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Do
Endorsements Matter?
Whether or not endorsements make any difference on Caucus Night is debatable, but they are important in the pre-primary period when developing campaigns strive to build credibility. Campaigns go to considerable effort to round up endorsements. The first targets are prominent party leaders including elected officials, former officials, erstwhile candidates, and party activists. In addition, campaigns seek support of community activists and business and civic leaders; Democratic candidates also woo labor support. The timing and format of endorsement announcements can be significant. A mass endorsement, with elected officials lined up behind the candidate, can draw significant attention. Alternatively, rolling out a steady stream of endorsements over a period of time can bolster the impression of a growing campaign. Picking up a prominent supporter who had formerly been with another campaign is regarded as a coup, worthy of a press release or press conference. Those that have endorsements trumpet them; those that don't argue that endorsements really don't matter and that anyhow they are pursuing a grassroots strategy. Texas Gov. George W. Bush, receiving the endorsements of a majority of Iowa's Republican state legislators on September 1, 1999, stated, "These legislators bring credibility, on-the-ground leadership and support to my campaign..." Almost by definition "establishment candidates" are able to rack up endorsements from large numbers of elected officials. For others in the field, even a few elected official endorsements can help with credibility. An endorser may play an active role in the campaign, serving as a surrogate, appearing with the candidate, making calls and rallying up support, or he or she may do nothing more than allow his or her name to be listed on the campaign's leadership team or steering committee. The process of building support and endorsements among specific groups, such as farmers or educators, is known as coalitions, and is an area of the campaign unto itself. In sum, endorsements, like fundraising prowess and campaign organization, are an element that contributes to credibility. Ultimately, however, voters' decisions are based on their views of a candidate's experience, ideas and values. |
Key Endorsements |
Dean | Edwards |
State Senators
Daryl Beall (District 25-Fort Dodge) Joseph Bolkcom (District 39-Iowa City) State Representatives Polly Bukta (District 26-Clinton) Marcella Frevert (District 7-Emmetsburg) Bruce Hunter (District 62-Des Moines) Donald Shoultz (District 21-Waterloo) Gregory Stevens (District 6-Milford) Cindy Winckler (District 86-Davenport) County Chairs Tim Ennis, Adams County Stave Kranz, Benton County Carolyn Larson, Butler County John Nelson, Emmet County John Amos, Lucas County John Cahill, Marshall County Bruce Biederman, Mitchell County Tom Hoover, Palo Alto County Jean Hartwell, Pottawattamie County Sara Adams, Poweshiek County Kay Ciha and Richard Gilmore, Washington County |
State Senator
Keith Kreiman (District 47-Bloomfield) State Representatives Dennis Cohoon (District 88-Burlington) Ro Foege (District 29-Mt. Vernon) Wayne Ford (District 65-Des Moines) Geri Huser (District 42-Altoona) Kurt Swaim (District 94-Bloomfield) County Chairs Peg Dunbar, Bremer County Janet Melton, Cherokee County Janet Adams, Hamilton County Susan Marvin, Humboldt County Joel Miller, Linn County Mike Earlle, Osceola County |
Gephardt | Kerry |
State Senators
Thomas Courtney (District 44-Burlington) Dick Dearden (34-Des Moines) Bill Dotzler (District 11- Waterloo) Bob Dvorsky (District 15-Coralville) State Representatives John Connors (District 68-Des Moines) Mark Kuhn (District 14-Charles City) Helen Miller (District 49-Fort Dodge) John Whitaker (District 90-Hillsboro) Wesley Whitead (District 1-Sioux City) |
State Senators
Dennis Black (District 21-Grinnell) Mike Connolly (District 14-Dubuque) Jack Hatch (District 33-Des Moines) Jack Kibbie (District 4-Emmetsburg) Matt McCoy (District 31-Des Moines) Roger Stewart (District 13-Preston) Steve Warnstadt (District 1-Sioux City) State Representatives Paul Bell (District 41-Newton) Deborah Berry (District 22-Waterloo) Swati Dandekar (District 36-Marion) Mark Davitt (District 74-Indianola) Mary Gaskill (District 93-Ottumwa) Jane Greimann (District 45-Ames) Lisa Heddens (District 46-Ames) Dave Jacoby (District 30-Coralville) Pam Jochum (District 27-Dubuque) Mary Mascher (District 77-Iowa City) Jo Oldson (District 61-Des Moines) Donovan Olson (District 48-Boone) Bob Osterhaus (District 25-Maquoketa) Janet Petersen (District 64-Des Moines) Brian Quirk (District 15-New Hampton) Mark Smith (District 43-Marshalltown) Doug Struyk (District 99-Council Bluffs) (switched from Lieberman) Dick Taylor (District 33-Cedar Rapids) Roger Thomas (District 24-Elkader) Roger Wendt (District 2-Sioux City) County Chairs Ann Klees, Allamakee County (acc. to campaign switched from Dean) Wes Garvey, Calhoun County Ann Fitzgibbons, Dickinson County Chuck Taylor, Fayette County Gloria Goll, Hancock County Bob Holstein, Harrison County Stephen Dailey, Jasper County Susan Pamperin, Scott County Jan Bauer, Story County John Ralls, Winnebago County |
Kucinich | Lieberman |
State Representative
Ed Fallon (District 66-Des Moines) |
State Representatives
Kevin McCarthy (District 67-Des Moines) Mike Reasoner (District 95-Creston) Paul Shomshor (District 100-Council Bluffs) Phil Wise (District 92-Keokuk) former
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No Information | |
State Senators
Eugene Fraise (District 46-Fort Madison) Michael Gronstal (District 50-Council Bluffs) Jack Holveck (District 32-Des Moines) Wally Horn (District 17-Cedar Rapids) Herman Quirmbach (District 23-Ames) Amanda Ragan (District 7-Mason City) Joe Seng (District 43-Davenport) State Representatives Robert Hogg (District 38-Cedar Rapids) Vicki Lensing (District 78-Iowa City) Jim Lykam (District 85-Davenport) Dolores Mertz (District 8-Ottosen) Pat Murphy (District 28-Dubuque) Todd Taylor (District 34-Cedar Rapids) |
21 Democratic State Senators
25 - Daryl Beall of Fort Dodge 21 - Dennis Black of Grinnell 39 - Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, Assistant Minority Leader 14 - Mike Connolly of Dubuque, Assistant Minority Leader 44 - Thomas Courtney of Burlington 34 - Dick Dearden of Des Moines 11 - Bill Dotzler of Waterloo 15 - Robert Dvorsky of Coralville 46 - Eugene Fraise of Fort Madison 50 - Michael Gronstal of Council Bluffs, Minority Leader 33 - Jack Hatch of Des Moines 32 - Jack Holveck of Des Moines 17 - Wally Horn of Cedar Rapids 4 - John Kibbie of Emmetsburg, Assistant Minority Leader 47 - Keith Kreiman of Bloomfield 31 - Matt McCoy of Des Moines 23 - Herman Quirmbach of Ames 7 - Amanda Ragan of Mason City, Assistant Minority Leader 43 - Joe Seng of Davenport 13 - Roger Stewart of Preston 1 - Steve Warnstadt of Sioux City |
47 Democratic State Representatives
41 - Paul Bell of Newton 22 - Deborah Berry of Waterloo 26 - Paula Bukta of Clinton, Assistant Minority Leader 88 - Dennis Cohoon of Burlington 68 - John Connors of Des Moines 36 - Swati Dandekar of Marion 74 - Mark Davitt of Indianola 66 - Ed Fallon of Des Moines 29 - Ro Foege of Mt. Vernon 65 - Wayne Ford of Des Moines 7 - Marcella Frevert of Emmetsburg 93 - Mary Gaskill of Ottumwa 45 - Jane Greimann of Ames 46 - Lisa Heddens of Ames 38 - Robert Hogg of Cedar Rapids 62 - Bruce Hunter of Des Moines 42 - Geri Huser of Altoona 30 - Dave Jacoby of Coralville Coralville City Councilor won August 26, 2003 special election. 27 - Pam Jochum of Dubuque 14 - Mark Kuhn of Charles City 78 - Vicki Lensing of Iowa City 85 - Jim Lykam of Davenport 77 - Mary Mascher of Iowa City, Assistant Minority Leader 67 - Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines 8 - Dolores Mertz of Ottosen 49 - Helen Miller of Fort Dodge 28 - Pat Murphy of Dubuque 61 - Jo Oldson of Des Moines 48 - Donovan Olson of Boone 25 - Robert Osterhaus of Maquoketa 64 - Janet Petersen of Des Moines 15 - Brian Quirk of New Hampton, Assistant Minority Leader 95 - Michael Reasoner of Creston 100 - Paul Shomshor of Council Bluffs 21 - Don Shoultz of Waterloo 43 - Mark Smith of Marshalltown 6 - Greg Stevens of Milford, Assistant Minority Leader 99 - Doug Struyk of Council Bluffs 94 - Kurt Swaim of Bloomfield 33 - Dick Taylor of Cedar Rapids 34 - Todd Taylor of Cedar Rapids 24 - Roger Thomas of Elkader 2 - Roger Wendt of Sioux City 90 - John Whitaker of Hillsboro 1 - Wesley Whitead of Sioux City 86 - Cindy Winckler of Davenport 92 - Philip Wise of Keokuk |
Looking Back
Relatively few papers made endorsements
in the 2000 Iowa caucus campaign primary:
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Copyright © 2003, 2004 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.