Iowa’s First Lady, Christie Vilsack, today endorsed Massachusetts Senator John Kerry’s bid for the White House. She says she made the decision, in part, because of the way Kerry has acted toward others in private, like the time she and her husband went to dinner with Kerry and his family. Vilsack says “lots of times” Iowans make their choices based not on policy but on “intangibles.” Vilsack says she’s spent a lot of time over the past few months, listening to the candidates and talking with Iowans about the race. Vilsack says she thought this morning about the song by the Lovin’ Spoonfull — “Did you ever have to make up your mind? Say yes to one, and leave the other ones behind? It’s not often easy, it’s not often kind, did you ever have to make up your mind” Long-time Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller last Friday switched his allegiance from Senator Joe Lieberman to Kerry.Miller says he never thought a week ago he’d be backing Kerry, but Miller says it shows the momentum of Kerry’s campaign. Kerry stood on the steps of the statehouse this morning, flanked by Vilsack, Miller and 26 state legislators who have endorsed him. He says this is about people, about the people of Iowa, many of them who make up their minds in this last week. Mrs. Vilsack’s husband has announced he will not endorse any of the men seeking the Democratic party’s presidential nomination.
