Kerry
From ABC News' Kerry campaign reporter Ed O'Keefe:
ANKENY, IOWA. Jan. 5--Before the first breakfast specials of the day cooled in Ottumwa, Iowa's Country Kitchen, Senator Kerry wrapped his ever-tightening stump speech to forty-five potential caucus goers. On the surface, all looked well through Kerry's strong pitch but behind the scenes, there was a dissonant chord in the Kerry campaign.
Folk legend Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary had been denied the opportunity for a closing song as Kerry staff tried desperately to keep the Senator on schedule leading up to a live Iowa Public Television interview with Des Moines Register guru David Yepsen.
Yarrow pleaded to campaign staff, "I feel like I need to sing again."
Kerry's Iowa Political Director Mike Malaise argued, "We need to go … this is live TV."
As Kerry milled about, shaking hands and greeting supporters, Yarrow saw yet another missed opportunity for his finale and promptly made his case to Setti Warren, National Trip Director for the Kerry campaign.
The serene Warren nodded and when the brief exchange concluded, Yarrow walked away, then turned and made peace saying, "I'm Peter and I love you."
Warren called back, "I understand. I understand. I'm going in there right now to get (Kerry)."
In thankful contrast for the Kerry campaign, the scene on the second floor of the Oskaloosa Public Library had all the makings of a political love fest. As Yarrow strummed his show closer "If I Had a Hammer," he begged for the attention of his close friend of three decades, Senator John Kerry.
Kerry, deeply engaged at sealing the deal with an undecided voter, waved off Yarrow explaining, "I'm getting a vote; I'm working on a vote!"
Then, as the 50 gathered Iowans clapped and sang, Francis Schuelka turned, clasped the Massachusetts Senator and exclaimed, "He changed me from a Republican to a Democrat!"
The crowd roared, Yarrow danced, and Schuelka pitched, Kerry pledge card in hand, "Fill these out, fill these out! Don't forget to fill these out to support John Kerry, our next President of the United States!"
After such endorsement exhalations one might expect the Kerry camp to combat the Dean news of day with a simple, "Bradley who?" Instead, Senator Kerry responded to the news of Dean's latest endorsement prize with a dismissal offering, "I knew months ago that Bill Bradley was going to endorse Dean. But he doesn't vote in Iowa and he doesn't vote in New Hampshire."
The only thing the Senator forgot to add is: 'But Francis Schuelka does.'
Kerry later added that "close friends" told him "months ago" that Bradley would endorse the former Vermont Governor. As such, the Senator contends he never asked for his former Senate colleague's endorsement.
Senator Kerry did, however, step-up his rhetorical battle with Dean, hitting the frontrunner hard on several subjects including the former Vermont Governor's statements on Osama Bin Laden, repealing the whole Bush tax cut, and his judgment in general.
Speaking during an avail following his economic address, Kerry argued, "I think there are lots of voters who are concerned about being able to beat George W. Bush … I think there is a say one thing, clarify it by press release, and do another series of events in this campaign that will make it very difficult for us to be able to defeat George W. Bush."
On taxes, the Senator stated emphatically, "(Dean) does raise-His plan is to raise taxes. It is his plan … (and) I think it's a huge liability."
Regarding Dean's Iraq position, Kerry insisted, "Howard Dean exercised the same judgment as those he criticized … This is duplicitous position that the Bush campaign will exploit to a fare-thee-well."
Speaking during an avail following his economic address, Kerry argued, "I think there are lots of voters who are concerned about being able to beat George W. Bush … I think there is a say one thing, clarify it by press release, and do another series of events in this campaign that will make it very difficult for us to be able to defeat George W. Bush."
At during a brief stop at a Democratic Party fundraiser in Des Moines, Kerry implored in an amended stump speech, "We can't have someone at the top of the ticket who is going to cost us votes."
Though Kerry did not specifically mention Dean by name, the down ballot inference was not lost on a receptive crowd.
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