A Major Endorsement For Edwards Tomorrow?

Rumors abound on the campaign trail today that a big Iowa voice is set to endorse John Edwards. His campaign is mum, but Democratic sources in Iowa believe that Mari Culver, the wife of Gov. Chet Culver (D), is set to endorse the former North Carolina senator tomorrow.

The governor himself is said to be remaining neutral, but if his wife endorses Edwards, the larger Culver orbit will be seen to have descended on Edwards's campaign. (Mari Culver endorsed Edwards in 2004).

Gov. Culver's chief of staff, Patrick Dillon, worked for Edwards in Iowa in 2004, and his is married to Jennifer O'Malley, Edwards's state director. Another Edwards alum serves as Culver's communications director.

In 2004, Gov. Tom Vilsack's wife, Christie Vilsack, endorsed Sen. John Kerry at a critical moment late in the primaries. Vilsack ostensibly remained neutral.

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch hasn't endorsed, but his wife has -- Hillary Clinton.

Four Edwards spokespersons declined to comment, and a spokesman for Culver did not return an e-mail request seeking comment.

Comments

How is this major? It's some dude's wife!

It's like, oh, I don't know, nominating someone because they happened to be married to a president.

The press is pathetic...

Posted by David | December 16, 2007 3:36 PM

Edwards can really use this!

He needs a bump, and Bill Clinton just said on the Charlie Rose show that Edwards could win Iowa.

Look for the voters to return to vote for him. He is the best!

Posted by Oscar | December 16, 2007 3:38 PM

In Iowa, this does have significants - a lot more than Oprah. Spouses campaign in the election (in this case her husband) and build relationship at the local level.
It doesn't take many people to influence a precinct caucus and also the give a reason for those whose candidates aren't viable in their precinct.
Its can be as important as the endorsement of Des Moines Register of Sen Clinton. If memory serves me, 2004, Edwards received Register endorsement and Governor's wife endorsed Kerry. What were results?

Posted by rockisland | December 16, 2007 4:16 PM

This would be a very good endorsement for Edwards and it might help sway female voters who may have been leaning towards Hillary.

Posted by Patty Morlan | December 16, 2007 5:06 PM

Bill Clinton just wants to prop up Edwards chances of winning Iowa believing he couldn't beat Clinton for the democratic nomination. But all the Edwards campaign has to do is tell democratic voters of the polls which have consistently shown him as the strongest candidate in either party. And reiterate Clinton as a Northeastern Senator who would do just as bad as John Kerry did in the election.

Posted by Matt | December 16, 2007 5:07 PM

Just because Edwards is a southern doesn't mean he can carry the south. He couldn't even carry his own home state in 04 which is what VP are supposed to do. Bill shilling for Edwards just means they think of him as a lesser threat than Obama. Edwards doesn't have the money especially with the lastest FEC ruling to go the distance. Plus, the Republicans will tear his populist message apart with his Senate pro DLC and neocon votes.

Posted by sonya | December 16, 2007 5:24 PM

This article is completely nonsense. Great Edwards deserves the endorsement of every single American who's ready to take a stand and return our federal government back to the people. It's really intriguing that corporate media fails to mention his most important endorsements, the working men and women of many unions and civic organizations on the ground in Iowa. John Edwards wins Iowa and the White House. The revolution has begun. Join us!

Posted by ALi | December 16, 2007 5:48 PM

Endorsements are a dying relic of a corrupt era in politics that the internet is in the process of destroying, thankfully. So one corrupt politician scratches the back of another in return for future payback; so what? It's all just corruption.

Ron Paul 2008

Posted by FZappa | December 16, 2007 6:43 PM

Clearly this endorsement matters. Gov. Vilsak's wife's endoresement of John Kerry gave him momentum into the final days. It is moments like this that should remind us this campaign is very fluid, and it will be the campaign that can get hot late that will win the nomination. Its all about the Big Mo'.

Posted by Logan | December 16, 2007 8:08 PM

John Edwards need to be honest with his supporters and tell them he doesn't have enough money to compete in the general election. Edwards supporters also need to educate themselves on his past voting record. He never stood up for the poor in the senate only the rich. John Edwards is a fraud and will say anything to become president but I must admit he is a pretty good actor.

Posted by jann | December 16, 2007 9:21 PM

There is a John in the Bible.
There is no Hillary.
There is no Barack.
There is no Dennis.
There is no Bill.
There is no Chris
but there is a Christ,
and of course there's a Joseph.
There's always a Joseph.

Vote for John in '08
He's Biblical!

Posted by Anonymoses Hyperlincoln III | December 16, 2007 9:34 PM

Edwards continues to run extremely strong among likely caucus goers. This is an important endorsement in Iowa. And I think Bill Clinton was being serious on Charlie Rose: John Edwards can take this one home.

Posted by Jackie Mac | December 16, 2007 10:07 PM

Chet Culver's wife has been a kingmaker in the Presidential primary process for as long as I can remember. This is an important endorsement.

Posted by Democrats against Hillary | December 16, 2007 10:19 PM

Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings: John is a household word, you'd be in trouble without one. But, I don't care if Chet Culver's cocker spaniel endorses John Edwards; anyone but Hillary. I'd just like to thank the good people of the State of Iowa, for sending Senator Clinton packing. I'll bet it got pretty cold in that Hill-o-copter, when the blizzard hit. Frosty The Snowman campaigning in Iowa. There must have been some magic, in that old silk hat they found; for when they placed it on her head, her numbers did go down. Thank you Ms. Culver: http://theseedsof9-11.com

Posted by Peggy McGilligan | December 16, 2007 11:21 PM

Mrs.Culver is no Mrs.Vilsack. She's new to the office whereas Iowans knew Mrs.Vilsack well and loved her. Her endorsement was a strong one. And unless Governor Culver shows the same kind of unofficial support to Edwards that Governor Vilsack showed to Kerry, the comparison is even worse.

Posted by Mike | December 17, 2007 12:19 AM

"some dudes wife"? I guess you don't know politics as well as you think

Posted by vicki | December 17, 2007 9:29 AM

To Sonya:
No one ever claimed that Edwards would carry the south but Edwards, if nominated would force the GOP to spend more money in the south. In directly this would help Edwards to get elected. The GOP would have to spread more of their money around to hold on to some of the near south states Like Missouri, Arkansas and others. Edwards would win Missouri and Missouri is a bell-weather state.

Posted by mark | December 17, 2007 2:36 PM

Edwards is the only candidate that can beat the Republicans. Obviously, the Republicans want to use the race and gender issues and believe that they can beat Obama and Clinton.

Edwards doesn't get the play from the Corporate Press because he has announced that it will be a new game and not business as usual and this frightens corporate America.

Edwards is the only candidate that independents, like myself, can support in good conscience because his platform embraces many of the beliefs and goals of the independents who want government to serve the middle class of this country and to provide jobs and benefits that result in a strong and healthy middle class.

Posted by Carol Eblen | December 17, 2007 4:28 PM