Outgoing Governor Tom Vilsack is the first person to announce a run for president in 2008. With that announcement, a staff of 20 is setting up a shop for the democrat on the city’s south side. Vilsack communications director Jeff Link says it’s like opening a small business.
Link says they have to get a website up, bring in copiers, furniture and get a scheduling system in place. The governor filed his papers to run and then hit the road to fundraiser. Link says Vilsack has some catching up to do in the fundraising department compared to other potential candidates like Senator Hillary Clinton.
Link says federal candidates can transfer money from one account to another, but governors have to start from scratch. But Link says starting from scratch shouldn’t hurt Vilsack.
Link says Vilsack has been an underdog before, as a lot of people didn’t think he would win in 1998, and he says Vilsack is ready to do it again. Link says so far the campaign staff in Vilsack’s presidential office is working from card tables, with sticky notes on the doors instead of nameplates.