Iowa’s only black legislator speaks this afternoon at the Democratic National Convention. Representative Wayne Ford of Des Moines will talk about the plight of minorities and the poor.Ford organized the “Brown/Black” forum held in Des Moines in January which featured Gore and his rival at the time, Bill Bradley. Ford admits to having a big case of nerves for this afternoon’s speech.Ford, who is a Washington, D.C. native, founded “Urban Dreams” in Des Moines’ inner city. One of the men Al Gore considered as a running mate says it’s time for President Clinton to let Gore take center-stage. Massachusetts Senator John Kerrey spoke to Iowans this morning, and said it may take the “jaws of life” to pry Clinton from the limelight, however.Kerrey refused to discuss his own presidential aspirations, saying he’s focusing on electing Gore.However, Kerrey admitted he was disappointed Gore didn’t pick him as a running mate. Kerrey says former Vice Presidents Mondale, Humphrey and now Gore have found it difficult to become their own person after serving as V.P., so not getting the call may be good if he decides to run for President in the future. Iowans gave Kerrey a standing ovation this morning — he joked that Winston Churchill once said “the only reason people give a standing ovation is they are desperately looking for an excuse to shift their underwear.”
