Edwards Grabs Early Lead In Iowa

Heartened by a solid showing in an early poll of potential Democratic presidential candidates, former Sen. John Edwards vowed to repeat an intense grass roots campaign which landed him on the Democratic ticket in the last election cycle.

"I had my 53rd birthday yesterday and it's a nice gift to know that we still have friends in Iowa," Edwards said.

In a poll published by The Des Moines Register, Edwards was favored by 30 percent of those questioned. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack faired poorly in his own state when matched against other potential Democratic presidential candidates — drawing support from only 10 percent of those surveyed in new poll, good enough for fourth behind Edwards, New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, at 26 percent, and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, at 12 percent.

Other potential Democratic candidates such as Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, former general Wesley Clark, former South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle and Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold were all in single digits in the poll.

Jeff Link a veteran strategist consulting with Vilsack's political action committee said the showing isn't unexpected, because Vilsack has taken few overt steps toward actually running.

"I don't think many Iowans think Tom Vilsack is running for president," Link said.

He said other potential candidates, including Edwards, have been more active campaigning in Iowa and "obviously that matters in Iowa."

"Tom Vilsack has been underestimated in several races before," Link said.

Edwards opened a two day swing through Iowa, raising money for Democratic congressional candidates and meeting with union workers at Maytag Corp.

When he sought the Democratic nomination in the last cycle, Edwards worked overtime to help Iowa Democrats in the 2002 midterm election, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to help the parties voter turnout operation.

That will be the model for his efforts in the 2006 midterm.

"I think these races are very important and this is a great opportunity," Edwards said. "I'm here to do everything I can."

Edwards focused heavily on retail politics during his last campaign and was rewarded with a surprising second place showing in Iowa's leadoff precinct caucuses.

That showing led to him being put on the ticket with the 2004 nominee, Kerry.

"I went to all 99 counties while I was here," said Edwards. "It was absolutely crucial as to who the nominee was and that was true in 2000 also."

Edwards was raising money Sunday for Democratic congressional candidate Bruce Braley, who narrowly won a Democratic primary in eastern Iowa's 1st District.

The trip was Edwards fifth through Iowa this year. He vowed to continue to be a familiar face.

"All I have to say is we like Iowa and Elizabeth and I obviously have a lot of friends here," Edwards said.

Since leaving the Senate, Edwards has launched a program at the University of North Carolina focusing on poverty issues and he always makes at least one stop focused on those issues.

Edwards also planned to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver in Iowa City on Monday.

He refused to speculate about Vilsack's relatively weak showing in the latest survey.

"I'll let you guys figure that out," Edwards said. "He's a very good governor and if he decides to run for president he'll be a very serious candidate."