The Daily Background

Iowa’s Democratic governor Tom Vilsack announced today that he plans to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

Vilsack also emphasized the nexus between oil dependence, national security and the economy, saying he would give high priority to weaning the nation off foreign oil and promoting alternative energy.

“Energy security will revitalize rural America,” Vilsack told more than 500 cheering backers in the small town where be began his political career as mayor. “Energy security will allow us once and for all to remove and reduce our dependency on foreign oil from foreign countries that do not like us.”

AP mistakenly labels Vilsack the first Dem to formally enter the 2008 field (Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd was really the first), but perhaps they mean the first to file papers.

As long as we’re talking about those who are “definitely in,” we might as well say John Kerry. Anybody who thinks that Kerry is not going to run in 2008 is deluding themselves. Of course, on the flip side- anybody who thinks that Kerry is going to get the Democratic nomination in 2008 is deluding themselves. Dodd’s chances are even less. Vilsack’s announcement made news even though because he’s the only one that’s formally anounced yet that has a chance, so to speak. I kind of doubt he’ll end up the nominee though. And I certainly hope he doesn’t (he’s the Chairman of the piss-poor Democratic Leadership Council aka DLC– the Joe Lieberman school of Democrats essentially ). Anyways, it’s awfully early to be talking about this sort of thing right now.

Filed under: Presidential election, Z-TDB Blog