THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK:

To Endorse or Not to Endorse? An Iowa Power Broker Is Torn (CARL HULSE, January 8, 2004, NY Times)

"As we sit here right now, I honestly don't know what I'm going to do," said Senator Tom Harkin, whose support, in Iowa at least, has the potential to vastly overshadow endorsements by Al Gore, Bill Bradley or just about anyone else. "I am being pulled in a couple of different ways. I may not endorse anyone. I may just let it all play out."

But that outcome could be personally unsatisfying for Mr. Harkin, who has played caucus power broker in the past and won the voting in his own unsuccessful presidential bid in 1992. After all, what is the point of having a nationally significant political event in his home state if he cannot flex his substantial muscle?

"Tom, being Tom, loves to campaign and he wants to do whatever he can to see a Democrat in the White House," said Lorraine Voles, a former adviser who remains close to the senator. "I think he starts looking at the options out there."

It is a tricky business for Mr. Harkin, who has political allies sprinkled throughout the campaigns of the top contenders, longtime relationships with several of the candidates and a burning desire to make certain he is central to the political life of his state. His deliberations are front-page news in Des Moines, the campaigns have been calling, and the days are slipping by toward the Jan. 19 caucuses.

As he contemplates what to do, he can be found in the small, refurbished house he was born in here on the rural outskirts of Des Moines. From his living room, he can look out at the snow-covered cornfields, spin tales about local bootleg rye whiskey, show off his favorite shotguns and take aim at his next move.

The thinking is that if Mr. Harkin does make a public choice, it is likely to be Howard Dean, whose current take-no-prisoners brand of Democratic politics resembles Mr. Harkin's own populist style. Mr. Harkin acknowledges being "intrigued" by the former Vermont governor.

Senator Tom Harkin, Iowa Power Broker, Endorses Howard Dean (CARL HULSE, Jan. 9, 2003, NY Times)

Aides said Mr. Harkin had been agonizing over whether to pick a favorite in the race for the nomination, and his remarks acknowledged Dr. Dean's rivals.

"In a very strong field, Howard Dean started at the back of the pack and today he leads the pack," Senator Harkin said in televised announcement at Dean headquarters here. "This says a lot about his vision, his conviction, his capacity for leadership. It shows his ability to motivate and to organize people.

"And he has common-sense plans to create good-paying new jobs and get our economy going again, not just for Neiman Marcus but on Main Street all over America. As we Iowans say, Howard Dean has his head screwed on right."

The endorsement comes at an important moment for Dr. Dean, who has drawn fire for comments critical of the Iowa caucus process that he made on a television program a few years ago and that recently came to light on videotape.

The Clintonistas have had an awfully good week, bringing Doctor Dean's momentum to a shrieking halt, but the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party just returned fire. For awhile there it looked like Mr. Harkin could enjoy the best of both worlds, staying above the fray and not alienating a couple Senate colleagues, while Mr. Dean won anyway. But the prospect of a Gephardt win in IA and a rising Clark candidacy in NH (remember that the Clinton folk have some experience in turning a better than expected NH loss into a seeming victory) look to have scared him into the fight.

MORE:
AP Exclusive: While governor, Dean accepted speaking fees, gifts from special interests (JOHN SOLOMON, January 9, 2004, Associated Press)

While governor of Vermont, Howard Dean accepted personal pay from special interests at least five times for speeches and also received more than $60,000 in checks and pledges for his charity fund from insurers who benefited from a state tax break, according to documents and interviews.

Dean's fees and charitable donations were legal and did not have to be disclosed under Vermont law but were detailed in correspondence and tax records reviewed by The Associated Press.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 9, 2004 06:36 PM