Edwards Camp To Press: Wake Up, We're Running A National Campaign

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/12/edwards_launches_new_attack_on_press.php

Edwards Camp To Press: Wake Up, We're Running A National Campaign
By Greg Sargent - December 19, 2007, 2:15PM


Attacks on the traditional press have become a key political weapon in the arsenal of mainstream Dem primary candidates, but this is taking things to a higher level.

We've just obtained an advance copy of a snarky, pointed memo that the Edwards camp will soon send out calling out the press for its general coverage of his campaign. While most such broadsides against the press from campaigns come in response to individual stories, this one is aggressively disputing a broader media meme: That Edwards, unlike Obama and Hillary, isn't really running a national campaign.

From the memo:

Dear Friends in the Press Corps,

We here at the Edwards Campaign urge you to not swallow the spin of our rivals. John Edwards is, in fact, running a national campaign. In addition to the well-reported strength of our operation in Iowa, we have less-well-reported, but just as strong operations in states all across the country. We have eight times the number of field staff in the state of New Hampshire than the Edwards campaign had in 2004; we recently added two dozen field staffers in Nevada; and we were the first candidate to run ads in South Carolina (the state John Edwards was born in and won by 15 points in 2004). Given our support throughout the labor community and advisors at work in all February 5th states, we will have the infrastructure in place to seize on momentum from strong early place finishes. But you don’t have to take our word for it.

Introducing, Edwards By The Numbers...

The memo then comprehensively makes the case that his campaign is a national one with a fusillade of statistics. Full memo follows:

Clinton advisers believe she can survive a loss there to Edwards, who is running well in Iowa but who has smaller organizations in the other early voting states. -Associated Press, 12-11-07

Some of Obama's people also suggest that a vote for Edwards is a wasted vote because he's a one-trick pony who can perform only in Iowa. -Des Moines Register, 12-18-07


Dear Friends in the Press Corps,

We here at the Edwards Campaign urge you to not swallow the spin of our rivals. John Edwards is, in fact, running a national campaign. In addition to the well-reported strength of our operation in Iowa, we have less-well-reported, but just as strong operations in states all across the country. We have eight times the number of field staff in the state of New Hampshire than the Edwards campaign had in 2004; we recently added two dozen field staffers in Nevada; and we were the first candidate to run ads in South Carolina (the state John Edwards was born in and won by 15 points in 2004). Given our support throughout the labor community and advisors at work in all February 5th states, we will have the infrastructure in place to seize on momentum from strong early place finishes. But you don’t have to take our word for it.

Introducing, Edwards By The Numbers....

1: Number of presidential candidates actually born in SOUTH CAROLINA – John Edwards. He won the state by 15 points in 2004.

4: Number of television ads John Edwards has been up on the air with in SOUTH CAROLINA – his home state – since being the first to go up on the air in the state in mid- November.

5: Percentage of IOWA caucus-goers polled in November 2003 who supported John Edwards before he went on to finish second with 32 percent of the vote in the actual caucus.

6: Number of percentage points gained by John Edwards in the latest McClatchy poll of SOUTH CAROLINA voters, putting him at a very competitive 18%.

7: Number of percentage points separating John Edwards from frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the latest Clemson University Palmetto Poll of SOUTH CAROLINA voters.

7: Number of television ads John Edwards has gone up on the air with in NEW HAMPSHIRE, since launching his first major television ad buy on November 3rd.

7: Number of states where the campaign has organized “Road Trip for Edwards” volunteers to come to NEW HAMPSHIRE for canvassing, including the FEBRUARY 5TH

STATES of NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, RHODE ISLAND and MASSACHUSETTS.

8: Number of television ads John Edwards has gone up on the air with in IOWA since launching his first major television ad buy on November 1st.

10: Number of organizers John Edwards had on the ground in NEW HAMPSHIRE in 2003-2004. This cycle, we have eight times the number of organizers that we had in New Hampshire last cycle.

12: Number of state SEIU COUNCILS, representing more than 1.1 million working families, which have endorsed John Edwards for president, including those in the critical early states of IOWA and NEW HAMPSHIRE.

16: Number of field offices Edwards has in the state of NEW HAMPSHIRE.

17: Number of visits John Edwards has made to the state of NEVADA in 2007 – more than any other major candidate.

22: Number of states that will hold primary contests on FEBRUARY 5th .

22: Number of FEBRUARY 5th STATES where Edwards has state political advisers working on his behalf.

22: Number of FEBRUARY 5th STATES in which the Edwards campaign has organized statewide grassroots organizing calls this month.

23: Number of days Edwards has spent in his home state of SOUTH CAROLINA – more than any other Democratic candidate.

25: Number of field offices Edwards has in the state of IOWA.

27: Number of chapters of the Edwards campaign’s local service arm organized in the state of SOUTH CAROLINA.

34: Number of days John Edwards has spent in the state of NEW HAMPSHIRE during the 2008 primary campaign.

75: Percentage of NEVADA Democratic caucus-goers contacted by the campaign who identify themselves as “undecided,” which the campaign believes works in our favor.

80: Number of paid staff Edwards has in the state of NEW HAMPSHIRE in 2007.

99: Number of IOWA counties.

99: Number of IOWA counties where John Edwards visited – and took questions from Iowans – this year (and also in 2004). He was the first Democrat to do so.

99: Number IOWA counties where Edwards has announced steering committees, reaffirming the strength of his statewide organization. Again, he was the first Democrat to do so.

117: Number of public events John Edwards has held in the state of NEW HAMPSHIRE in 2007.

150: Number of paid staff Edwards has in the state of IOWA. (Note: Total number is greater than 150.)

1,000: Number of caucus trainings the Edwards campaign has conducted in the state of NEVADA.

1,690: Number of One Corps chapters, the local service arm of the Edwards campaign, across the nation, including 87 in WISCONSIN, 79 in OHIO and 74 in TEXAS.

6,000: Number of active and retired members of the United Steelworkers union in SOUTH CAROLINA, many of whom are actively campaigning and canvassing for John Edwards in the state.

8,000: Number of Communication Workers of America in ARIZONA who have endorsed John Edwards.

10,000: Number of Caucus for Priorities members in IOWA who have pledged to caucus for John Edwards.

11,000: Number of doors knocked on as part of Edwards’ “Bold Solutions to Your Issues” statewide canvass in NEVADA on December 15th.

28,000: Number of working families in NEVADA represented by the unions in the state that have endorsed John Edwards, including the Carpenters, Steelworkers, Transport Workers and local Communications Workers of America.

45,000: Number of UNITE HERE CHICAGO and MIDWEST REGION Joint Board members who have endorsed John Edwards.

96,031: Number of Transport Workers union members in FEBRUARY 5TH STATES who have endorsed John Edwards, including those in NEW YORK (53,729), OKLAHOMA (9,026), CALIFORNIA (8,860) and NEW JERSEY (7,574).

130,000: Number of phone calls Edwards campaign volunteers in NEW HAMPSHIRE made to voters in the state last week alone.

220,000: Number of NEW HAMPSHIRE voters in the 2004 primary.

235,000: Number of doors Edwards campaign volunteers have knocked on in NEW HAMPSHIRE.

330,044: Total number of dollars Edwards had raised in the state of SOUTH CAROLINA at the end of the 3rd quarter fundraising deadline – more than any other Democratic candidate.

656,000: Number of working families represented by SEIU CALIFORNIA, which has enthusiastically endorsed John Edwards and campaigned widely on his behalf.

3.2 million: Number of union members in states all across the country represented by the labor unions who have endorsed John Edwards for president.

Momentum from strong finished in early states: PRICELESS.

[IA_Seth]

1. Really? What are his national numbers right now?

Just curious, is the 'National Campaign' he is running gaining any traction?

[LibDemAlways]

2. The corporate whores know damn well that Edwards is

running a national campaign, but as I heard Elizabeth Edwards say in an interview the other day, the media has decided this is a two person race and they are deliberately freezing her husband out. All of the press releases in the world won't change that until he shows strength in the early caucuses and primaries. Then they'll be forced to eat some big servings of crow.

[rinsd]

3. Here's another number $3M. Estimate of total expenditure he is limited to in IA & NH.

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/pubfund_limits_2007.shtml

I have rounded up the figures provided by the FEC because most news estimates have put the total expenditure at $50M for the primaries.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. So far in Alaska the only Democrats who are registered

for our caucus on February 5 are Clinton, Obama and Dodd. The rest have until January 7 to get in. I know we're not many up here, but it would be nice to be considered as American citizens once in a while.

ed. And Bill Richardson, apparently.