Vilsack calls fallen Missouri Governor a leader to look up to

Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack knew Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan well, and he calls Carnahan a governor everyone could look up to. Carnahan, his son and a campaign advisor died in a plane crash near St. Louis last night. Vilsack says Carnahan was assigned to be his mentor by the National Governor’s Association after Vilsack took office. Vilsack turned to Carnahan often for advice early in his administration.Carnahan was in Iowa earlier this year for a fundraiser for his senate campaign. Vilsack’s family visited with the Carnahans at various political events and had some similar interests since First Lady Christie Vilsack has relatives in Missouri. Vilsack says Carnahan’s influence will be missed in the Democratic Party. He says Carnahan was a real leader in the organization. Vilsack says Carnahan stood strong on the tough issues when it wasn’t easy to do.Vilsack has been invited to fly to St. Louis for tonight’s presidential debate. He’s talked with his wife and they will fly to the event. Vilsack wouldn’t comment on whether he thought the debate should’ve been cancelled.Vilsack says governors have to fly to keep up with their commitments, and he has no problem with continuing to fly to meet the demands of the office.