Edwards Grabs Lead in Iowa!

In what Matt Towery says could signal an Edwards surprise on January 3rd, a new poll from Insider Advantage, shows that John Edwards has grabbed the lead in Iowa. Though the race remains very close, Edwards also has a significant lead among second choice voters-including significantly leading Hillary Clinton among female second choice voters.

Edward is peaking at the right time. Read more from Tom Baxter and Southern Political Report.

Edwards takes lead in InsiderAdvantage Iowa poll.

A Thanksgiving Message From the Edwards'

This is a new spot cut by the Edwards Campaign for Thanksgiving. Take a look!

Elizabeth Edwards: War in Iraq Not Making AYP

Last night, at a Macon, Georgia fundraiser, Elizabeth Edwards spoke to a group that included Kyle George, a Mercer law student and veteran of the war in Iraq. In response to his question about what Sen. Edwards would do as President to end the war in Iraq and begin bringing out troops home, Elizabeth paused and said , "you know, if we took the language of No Child Left Behind and applied it to this war, there's no way the war in Iraq has made AYP ." (Adequate Yearly Progress) That might've been the best line of the night. It is interesting, isn't it, that we go to great lengths to hold teachers accountable and to measure the progress of students, but despite the billions invested in Iraq, we don't do nearly as much to measure the progress of the war or hold George Bush accountable? It's time for a President who will get us out of the multi-billion dollar quagmire.

Is the NYT Shrill, Too?

Writing today for the New York Times, Paul Krugman, says

Senator Clinton delayed a long time before coming out with her own plan — a delay that created a lot of anxiety among health care reformers, and may, as I’ll explain in a minute, be a bad omen for the future. Still, this week she did deliver a plan, and it’s as strong as the Edwards plan — because unless you get deep into the fine print, the Clinton plan basically is the Edwards plan.

Over the last week, the Edwards campaign has been effectively holding Hillary Clinton's feet to the fire on health care. The issue is not the substance of her plan, but, rather, the timing of her plan. The truth is that John Edwards led on this issue in February-just as he has led on virtually every issue. While Hillary Clinton was talking about incremental steps, John Edwards published a comprehensive, workable plan to cover every American. Now, Clinton, seven months later, published a plan-one that is remarkably similar to the Edwards' plan. Any why not? It's an excellent plan. The Clinton campaign appears to be pushing back by focusing, not on any plan, but instead, on Elizabeth Edwards suggesting that she is "attacking" Hillary and is becoming "shrill." (For those of you who don't know, "shrill" and "attacking" are words people toss about in an effort to shut up strong, smart women-especially when they are both right and effective.) So, is Krugman "shrill," too?

It's not a problem that Clinton's plan so closely mirrors what Edwards proposed seven months ago. The Edwards plan is the best plan, and it makes perfect sense for her to emulate it. The question is, why did it take her so long? Krugman has a thought about that as well:

...even if the Democrats take the White House and expand their Congressional majorities, the insurance and drug lobbies will try to bully them into backing down on their campaign promises.
That’s why the long delay before Senator Clinton announced her health care plan made supporters of universal care, myself included, so nervous — a nervousness that is not completely assuaged by the fact that she finally did deliver. It’s good to know that whoever gets the Democratic nomination will run on a very good health care plan. What remains is the question of whether he or she will have the determination to turn that plan into reality.

For the first time in my memory, in John Edwards, we have an opportunity to nominate a Democrat who is both the most electable and the most progressive. John Edwards is not in bed with the lobbyists for the industries that hope to derail universal health care. Hillary Clinton is still taking their money. She says that the money won't impact her resolve to reform health care, but you have to wonder. With Edwards, there is no question about his resolve.

Elizabeth Edwards in Atlanta!

Please join us for lunch with

Elizabeth Edwards

103 West Restaurant
103 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta, GA 30305
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
12:00 PM

Event Chair: $2,300 (Private Reception)

Host: $1,000 (Private Reception)
Sponsor: $500
Friend: $250
*Maximum contribution per individual is $4,600,

$2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general

Melissa Mullinax Abbott * Jody Andrade * Marie & Roy Barnes *Lauren Benedict * Stephanie & Rob Benfield * Jeff Bramlett *Tamara & Brendon Briggs * Jim Butler * Melanie & Chuck Byrd* Martin Chitwood * Robin Frazer Clark * Carol Cooper * Melita Easters *Karen & Jon Hawk * Steve Leeds * Steve Lore * Ron Lowry* Kathy McArthur & Waldo Floyd * Adam Malone * Tommy Malone *Toni & Tim Morrison * Amy & Daryl Morton * Fred Orr * Marion Pope *Carmen & Geoff Pope * Elisabeth & Buck Rogers * Tim SantelliKiran & Shi Shailendra * Karen & Glenn Sturm * Sacha & Mark Taylor *Robert Teilhet *Teresa & Trip Tomlinson * Lyle & Michael Warshauer

*Host Committee in formation

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Liz Pavle at 919-636-3211 or LPavle@johnedwards.com or https://johnedwards.com/action/contribute/event/070919B19B

Paid for by John Edwards for President.Contributions to John Edwards for President are not deductible for federal income tax purposes

This is cross-posted from Georgia Women VOTE!

Photographs from the Carter-Edwards Event

For your weekend viewing pleasure, click below to see a photo essay of the Carter-Edwards event in Americus.

This is Why

He Won't Back Down

Let me first say, of course Clinton's poll numbers are moving. She's up on the air in Iowa, as is Obama and Biden. Second, if you click on the Tom Petty YouTube on the left, you will hear the song that the "Fight for One America" Edwards bus played loudly though 31 Iowa counties. That's right, 31 counties in six days, while Obama is planning to scale back appearances at multi-candidate forums. That' right, because it runs counter to his "bottom up" approach to this campaign, he will attend fewer forums. What?

By the way, here's the Washington Post article on the labor forum in Cedar Rapids last Saturday. I was there, and they are right, the place emptied after Edwards spoke, and Obama had a really off night.

Edwards in Atlanta: Photographs Are Here!

Here are a few pictures from the Edwards event in Atlanta on Tuesday. We had a great crowd!

Sen. John Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards

Sen. John Edwards

Elizabeth Edwards, Chuck Byrd, Sheriff Brown

Left to Right: Lauren Benedict, Caroline Moise, Carol Binns, Elizabeth Edwards, Melita Easters and Amy Morton
This is cross-posted at Georgia Women Vote!

Step Up for Edwards

I need your help to move this thermometer.

How about helping raise a few grassroots dollars for John Edwards this week? This is a campaign where your small change can literally translate to big change for this country. In honor of Elizabeth Edwards July 3rd birthday, we have a goal of raising $500.00 this week, and $5000.00 over the course of the campaign. Your contribution-no matter how big or small-would help us reach that goal. Maybe you've never given to a political campaign. Maybe you think your $5.00 doesn't matter, or that political giving is only for the high dollar donors. You'd be wrong. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, can make the difference. This is the week when the pundits will decide, based on "the money race," who is "in" and who is "out." Let's tell the pundits that Edwards is in it to win it, and we're there to help.

Just one click, is all it takes.

If you need help deciding whether this is the candidate to back, take a look at this his performance against possible Republican nominees. And, remember, he's not first in the money race, but neither was John Kerry, the eventual nominee who loaned his campaign millions in December of 2003, just so he could compete in Iowa. And, compete he did. He won there and went on to win the nomination. Of course, Edwards is already doing well in that early critical state. So, what are you waiting for? Click away, and let's move that thermometer to $500 this week!

Edwards Continues to Lead in Iowa

In Macon yesterday, Elizabeth Edwards said that she would not trade places with anyone in the race. With polling numbers like these in the critical early state of Iowa, I can see why she feels that way.

There are a number of posts in the MSM and on the blogs today about these events. The Telegraph has a great piece-front page, above the fold. I wish you could see both of their photographs on line, but you will have to settle for these great pictures by Tina Simms. Also, I have a post on Georgia Women Vote, Tondees Tavern and there are two posts on Blog for Democracy. Those Political Insiders at the AJC picked up the GWV piece this afternoon, too. Local television in Macon also has coverage here.

Details on Elizabeth's Visit to Macon

Elizabeth Edwards will be in Macon on Tuesday, June 5th at 5:30 pm for a reception, and you are invited to come.

Lots of people are asking for directions to the event, and you can find them here. This is one event you do not want to miss!

Elizabeth!

**Please save the date**

For a reception with

Elizabeth Edwards

Tuesday, June 5th, 2007
5:30 PM
At the home of David and Tiffany Cusson
198 Jennings Lane
Macon, Georgia 31210


$200 Friend ~ $500 Sponsor

$1,000 Host Committee
Maximum contribution per individual is $4,600, $2,300 for the primary and $2,300 for the general.


For more information or to RSVP, please contact
Amy Morton (478) 741-1138 or amymorton@aol.com

This is cross-posted at Georgia Women VOTE!

Good News for Elizabeth

CNN is reporting that Elizabeth Edwards' cancer is of the type that is more likely to respond to anti-estrogen drugs and that she remains optimistic about her future. Good news! And, by the way, if you have not read the book, I recommend it.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Check out the editorial, Edwards Justified in Staying in Race that appeared today in the AJC. Here's an excerpt:

In the Edwards family's case, CBS news anchor Katie Couric repeatedly questioned the couple in a recent interview about their joint decision to continue the campaign. (Couric, by the way, had made a similar decision in her own life, deciding to continue co-hosting the popular "Today" show in 1998 as her husband fought and eventually lost a battle with colon cancer.)
"Here you are, facing death. ...," Couric said at one point, trying to raise the issue one more time. But she was interrupted in midsentence by Elizabeth Edwards, who posed a question of her own.

"Aren't we all, though?" she asked.

No one could have said it better.

Edwards' Announcement

Georgia Leaders Endorse Edwards

Tune in to 60 Minutes tonight to see John and Elizabeth Edwards' first interview since announcing her diagnosis. They want you to know that the show may be delayed because of the UNC game, and that they will be watching, cheering on the Tar Heels, as always. Tune into CBS at (about) 7 PM.

Over the weekend, I saw a CNN story about Edwards challenging the other candidates on healthcare, and a story about Hillary Clinton having a fundraiser where she expected to snag a cool two million. That's quite a juxtaposition. Edwards is increasingly viewed as the candidate with a detailed, workable platform on issues that the average American cares about. No wonder Georgia leaders, like Gov. Roy Barnes and Shi Shailendra have already announced their support for Edwards.

This is cross posted at Georgia Women VOTE!

Send a Note to John and Elizabeth

There is no need to rehash here the news of the day. Many people have asked what they can do to help. First, let John and Elizabeth know that you are standing behind them with prayers and support. Click here, and you can send a note to John and Elizabeth.

Second, we can volunteer for the campaign. There are many opportunities-literally something for everyone. Check the Edwards Web site, and sign up today.

This is cross-posted at Georgia Women VOTE!

Please Let This Be Good News, Not Bad

CNN is reporting that Sen. John Edwards cut short a campaign trip to Iowa in order to accompany his wife, Elizabeth, to a doctor's visit. The visit followed a routine test preformed earlier. Elizabeth Edwards, a breast cancer survivor, has been in good health for some time. John and Elizabeth Edwards will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss her health. Our prayer tonight is that this is good news, not bad news.

Cross-posted at Georgia Women VOTE!