I am leaving one campaign, but I am not saying
goodbye. I will continue to fight for the outsiders
and underdogs who are the backbone of the Democratic
Party and our country. And I will continue to fight
to end the war, achieve energy security and get our
country back on track. So stay tuned. The best is
yet to come."
Vilsack, who said that he will not be endorsing any
presidential candidate at this time, urged his
fellow Democrats to keep the presidential campaign
positive and to spend time campaigning in small
communities and living rooms across America.
"Retail political events in coffee shops, living
rooms and small towns are sometimes dismissed by
insiders as relics of the past, but they are wrong.
It's critically important to our party and our
country that our candidates spend the time and
energy visiting the small towns and communities that
make America great. And let us focus on the dreams
that unite us rather than be distracted by the
differences of opinion that sometimes separate us."
As a presidential candidate, Vilsack was the first
to announce his candidacy, the first to oppose the
Bush-McCain Doctrine of escalating the war in Iraq
and the first to demand that Congress use its
spending power under the Constitution to bring U.S.
fighting to an end in Iraq.
Today, Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post wrote:
"As for the ideas primary, Vilsack continues to
issue the most detailed policy proposals of anyone
in the Democratic field; the latest example was a
comprehensive energy plan. ... [W]e're intrigued by
the kind of campaign he is running."
Last week, the San Francisco Chronicle called
Vilsack's energy-security plan "the most
wide-ranging and detailed energy policy of any of
almost two dozen 2008 presidential hopefuls,
Democratic or Republican."
Also last week, the Washington Post reported that
Tom "has the most gripping personal story -- he was
orphaned and grew up in an abusive family -- of any
Democratic candidate."
Tom Vilsack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in
1950. He never knew his birth parents. Shortly after
his birth, he was handed over to nuns in a Catholic
orphanage in Pittsburgh, where he stayed until he
was adopted. Vilsack was raised in a loving but
troubled home. His parents, who successfully
triumphed over their problems, have served as a
lifelong inspiration.
Vilsack married his college sweetheart, the former
Christie Bell, and moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa -
Christie's hometown -- in the 1975. In the past 19
years, Vilsack served successfully as mayor, state
senator and governor.
Thank you e-mail to
supporters
Dear Friend,
I am very fortunate -- blessed in love, family,
friends, job, and by this campaign.
I have the boldest plan to get us out of Iraq and a
long-term policy for energy security to keep us out
of future oil wars. Our campaign has built the
strongest organization here in Iowa, with almost
3,000 supporters among Democratic caucus goers. We
are organizationally positioned to win the caucuses
in January 2008. We have everything to win the
nomination and general election.
Everything except money.
That is why this morning after discussing with my
wife Christie and our sons Jess and Doug we have
decided to end our campaign for the presidency.
Thousands of you have given so generously of your
time, energy and money. And together, we've built a
campaign that has stood up and taken courageous
stands on the issues that our country must face. In
just the past few weeks, we've shaped the debate on
the Iraq War and laid out an aggressive plan to
achieve energy independence and security.
I firmly believe that our leadership on these issues
-- the defining issues of our time -- will be
recognized for years to come.
In recent weeks, just as our message has begun to
resonate with voters and pundits alike, our
fundraising has suffered. The fact is, each hour I
spend with voters, press and policy experts is an
hour taken away from our campaign paying bills.
More than any other race in history, this
presidential campaign will require candidates to
commit more time, energy and influence raising money
than developing ideas. I worry that this process,
involving hundreds of millions of dollars, holds our
democracy hostage to insiders, influence and
establishment when we are so in need of just the
opposite.
But this is a fact I cannot change with this
campaign.
I am leaving one campaign, but I am not saying
goodbye. I will continue to fight for outsiders and
underdogs who are the backbone of the Democratic
Party and our country. Our work is far from over.
Because here in Iowa where the first caucus will be
held in less than 11 months and all across this
great country, voters are longing for bold
leadership, big ideas and courage from our elected
officials.
We want the war to end -- today.
We want a real plan to provide universal access to
healthcare -- today.
And we want policies to keep us secure and
environmentally sound by ending our addiction to
oil, both foreign and domestic.
Again, thank you for everything you've done. It has
been an inspiring few months and I know that, with
your continued support, our work is not over.
With great appreciation,
Tom Vilsack |
