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August 17, 2002--New American Optimists' director Steve Jarding and
Optimists' rural liason Dave "Mudcat" Saunders greet Iowa Democratic Party
vice chair Rob Tully (center) at the Fink Farm. Jarding signed on
as director of the Optimists in January 2002, after having managed John
Warner's successful gubernatorial campaign in Virginia in 2001. Saunders
served on Warner's campaign as well. Saunders said that generally,
"Democrats [in] the last several election cycles tend to not want to campaign
in rural America." "You got to understand the culture and Johnny
Edwards understands the culture," he said. If Edwards runs, Saunders
said, "Rural America will have their best friend since FDR." Saunders
has had a hand a bunch of creative outreach efforts of the Optimists.
For example in July the Optimists signed on the Lonesome
River Band as its official band; the group performed at a July reception
for Virginia congressional candidate Ben Jones, and Optimists is renting
it to the IDP for the Harkin Steak Fry. He helped line up former
Chicago Cubs who appeared at an Edwards' event on this trip. |
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