The man who was the third-place finisher in this past June’s Democratic primary for governor is now backing John Edwards’ bid for the White House. Ed Fallon, who garnered 26 percent of the votes Iowa Democrats cast in June’s primary, says many of his primary supporters were in the crowd at the Edwards event last (Thursday) night in Des Moines.
“He was my second choice last time and everything I’ve heard since the last election has only caused me to be more excited about him,” Fallon says. “I love the fact that he’s taking on poverty. I like the fact that he doesn’t take money from PACS and federal lobbyists. I like the fact that I think he is articulating an intelligent foreign policy when it comes to Iraq and I like the fact that he is really well-organized. That means a lot in a political campaign. I can speak from experience on that.”
Fallon had an Edwards button on his lapel and he was wearing a brand new “One Corps” t-shirt last night. The Edwards camp is encouraging people to join the “One Corps” and perform public service projects. That is the kind of “grassroots” organizing that Fallon says will benefit Edwards.
“He’s got a very strong organization,” Fallon says. “I think it’s only going to get stronger.” Fallon’s term as a state legislator ends soon. His replacement will be sworn in on January 8th. Fallon isn’t ready to say what he’ll be doing next. “There’s still a lot of questions as to what I’m going to be doing with my time,” Fallon says. “There’s several niches that I’m looking at. Certainly helping John Edwards is one of them.”
Fallon, who was criticized by fellow Democrats for endorsing Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader in 2000, says he’s “in discussions” with the Edwards campaign about what role he’ll play in the candidate’s Iowa effort. Despite Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s candidacy, Fallon says Edwards is the front-runner in Iowa.
“Nationally, I think it’s too early to tell,” Fallon says. “I think once you start deflating the balloon of the celebrity poll that either Hillary or Obama gets, I think Edwards is probably the strongest candidate.”
At this point in the 2004 election cycle, 2000 vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman was running ahead in public opinion polls, but Lieberman dropped out of the race a few months before the Iowa Caucuses because he wasn’t getting the backing of hard-core party activists who prove crucial in early states like Iowa.