Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., will be back in Missouri on Monday – Springfield, to be exact — as part of his effort to keep his presidential hopes alive.
State Rep. Connie Johnson, D-St. Louis and an Edwards supporter, said his return (after being in St. Louis last Saturday) signals that “Missouri is not secondary for John Edwards” on Feb. 5.
She was referring to today’s story, which indicated that most of the candidates in both parties see Missouri as secondary to some of the larger states sharing that primary day.
Johnson noted that she had said months ago that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton would have a tougher time carrying the state if she’s the nominee, and could hurt the state’s Democratic ticket.
Johnson said she was glad to see that U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. and a supporter of Barack Obama, is now saying the same thing.
“It’s just the dynamics of our state,” Johnson said.
Here’s Edwards’ announcement of the Springfield visit:
“On Monday, January 28th, 2008, Senator John Edwards will travel to Springfield, Missouri to meet with voters and discuss his plans to make sure our government works for working families and the middle class, not just special interests. From guaranteeing universal health care to creating good jobs and enacting trade deals that help workers, not just big multinational corporations, Edwards will take on entrenched interests and fight for working and middle class families.
“Powerful entrenched interests are standing in the way of the change our country desperately needs,” said Edwards. “We need to stand up for the middle class and American jobs before it’s too late. Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that’s a fight I was born for. I know that if we stand together, we can take back our country. We can build the One America we all believe in.”
“Edwards personally understands the struggles facing Missouri’s families. He was born to a working class family and raised in small, rural mill towns across the South. Edwards has spent his life taking on powerful interests on behalf of families like the ones he grew up with.
“Edwards’ message is resonating with voters in red states and blue states, in big cities and small towns. A recent CNN poll showed Edwards was the only Democrat to beat all four leading Republicans nationally, and state by state polls show even more conclusively that Edwards is the most electable democrat in key battleground states — and even win in states like Missouri and Oklahoma that have gone “red” in recent presidential elections.
“Edwards enjoys strong grassroots support in Missouri, including the support more than 34,000 union members across the state. Edwards has also won the support of dozens of Democratic elected officials and party leaders from every region of the state including former Missouri Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell, Missouri State Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Frank Barnitz, Missouri House Democratic Whip Connie Johnson, and Missouri State Senator Wes Shoemyer. Edwards was also recently endorsed by former Missouri House Speaker Jim Kreider.
“The details of Edwards’ Missouri event are included below. The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to RSVP please visit the John Edwards for President web site at: www.johnedwards.com/springfield.
MONDAY, JANUARY 28TH, 2008
5:30 PM CST
Teamsters Local #245 Hall
1850 East Division
Springfield, Missouri