http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=565&press=1">Five State Reps And Other Prominent Gephardt Supporters Join Wave Of New Support For John Edwards MANCHESTER, NH - On the heels of John Edwards' second-place finish in Iowa, thousands of New Hampshire voters, including dozens of Dick Gephardt backers, are throwing their support behind Edwards.
Attracted by Edwards' optimistic, detailed plan to change America, and by his proven ability to reach voters in all parts of the country, Granite Staters are packing into Edwards' events and flooding his offices with requests for more information and offers to volunteer. Since Monday more than 300 volunteers from across the country have signed up to campaign for Edwards in New Hampshire, joining hundreds who are already volunteering in the state.
"Voters in New Hampshire are tired of politics as usual and the petty sniping that has dominated this primary battle. They deserve a candidate who believes in America and who believes in them, and who has real policy ideas to get our country back on track," Edwards said. "We are past the preliminaries. It's time to choose a president."
Among the voters who are rushing to Edwards are elected officials and staff members who previously backed Gephardt.
House Minority Leader Peter Burling noted that Edwards truly understand the problems facing middle class people. "John Edwards absolutely stands out in my mind as a man who can both feel the anxieties and concerns of the American people, focus his extraordinary intellect on how to respond to the concerns, and then articulate a position, which people can both understand and rally behind," said Burling. "John Edwards has got the bounce, and he knows what to do with it. In my view John Edwards is going to play brilliantly across this country."
"I've admired John Edwards, the policies he's fought for and the positive way he's run this campaign," said State Representative Jackie Pitts (D-Portsmouth), a Gephardt supporter. "But what convinced me is seeing him on the campaign trail. He has a and honest sincere passion and a natural ability to connect with voters of all stripes."
"John Edwards, like Dick Gephardt, has spent his life fighting for regular Americans. Both men came from humble beginnings and both have never forgotten who they are fighting for," said State Representative Ed Mears (D-Berlin).
The following New Hampshire elected officials and activists have recently switched their support to John Edwards:
Rep. Peter Burling, Cornish - State Representative, House Democratic Leader
Rep. Jim Craig, Manchester - State Representative
Rep. Robert Theberge, Berlin - State Rep., former mayoral candidate for Berlin
Rep. Ed Mears, Berlin - State Representative
Rep. Jackie Pitts, Portsmouth - State Representative
Elizabeth Cary, Derry - Democratic activist
Richard Daschbach, Westmoreland - Treasurer of Cheshire County Democrats
Virginia Daschbach, Westmoreland - Democratic activist
Lyn S. Davies, West Lebanon - Democratic activist
Tom and Rosalyn Kociemba, Portsmouth - Democratic activists
Stacey McGonigol, Concord - Democratic Activist
Mike Matoon, Deputy Field Director and Labor Director, Dick Gephardt for President
Tom Oppel, Canaan - Secretary of the Grafton County Democrats
Russell Ouellette, Manchester - Manchester School Board member
Barbara St. George, Derry - Derry activist
Leslee Stewart, Manchester - Manchester School Board member
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http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=564&press=1">Top Aide to Congressman Clyburn & Former Gephardt State Director Williams Joins Edwards SC Campaign COLUMBIA, SC: The Edwards for President Campaign in South Carolina today announced that Isaac "Ike" Williams, top aide to Congressman Jim Clyburn and former state director for Rep. Dick Gephardt's presidential campaign, has joined the Edwards team.
"Ike will be a tremendous asset to our campaign in South Carolina," said Edwards. "His knowledge of this state spans some four decades and his work for Congressman Clyburn is unparalleled. Without question, we have the team in place to bring home a victory in South Carolina on February 3rd, and I'm proud to have Ike Williams on board."
"I have surveyed the field of remaining candidates, and John Edwards' campaign exudes the kind of comprehensive platform that best relates to issues important to this state," said Williams. "His emphasis on jobs, housing, healthcare, and education clearly addresses South Carolina's needs. He can win this state and he can beat George Bush."
A veteran of South Carolina politics for over 40 years, Williams ran Congressman Clyburn's first campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992. Following that successful election bid, Williams served as Clyburn's state district liaison until 2003, when he joined the Gephardt campaign as state director. Williams also served as the South Carolina field director for the NAACP from 1969 to 1983.