Vilsack drops out

Posted: Friday, February 23, 2007 11:29 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats

From NBC's Mark Murray and Elizabeth Wilner
NBC News has learned that former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D) is dropping out of the presidential race. This announcement, which Vilsack will make outside his campaign headquarters at noon ET, comes as quite a surprise given that he was heading to campaign in New Hampshire on Monday and Tuesday

Vilsack, the first major Democrat to announce that he was running for president in 2008, made his decision after realizing he wouldn't have the money to compete against the likes of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. "This comes down to money," says a Democratic source close the campaign, noting that Vilsack had -- by far -- the strongest organization in Iowa, the site of the first Democratic nominating contest.

Vilsack, of course, isn't the first high-profile Democrat to announce he's not running. Former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh also decided -- to the surprise of many -- that they would not run. Interestingly, all three of these Democrats are similar: They are considered centrists who hail from red states.

Vilsack's decision also removes from the field someone who had been tacking to the left on the Iraq war. He opposed Bush's troop increase and wanted Congress to block funding for it. He also encouraged state legislatures to denounce Bush's plan, as he did during his farewell speech as governor. "I want to challenge every single one of you and ask a simple question," Vilsack said at this week's Democratic forum in Nevada. "What have you done today to end this war in Iraq? It needs to be ended now; not six days from now, not six months from now, not six years from now, it needs to be ended now and it's up to you."

It's worth noting that the other high-profile Democrats still in the field -- Clinton, Obama, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, and even Bill Richardson -- all hail from Washington, or at least have strong ties to it. And these people all seem to have better platforms to air their positions on the war, given more opportunities to appear on the Sunday morning shows or to speak from the Senate floor.

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Comments

Way to go Tom. At some point the Zero's are added too fast, and the thousands become millions. Run for Congress. We need some level heads, desperately.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 11:39 AM)

"This comes down to money" comment. Is there anything on the political Merry-Go-Round that doesn't ultimately come "down to money"?

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 11:44 AM)

That's what's wrong with starting the 2008 campaign right after the 2006 elections are over (if not before). Like Vilsack, candidates will just run out of money right and left, leaving voters with "slim pickin's."

Olivia (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 12:00 PM)

Politics IS all about the money. The average person doesn't stand a chance.

Elli M. (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 12:17 PM)

Could it be that Vilsack just added his name to Bayh, and Warner on the potential VP list?

Al, Burlington, KS (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 12:23 PM)

Please do not call Iowa a "Red State". Iowa voted for Gore in 2000, has had a democratic governor for 8 years and just elected another, and has democratic majorities in both state houses. There are more registered democrats than republicans. True, GWB defeated Kerry in the last presidential election, but only by a few thousand votes - hardly in itself qualification for "red state" status.

Michael, Ames Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:02 PM)

Any chance he could run against Grassely?

Desmond (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:20 PM)

Maybe it was actually reality that hit Vilsack... From the very beginning he should have known he had two chances............SLIM, and NEXT TO NONE. I can't believe he would actually squander thousands, or even millions with his odds of winning. That money would have been better spent on Powerball tickets.

Dave, MO (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:31 PM)

Al-The Veep list. With the mudslinging starting so early, I think many potentials are holding back until they see how Iraq plays out on both sides. With the present potential for train wrecks on both sides, I'd be loath to hitch a ride with any of them. To-date, I see no substance behind any of their platforms. Towards the end, it will come down to the cleanest face to come out of the mudslinging. Let's just hope that the Veep is not just another co-dependent as Cheney is, and that it doesn't come down to another decision of "the lesser of two evils".

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:32 PM)

Iowa is traditionally one of the states that falls under the "too close to call" category when it comes to presidential elections. It's almost always up for grabs. It is by no means a red state.

Carrie, NW Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 2:19 PM)

Michael appears to be partially color blind.

Waterloo, Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 2:21 PM)

So why do the people (entities) with money not want to see us disentangled from Iraq?

Russell in Maryland (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 2:45 PM)

Vilsack has a dream! Even though he dropped out of the '08 Presidential race, he still has vision and considerable experience. I hope he continues to speak out and work to make the U.S. a better place for us all. Let's hope that the media lets him do it - I feel like they are choosing our candidates for us!

Emily Kronenberger (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 3:07 PM)

Michael & Carrie - I would agree. Iowa is a purple state. Most of the Democrats they elect are "Blue Dog" but they still elect their fair share.

Ryan, Michigan (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 3:22 PM)

I agree with Dave in MO, I had thought Vilsack was truly a smart guy with great intentions and integrity, but this very early and unexpected exit makes me think otherwise. It seems he just enjoyed a several-month whirlwind, all-expense paid tour of America, hobnobbing with celebrities and Hollywood, much of which was conducted while he was still on the payroll of Iowa taxpayers as an absentee Governor. Suspicious and disappointing. Iowa voters should demand a reimbursement for salary paid in his final months of office.

Michael, Ames Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 3:27 PM)

So Iowa, should he run against Grassely?

Desmond (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 4:04 PM)

Desmond. Most definitely. Chuck's been burned out by all the Neocon Philanderings. He'll die there if he doesn't quit pretty soon. An OK guy, is Grassley, but in the twilight of His Party, the Mesocons.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 4:25 PM)

Michael - So it would be better for him to continue to throw good money after bad, knowing that he will not be able to get the funding and media attention necessary to have a real shot at winning the nomination? I wish he would have stuck it out longer as well, but he's a smart man and I'm sure he had nothing but the best intentions when he entered the race. Things don't always work out as we hope; that doesn't mean he was swindling taxpayers. And incidentally, I hope you think all Americans should demand a refund of taxes based on how much time Bush spent campaigning for losing Republicans on our dime.

Carrie, NW Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 4:26 PM)

Ryan - I'm not familiar with the term "blue dog." What does that mean?

Carrie, NW Iowa (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 4:26 PM)

Steve Turner, hope that's true, bro.Senator Vilsack, Democrat, Iowa. I would vote for that, if I could.

Desmond (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 6:56 PM)

Ohhh Ryan- Wish you hadn't said "blue dog". "Me and you and a dog named blue". Have had that line from song in my head since reading your comment, and can't remember what song or who it came from. Hate when that happens.

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 11:07 PM)

M.E. -whistle anything by Mozart. It's an old cure for the annoying-song-stuck-in-the-head syndrome.

Mel, Illinois (Sent Monday, February 26, 2007 4:21 PM)

"Don't stop 'till you get enough...."

Dorothy (Sent Monday, February 26, 2007 5:11 PM)

I just finished reading ralph naders newest best seller "the seventeen traditions" it has so many principles that mr nader grew up with and it really gave me something to think about.I think this book and ralph nader will be a great voice in the 2008 race and a breath of fresh air from the cat fights.

tom chastain (Sent Tuesday, February 27, 2007 12:21 AM)

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