Clinton campaign reaching out to Edwards delegates in Iowa

This morning I saw a friend who is an Edwards delegate to the third district convention coming up this Saturday. He was complaining that he’d received no direction from the Edwards campaign, or from prominent Iowans for Edwards, about what he should do.

Before the county conventions in March, the Edwards campaign did almost nothing to shore up support from delegates elected on January 3 at the precinct caucuses (besides an e-mail from Roxanne Conlin and Rob Tully that went out two days before the county conventions, urging delegates to stick with Edwards).

Today Lynda Waddington reported at Iowa Independent that

Yesterday, Iowa delegates that are pledged to Clinton and those who remain pledged to the suspended presidential run of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards received a full-page, full-color reminder of the upcoming Democratic district conventions.

Click the link to see the visual of the mailer, but here is a key excerpt aimed at the Edwards delegates:

“John Edwards ran his campaign with compassion and conviction and lifted this campaign with his deep concerns for the daily lives of the American people. He and I both put forth universal health care plans, not because it was easy, but because health care for every man, woman and child is vital to giving every American family the opportunity for the American dream.

Together, let’s make universal health care a reality. I would be honored to have your support at your Congressional District Convention.”

It will be interesting to see if this works. At the county conventions, most of the Edwards delegates who switched moved toward Obama. I know of some like my friend who favor Clinton, though, partly because the Clinton health care plan is closer to what Edwards proposed.

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  • districts

    I don’t think viability is a issue as the district conventions, and I would expect very little realignment. I mean your free to make your own choices, but the State is where the next viability test will be!

    • I've heard it may be an issue in the 4th district

      Also, if people like my friend decide to realign this weekend (in his case for Clinton), then it could be an issue in any district.

      I’m guessing that if a strong Edwards contingent shows up, my friend will stick with them, though.

  • viability definitely is an issue

    I’m an Edwards delegate to the 3rd district convention too and the phone calls and mail I’ve received from the other two campaigns aren’t for nothing.  I also received a post card from someone who is campaigning to be a national “Edwards to Obama” delegate.  I fear viability will be a big problem on Saturday.  I’m sticking with Edwards.  I don’t have a Plan B.  A little guidance would have been nice, but I think I can understand why no one wants to be seen as actively working on Edwards’ behalf.

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