Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Edwards Evening News! As usual lots of news today in all sorts of areas, here's the quick rundown:
1. John Edwards wants to expand the map - help him turn America blue!
2. John Edwards on Iraq - Enough is enough.
3. New Hampshire news: Elizabeth Edwards, technology and grassroots
4. Nevada News: Assemblyman David Bobzien to endorse Edwards
Read on over the flap ....
1. John Edwards wants to expand the map - help him turn America blue!
Campaign Manager David Bonior sent out an email today from Democratic leaders around the country asking for your help in helping John Edwards to Expand the Map:
Look at all those red states turn blue! The email is signed by Bonior and democratic leaders from around the country:
Oklahoma House Minority Leader Danny Morgan
Virginia House of Delegates Minority Leader Ward Armstrong
Maine Senate President Beth Edmonds
Missouri House Minority Whip Connie Johnson
North Dakota Senate Minority Leader David O'Connell
North Dakota House Minority Leader Merle Boucher
Georgia House Minority Leader DuBose Porter
Texas House Democratic Leader Jim Dunnam
and if their endorsement of Edwards isn't enough, here's some of what they had to say:
As leaders of our respective legislative chambers, no one knows the effect of the top-of-the-ticket candidate on state legislative races better than us, no one. The difference between winning or losing control of legislative chambers in many states will be greatly influenced by who is the nominee for the general election. We believe that we have the best chance, in some areas, the only chance, of ensuring Democratic control throughout this country with John Edwards leading the charge for Democrats next fall.
That's because John Edwards is committed to a 50 state strategy. Results like those in Texas show his strength in rural red states, and he is already focusing on intermountain states like Utah and Montana.
We can expand the map and build on John's record of fighting for Democrats in all 50 states. We can continue to build the infrastructure for Democratic victories across the nation in 2008. But it will only happen if we put a true fighter at the top of the ticket—one who will strengthen the hands of Democrats running in red states as well as blue.
snip
To make that opportunity real, we need you to act today to support John Edwards—to work from this day forward not just to win the White House, but to lay the political foundation that will change America.
and they make the point that change isn't just about the top of the ticket but all along the line:
Now it's time for all of us to think big with him—and to think beyond the top of the ticket to creating the Democratic majorities we will need to enact real change for America.
And while state-level races may not get all the attention that national races do, with the critical issues facing us today, it is more important than ever to have Democratic governors and Democratic majorities in state legislatures.
This is the same message that Elizabeth spoke about in Texas yesterday:
The wife of presidential candidate John Edwards said Monday that if her husband won the Democratic nomination he would not cede Texas even though the state has gone to the Republican candidate in every election dating to 1980.
"We have a saying in our family that you're never going to win a football game you don't play in," Elizabeth Edwards said at the state Democratic headquarters in Austin, where she claimed victory for her husband in Texas' so-called e-primary. The former North Carolina senator gained nearly 38 percent of the 8,101 votes cast online last week.
"John Edwards is popular in red states," she said, using television networks' Election Day shorthand of shading states that voted Republican in red and Democratic in blue. "He can do as well in Texas as he did in North Carolina."
So if you can help out, please do. Democratic leaders from Texas to North Dakota, from Maine to Georgia, from Missouri to Virginia are rallying behind Edwards as the best candidate to expand the map nationally and locally. And I don't think they are just whistling Dixie.
2. John Edwards on Iraq - Enough is enough.
John Edwards released a statement today on Iraq. Simply put, enough is enough - here's part of it:
"Enough is enough. We don't need to 'begin' to end the war now. What we need to do now is actually end the war. This is about right and wrong. Our young men and women are dying every day for a failed policy. Every member of Congress who believes this war must end, from Senators Obama and Clinton to Senator Warner, has a moral responsibility to use every tool available to them, including a filibuster, to force the president to change course. Congress must stand firm and say: No timetable, no funding. No excuses."
Since there are already a couple of excellent diaries related to Edwards and Iraq today, I won't touch on this much. Suffice it to say that Edwards is being extremely clear on an issue that demands the utmost clarity. For more, check these diaries out: Dodd, Edwards, Obama and Iraq and John Edwards: What we need to do now is actually end the war. Once again Congress has an opportunity to stand up to this president and try its damndest to end the war. This is what voters wanted in 2006 and what Americans want now.
3. New Hampshire news: Elizabeth Edwards, technology and grassroots
Lots going on with the Edwards campaign in New Hampshire. Want to sit next to Elizabeth at the upcoming debate on Septembe 26th? Well here's your chance:
From Monday, Sept. 17th through Sunday, Sept. 23rd NH residents will be hosting Edwards for President supporter meetings. The person who hosts the meeting with the most attendees will accompany Elizabeth to the next Presidential debate.
And grassroots volunteers will be busy on the 15th and 16th canvasssing the state to discuss John Edwards bold envirinmental initiatives and distributing 8,000 White Spruce saplings to help keep New Hampshire green. As campaign manager Bonior (who will be helping out) noted:
"This Graniteroots canvass is not just about discussing John's bold plans to combat global warming, achieve energy independence, and create good paying jobs," said Congressman Bonior. "Giving out these saplings will also help get neighbors talking to neighbors about the steps we can all take in our own lives to protect our environment."
To get easy updates on NH events, try the mobile approach.
4. Nevada News: Assemblyman David Bobzien to endorse Edwards
And big news today for Edwards in Nevada as well! Inside Nevada Politics notes today that Assemblyman David Bobzien, D-Reno, will officially endorse Edwards tomorrow. And they think its a pretty big deal:
Take Assemblyman David Bobzien, D-Reno, off the list of most courted Northern Nevada Democrats. Bobzien spent this year playing the field, attending private meetings with most of the presidential candidates who came through the area. In fact, after introducing John Edwards at a Reno townhall meeting in June, Bobzien took care to repeatedly say he wasn't endorsing him. But tomorrow, the Edwards campaign is announcing Bobzien as their Northern Nevada chair.
Along with all that a bit more to add, check out a bit of Elizabeth on Rachael Ray today. And I'll leave you on a reflective note with John Edwards message in honor Of Rosh Hashanah:
"Rosh Hashanah is an occasion for contemplating the past year and considering our future path. What have we done to make the world a better place? What can we do to improve ourselves as individuals? Elizabeth and I will be asking these questions as we wish all those who observe the high holiday a Happy New Year and pray for a year of peace, prosperity and good health for our brothers and sisters."
If you have more news, feel free to share it and thanks for stopping by!