Campaigns Competing at Central Committee

Campaigns Competing at Central Committee: Bonior Speaks, Richardson Shakes

The Johnson County Democrats have been promised two high profile appearances tonight at the monthly central committee meeting. Edwards campaign director David Bonior is working the room, and candidate Bill Richardson is supposed to be here after his campus appearance. We'll see how close Richardson stays to schedule. The paths of the two are not supposed to cross.



Bonior is a Hawkeye alum so he's on familiar ground here. For those who may not remember he was House Dem whip until he got gerrymandered out of office in 2002. Took a shot at Michigan governor but never seemed like his heart was in it.

Bonior starts off with a Hawkeye football joke - "I played fanny back, as in 'get your fanny back on the bench.'" Then gets down to business: JRE has been to 52 counties, bus tour planned with 37 events, "this is an insurgent campaign fighting for working people." No candidate has done more for working people in last 3 years than Edwards. Worked on 195 separate organizing drives. College For Everyone program in North Carolina, UNC center for poverty.

The Bonior beard is much trimmed since the congressional days.

Repeats the Edwards story from the last debate of the man who had to wait till age 50 to get his cleft palate fixed.

Notes "Bill Richardson used to work for me, he was chief deputy whip when I was whip. Say hi for me."

Edwards leading in all public polls, we're holding our 2004 supporters. "He loves the state, I love the state, I met my wife here. She was president of SNCC here. She was a serious activist, I wasn't, but she straightened me out."

Questions: Would Edwards walk a picket line as president? Bonior: "Sure. He'd be the antithesis of what Reagan was." Convoluted statement-question about HIV funding and Darfur gets "Edwards is most concerned about restoring our moral authority in the world."

Israeli-Palestinian conflict? "He believes in a Palestinian state, and safe borders for the Palestinians and Israelis. He believes diplomacy is the answer and a priority." Bonior says in October `02 (during his last days in office) he went to Iraq and talked to high school students. "Every one of them knew every detail of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We have to have a balanced position."

Bottom line: not bad but could have been more special given his history with Iowa City.

Now the administrivia: barbecue tickets, candidate surveys, parades, committees.

A resolution calling for Sunday bus service in Iowa City passes easily; discussion gets somewhat muddled where the other cities are involved but eventually gets passed.

As of 8:30 reports are that Richardson is 15 minutes away.

The plethora of speakers begins, with Richardson ready to interrupt if need be.

The Edwardians have an Edwards Lunch Bunch. Wednesdays, noon, Bo James.

Holly Savage from Team Biden rolls out local supporter Gina Schatteman. First notable Johnson County endorsement. Refers to the July 2 Ped Mall event: "He answered questions from the heart." "I don't care who the media tells you to support." Also a handful of other local names announced. August 14-September 3 Biden is more or less camping out in Iowa.

Simeon Talley from Team Obama: Gets cut off by Richardson.



Richardson works the room for ten minutes or so, shakes every hand he can reach, but no speech. He's not quite sure what to make of the raspberry beret.

Talley resumes, with some remarks about PACs.

Mary Mascher from Team Clinton: Some sparks fly as Mascher references the work of teacher and labor PACs. Touts the 100 Women Leaders rollout and 4 year old preschool. "Each of us needs to advocate for our candidates without putting down the others" gets applause.

Getting local, we have city council candidate Matt Hayek. Cites party credentials, local roots and experience.

The Iowa for Health Care crew says hi.

More Edwardians -- this is the third appearance from Team Edwards. 30 county bus tour coming up August 13-19, with 8/17 in Johnson County.

Ben Young from Team Dodd. chrisdodd.com -- I told the meeting you get the link love if you drop the url. Mostly talks health care.

And that's a night. Only 2 1/2 hours.