Iowa democrat and possible Vice Presidential contender Senator Tom Harkin is lashing out at the republican who he may debate this fall. Harkin says former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney is an oil company executive who -quote- “thumbed his nose” as Midwesterners struggled to fill their gas tanks.Harkin claims Cheney made five million dollars in one day in June by selling oil company stocks. Harkin says Cheney’s stock portfolio increased in value by 30-percent between February and June, at the same time gasoline prices rose 23-percent. Harkin says the industry built around corn-based ethanol would be vaporized if republicans claim the White House.Harkin says candidate Al Gore has made clear his ticket “is for the people, not the powerful,” but he says that’s not so for the republican side.Harkin is reportedly on the “short list” of people Vice President Gore is considering as a running mate. Harkin met privately Tuesday for 45-minutes with Warren Christoper who’s conducting the V-P search for Gore. Harkin would say little about his conversation with Christopher. He says they had a good discussion, but he wants to keep it private.Harkin ran for President in 1992.
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