On the Campaign Trail with Ed Tibbetts

It looks like the team trying to win the 2016 Olympic Games for Chicago is taking the same approach that President Obama did in winning the Iowa caucuses in 2008.

The president is going to Copenhagen to personally pitch Chicago to the International Olympic Committee before a decision is made Friday.

Valerie Jarrett, an Obama adviser, likens the IOC decision-making process to the caucuses, which the president famously won.

Lynn Sweet of the Chicago-Sun Times writes:

Jarrett said an apt comparison to Chicago’s IOC campaign would be the Iowa caucus. Obama’s 2008 Iowa caucus win paved the way for his election as president. The Iowa caucus required intense, personal campaigning–much like the final sprint to lobby the IOC members.

Said Jarrett, “The Iowa caucus, where you can have more than one round and every single vote counts and it is very retail and you have to earn the trust and confidence of every single person you can and that’s where our effort will be….it is very germane in the home stretch.”

Iowans who remember Obama’s sprint to the finish in the last days before the caucuses can attest to his effectiveness in a retail setting.

Of course, there are some differences. Two days before the Copenhagen Caucuses, it’s supposed to be 53 degrees with some rain.

Two days before Iowa ‘08, there were blizzard conditions in the Quad-Cities.

Good luck, Chicago.

Vice President Joe Biden will be the featured speaker at this year’s Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner Nov. 21 in Des Moines.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have the Vice President back in Iowa,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said today.  “There is a great deal of admiration for Joe Biden among Iowa Democrats.”

Biden spent a considerable amount of time in the state running for president before the 2008 caucuses. He finished 5th, but gained a faithful following in parts of eastern Iowa, including the Quad-Cities.

Bob Krause, the Fairfield Democrat seeking the party’s nomination to run against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, is objecting to Michael Kiernan’s comments last week raising the prospect of a third candidate.

Kiernan, the chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, said on IPTV’s “Iowa Press” last Friday that there is a “first round draft pick” waiting to announce, and that Grassley would be “in for the race of his life.”

Today, Krause challenged the mystery candidate to raise his head. He also objected to Kiernan’s teaser. He said it harkens back to “the era of the king makers.”

“Kingmaking politics just doesn’t work in a state that is this small,” he added.

The other candidate, Tom Fiegen, a Clarance lawyer, was more subdued. He said Monday that Kiernan “got carried away.” But he adds he wasn’t offended. He acknowledged that, like everybody, Kiernan is concerned about a challenger’s ability to raise money.

Grassley had $3.8 million in the bank at the end of June. The Democrats had raised hardly any money.

UPDATE (3:45 p.m.): Kiernan issued a statement this afternoon. He praised Krause and Fiegen and said while it’s his job to recruit the best candidates possible, the party has been neutral in the Senate race.

“I am absolutely certain the party will have a very strong nominee with a real chance to be elected to the U.S. Senate. I am excited about that,” he said.

More inside baseball: Jeff Giertz, the spokesman for U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, said today he’s leaving for another job.

Giertz says he’s going to work for the Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Louisiana. Melancon announced last month he will challenge Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, next year.

Giertz has been with Braley since his initial congressional campaign, and so his name should be familiar to people around here.

No word on a replacement yet.

A little inside baseball stuff here:

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, announced today he’s picked a new chief of staff to replace Sarah Benzing, who left in August to work for the re-election effort of U.S. Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand, D-New York.

The new chief of staff for Braley is John Davis, who most recently was deputy chief of staff for Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Davis, who is 32, has an Iowa background. He grew up in Johnston, graduated from high school there, then went to St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He also previously worked for Rep. Leonard Boswell’s legislative and reelection teams.

The big health care news today is that Sen. Max Baucus, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has released his plan for health care reform.

The committee will take it up next week, marking a key step in moving this process forward.

Sen. Chuck Grassley talked about the plan this morning. Here’s a story I wrote for the Times.

Also, he issued a statement last night when Baucus announced he was moving forward with his plan.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, weighed in on the Baucus plan today. Find it below Grassley’s remarks.

Senator Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, released the following statement on health care reform negotiations among the six key members of the Finance Committee.

“Over the last several months the bipartisan group of six senators has worked diligently to develop a bipartisan bill for the Finance Committee to consider.

“I applaud the efforts Chairman Baucus has made to provide a venue for us to work together toward bipartisan legislation that we all can support, and we’ll continue to work with him and Senators Conrad and Bingaman — and any other members interested in real bipartisan reforms — as the process moves forward.

“Unfortunately, we’re operating under an artificial deadline set by the Democratic leadership and the White House.  I’m disappointed because it looks like we’re being pushed aside by the Democratic leadership so the Senate can move forward on a bill that, up to this point, does not meet the shared goals for affordable, accessible health coverage that we set forth when this process began. In addition to concerns about costs to taxpayers and affordability for individuals, there are still some serious outstanding issues that have yet to be resolved like preventing taxpayer funding of abortion services and the enforcement against subsidies for illegal aliens. I have also pressed for alternatives to the individual mandate and ways to lower the overall cost of the bill, as well as tougher medical liability reform measures.

“On top of all that, there’s no guarantee that a Finance Committee bill, even if it becomes bipartisan, will stay that way after it leaves the committee.  An overriding issue for some time has been the fact that members of the Democratic leadership haven’t made a commitment to back a broad bipartisan bill through the entire process.

“We’ve been clear from the start that we’re willing to stay at the table.  There’s no reason not to keep working until we get it right.  In the end, legislation that impacts every American should have strong bipartisan support.”

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today issued the following statement on the health reform proposal unveiled today by the Senate Finance Committee.

“In just the last week, the health reform debate has been reinvigorated.  The President’s address to the Joint Session of Congress explained to the American public in clear and concise terms why the status quo is not an option.  It is now up to Congress to respond.

“Today, Chairman Baucus has unveiled a proposal that will be marked up in Committee next week.  I applaud Chairman Baucus for his steadfast work to get to this point.  The proposal outlined today will help to move forward this debate that is so important to the American people.

“Obviously, the bill that Senator Baucus proposes is just that – a proposal.  The Finance Committee will have its markup next week, and I know a number of members will have amendments they will want to offer, and changes they will want to make.  The measures by which I judge any bill will remain the same: will it provide robust, comprehensive and affordable coverage to all Americans and will it place primary emphasis on prevention and wellness.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chaired a hearing today about the potential ill effects of cell phone usage.

An interesting read that may make you think twice the next time you pick up your cell phone.

Statement of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee

Hearing on “Health Effects of Cell Phones”

September 14, 2009

As Prepared for Delivery

“The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Service and Education and Related Agencies will now come to order.

“There are an estimated 270 million cell phone users in the United States, and about 4 billion worldwide.  I would venture to guess that almost everyone in this room uses a cell phone on a regular basis, and most of us don’t give a second’s thought that it could harm us in any way.

“However, a growing number of experts think there is cause for concern.  The amount of radiation emitted by cell phones is tiny – billions of times less than an X-ray.  But some researchers believe that, over the course of many years, even this low level of radiation could cause cancers of the brain and central nervous system, as well as a range of other harmful effects.

“Indeed, some international studies have suggested that people who use cell phones for more than 10 years are more likely to get tumors on the side of the head where they usually hold their phone.  Other studies, meanwhile, have found no correlation at all.

“So it is not the intention of this subcommittee to create undue alarm.  I will still use my cell phone after the hearing ends, and I suspect that everyone else here will as well.  But one thing we’ll want to discuss today is whether we need more NIH research in this area, and how that research should be conducted.

“Our expert witnesses will also discuss whether there are precautions we should be taking now, to reduce our exposure to cell phone radiation, in case the fears turn out to be well founded.

“I’m reminded of this Nation’s experience with cigarettes.  Decades passed between the first warnings about smoking tobacco and the final, definitive conclusion that cigarettes cause lung cancer.  If more people had heeded those early warnings, or if we could have established the link between tobacco and cancer more quickly, many lives would have been saved.

“We don’t know yet whether cell phone radiation poses a similar danger.  I hope today’s hearing will begin to address that question.

The group touting an Iowa gubernatorial bid by ex-Governor Terry Branstad has a radio ad out.

It focuses on fiscal responsibility. You can hear the ad here.

Here’s the text:

ANNOUNCER:
With soaring budget deficits, more spending and higher taxes, it’s easy to forget we once had real leadership in Des Moines.

Paid for by Draft Branstad PAC.

2nd UPDATE: (1:45 p.m.)

Sen. Tom Harkin confirmed this afternoon that he’s become the new chair of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, succeeding the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. He will give up chairing the Agriculture Committee to take the post.

His statement is below:

“Today I am honored to accept the chairmanship of the Senate HELP Committee.  To serve in this capacity is to carry on the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy, who dedicated his life to ensuring that our economy works for all Americans, guaranteeing every child the opportunity to pursue a quality education and, of course, the cause of his life: access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.   In this last endeavor, I expect to work closely with Senator Dodd, who has guided the HELP Committee so capably in reporting The Affordable Health Choice Act, and who will continue to play a leading role as health care legislation moves to the Senate floor.

“Of course agriculture will always be a key interest to my home state of Iowa, so I intend to remain a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, a Committee I have been on since I first joined the Senate in 1985.  My dedication to the Agriculture Committee dates back to my first year in Congress when I served on the House Agriculture Committee in 1975.  In that time, I have had the great privilege of serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee during enactment of the 2002 and 2007 farm bills – bipartisan legislation that passed this body by an overwhelming majority.  It is because of these bills that support for renewable energy and support for farm income grew exponentially, acres and acres of lands have been preserved through conservation efforts, rural developments efforts grew to help small towns that Americans have access to more fruits and vegetables and food assistance is covered for American families who need it.  I intend to remain a member of the Committee.”

UPDATE (1:30 p.m.): Several media outlets are reporting that Sen. Blanche Lincoln, an Arkansas Democrat, will be the new chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, as Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, moves up to chair the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee.

Harkin is in line for the job because Sen. Chris Dodd is declining it in order to stay chair of the Senate Banking Committee.

The changes are necessitated by the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy. The HELP panel is a plum assignment, and Harkin has long worked on health-related issues, much of it related to wellness.

EARLIER VERSION: The Washington Post is reporting that U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, will get the chairmanship of the Senate’s Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee. (See the story here).

The late Sen. Ted Kennedy had chaired the panel and the Post, citing anonymous sources, says Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., isn’t interested in replacing him. Dodd, who also chairs the Senate Banking Committee, would be next in line.

The Post says with Dodd bowing out, the job falls to Harkin.

“Multiple sources in the Harkin orbit, requesting anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said that he is certain to take over the HELP committee,” the Post says.

Harkin would have to give up his chairmanship of the Agriculture Committee if he’s to take the helm at HELP.

On the eve of his big health care speech, President Obama gets some advice from U.S. Rep. Phil Hare.

The Rock Island Democrat says it’s time to “reclaim the debate,” and that Obama needs to appeal to people who have insurance. He says the president should tell them they won’t lose their coverage if reform passes, but if nothing is done they’ll face ever-rising costs.

Here’s Hare’s remarks, according to a news release his office sent out today:

“The fact that there are nearly 50 million uninsured Americans is in and of itself a compelling reason to pass strong health care reform. But the President should use tomorrow’s primetime speech to highlight the benefits of reform for those who already have insurance and worry that changes to the current system may harm their current coverage.

“Insurance companies and their political allies spent the entire month of August scaring middle class families with myths and disinformation. It is time for President Obama to reclaim the debate and explain exactly what is in this bill, why the need to act is so urgent, and how health care reform’s greatest beneficiaries may be those who already have health insurance but are paying too much in a broken system.”