Harkin Won't Endorse a Presidential Candidate.

Reminder: Sunday on Cspan is the Harkin steak fry. Most of the candidates will be on and will go according to alphabet.
Check your listings.


Sen. Tom Harkin, whose annual fundraiser will be at the center of the nation’s political picture this weekend, said Friday he won’t endorse a candidate for the caucuses or Democratic presidential nomination.

‘‘They are all my friends and I wish them all well and I do not intend to do any endorsement,’’ said Harkin.

As one of the most successful Democratic politicians in the state’s history, Harkin has been avidly courted by all the Democratic contenders. Harkin has offered them advice on competing in a state he’s represented in Congress since 1974.

‘‘We’ve got the best candidates I have seen in a long time,’’ said Harkin. ‘‘Each one of them makes me proud. Each one of them could get elected president and would make an outstanding president.’’

Harkin spoke during a taping of Iowa Public Television’s ‘‘Iowa Press’’ program, which airs this weekend.

He conceded that he based his decision, in part, on his late endorsement in the 2004 election cycle of presidential candidate Howard Dean, who held a wide lead in most polls in the weeks leading to the caucuses.

Harkin’s decision to endorse Dean barely a week before the caucuses came against the advice of most of his aides and was too late to do much good.

Dean finished third, a showing that essentially doomed his bid for the nomination.

‘‘It didn’t work out too well,’’ said Harkin. ‘‘That’s when Iowa Democrats told me to mind my own business, that they’d make up their own minds.’’

Harkin argued that there’s little value in such big-name endorsements because activists make their own decision.


http://www.timesrepublican.com/Central%20Iowa/articles.asp?articleID=13066

Here is a leader who who respects his constituents and is allowing them to make up their own minds. If I know Harkin, he will listen and then endorse according to what his constituents want.

We need more like him.

And, I have nothing but respect for the way Iowans pay attention, keep informed about the issues and candidates, and discuss everything in their caucuses. It might not work everywhere, but it is very effective in Iowa. They know what they are doing, and they set a great example for the rest of us. I am glad they are one of the earliest states to make their decision.

I will be liveblogging the event at http://commoniowan.blogspot.com.