Vilsack Up, and Out

David Weigel | February 23, 2007

Avuncular former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is dropping out of the Democrats' presidential race. This is actually news, and not because Vilsack was the lone Democrat (or, hell, Republican) who favored dramatic Social Security reform. With him out, there's no favorite son spoiling the Iowa caucuses, preventing county chairs from endorsing Hillary or Obama or John Edwards' hair. And Vilsack, who sat Buddha-like through the 2004 caucuses, can swing support to his favorite candidate. So a 2008 race that was already in early overdrive just went into super-early uber-overdrive. As the Hotline puts it:

Iowa Democrats: no longer can you hide behind Gov. Vilsack as a reason for not taking Sen. Hillary Clinton's phone call. No more excuses.

I'm not sure if Iowa has a GOP kingmaker anymore, after the party was shellacked in the 2006 elections.

Comments

|2.23.07 @ 11:10AM|#

Vilsack was third in the last Iowa poll. He was not a spoiler or a favorite son a la Harkin in 1992.

|2.23.07 @ 11:12AM|#

Vilsack out? Great, there goes my fantasy league pick.

Larry A|2.23.07 @ 11:51AM|#

Iowa Democrats: no longer can you hide behind Gov. Vilsack as a reason for not taking Sen. Hillary Clinton's phone call.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

|2.23.07 @ 11:57AM|#

And Vilsack, who sat Buddha-like through the 2004 caucuses...

This is why Dave is my favorite Reason Contributor, after Kerry.

|2.23.07 @ 12:23PM|#

"With him out, there's no favorite son spoiling the Iowa caucuses, preventing county chairs from endorsing Hillary"

Hugo Chavez in a pants-suit.

|2.23.07 @ 12:39PM|#

*smack* You love ethanol subsidies, don't you, Senator Clinton? *smack*

Yes, sir, I love ethanol subsidies, sir. Thank you, sir.

*smack* How about you, Senator Edwards? Do you love ethnol subsides? *smack*

Yes, sir, I love ethanol subsidies, sir, more than Senator Clinton, sir!

No he doesn't!

Yes I do!

*smack, smack* Shut up, both of you.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

Thomas Paine\'s Goiter|2.23.07 @ 1:21PM|#

This is why Dave is my favorite Reason Contributor, after Kerry.

Everyone loves Kerry.

|2.23.07 @ 2:18PM|#

John Kerry contributes to Reason? I mean, I know he does unintentionally, but I wouldn't call him a contributor.

Gordon|2.23.07 @ 2:28PM|#

Now Richardson is the only democratic candidate left with executive experience. I am guessing this will help him the most.

|2.23.07 @ 2:40PM|#

Let the record show that joe is the one fantasizing about smacking Hillary and Edwards around.

Not me. Nosirree Bob.

Shaved Hillary|2.23.07 @ 3:05PM|#

What about me?

Gene Berkman|2.23.07 @ 5:48PM|#

Vilsack's campaign was dead in the water after John Stewart took him down over Iraq.

|2.24.07 @ 12:56AM|#

Meh. It'll come down to some social conservative daddy type vs some generic liberal mommy type. I live in Chicago so I'll be free to vote for the libertarian eccentric uncle type.

|2.24.07 @ 2:39PM|#

RC,

I couldn't bloody well put Obama in that tableau, now could I?