In the past three days, there have been four presidential candidates in Iowa — one of whom predicts he’ll vault ahead of his better-known competitors with a better-than-expected finish in Iowa’s Caucuses. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson admits he isn’t a big-name candidate now, but Thompson says that will all change with a win in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses.
"And now, I’m on the front-page of everybody and immediately I go to the front of the pack," Thompson says. Thompson has been in Iowa each weekend this year. "I’ve spent a lot of time and I have received a tremendous amount of encouragement from the people of Iowa ,especially the caucus-goers," Thompson says. Thompson describes himself as the underdog in the race for the Republican party’s 2008 presidential nomination.
"And I don’t mind that. That’s the way I’ve always been," Thompson says. "But I also am telling you I’m doing more things better — organizationally — than any other candidate in Iowa." Thompson claims he’s winning the ground game in Iowa because he’s outlined specific proposals for dealing with Iraq and for reforming the U.S. health care system.
"I haven’t heard any candidate talk about specifics yet except me and that’s why the people in Iowa are responding to me," Thompson says. Three other Republican candidates have been in Iowa the past few days. Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee were here this weekend. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback was here Monday.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was here Monday, too, and newly-announced supporters Tom and Christie Vilsack — the former governor and his wife — say they intend to spend the next 10 months working to ensure Clinton wins the Iowa Caucuses.