IowaPolitics.com Multimedia Blog

WATCH: McCain campaign ad 'Accountable' focuses on economy

2008-05-09T17:04:00.001-05:00

U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign today released its second Iowa TV ad since McCain became the presumptive GOP nominee. The ad, titled "Accountable," focuses on McCain's economic plans.

See the press release and ad script

WATCH: Miller-Meeks campaign launches biographical ad

2008-05-06T15:05:00.000-05:00

Republican congressional candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks announced today her campaign has released its first advertisement, titled “Roles.” The advertisement began running across the 2nd Congressional District this morning.

The biographical ad discusses Miller-Meeks' background as a doctor, veteran and professor and says she's "ready to tackle tax reform, save Social Security and offer real health care solutions."

Read the campaign press release and ad script

WATCH: MoveOn's $1M TV campaign includes ads in Iowa

2008-04-30T14:39:00.001-05:00

MoveOn.org is spending $160,000 to air a new TV ad opposing U.S. Sen. John McCain. The ad, titled "Candles", is airing on cable as well as on broadcast networks in Iowa and New Mexico.

"Voters need to know Senator McCain would continue President Bush's failed policies -- in Iraq and elsewhere. A vote for him is basically a vote for a third Bush term." said Eli Pariser, MoveOn's executive director.

Read the MoveOn.org press release and ad script

WATCH: McCain campaign ad 'Health care action'

2008-04-29T14:40:00.000-05:00

U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign today released a new television ad, titled "Health Care Action," highlighting McCain's agenda to reform health care.

WATCH/LISTEN: 2008 session nears an end

2008-04-25T17:30:00.002-05:00

Democratic legislative leaders today said 2008 may go down as one of the best sessions on record.

Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, served in the 1965 Legislature, which he said made significant strides for the state. He added 2008 will go down as one of the better years in the Iowa Legislature with funding the state's environmental program at $18 million, establishing and continuing funding of the Iowa Power Fund and all the legislation passed for veterans.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, and House Speaker Pat Murphy also touted the sound budgeting practices of Democrats.

But Senate Majority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, tabbed the 2008 session with a failing grade today. Wieck told reporters this afternoon he is upset more wasn't done in terms of property tax relief, illegal immigration and establishing higher standards in Iowa's school classrooms.

Listen to Wieck's press conference

LISTEN: 4/17 weekly legislative press conferences

2008-04-17T17:47:00.000-05:00

LISTEN: 4/10 weekly legislative press conferences

2008-04-10T17:48:00.000-05:00

LISTEN: 4/3 weekly legislative press conferences

2008-04-03T17:49:00.000-06:00

Business leaders optimistic about state economy

2008-04-01T17:37:00.001-06:00

As the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose nearly 400 points today, a panel of business and economic development leaders from Iowa shared the same sentiment as investors on Tuesday when it comes to the economy -- optimism.

"The Iowa economy today is very strong," Michael Tramontina, director of the Department of Economic Development, said today at an event sponsored by IowaPolitics.com, Drake University and Mediacom.

Tramontina and other members of the panel of business experts all highlighted Iowa's agricultural economy for insulating the state from trends that have appeared to be slowing the national economy. Economic development continues to flourish in Iowa, said Tramontina, who added there are more concerns over a pending workforce shortage than job losses or other potential economic downturns.

WATCH: 3/28 weekly legislative press conferences

2008-03-28T16:49:00.000-06:00

WATCH/LISTEN: 3/6 legislative press conferences

2008-03-06T16:52:00.000-06:00

House Democratic leaders

Audio
Video

Rep. Christopher Rants

Audio
Video

Sen. Ron Wieck

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Video

WATCH/LISTEN: Lawmakers, Omvig family discuss Veterans Suicide Prevention Act

2008-01-25T18:01:00.001-06:00

Congressman Leonard Boswell praised Randy and Ellen Omvig this afternoon for working to protect veterans like their son Joshua, who committed suicide after suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Randy Omvig told a crowd at the Iowa Statehouse when he and his family began working with the Democratic congressman it was their hope to save just one life.

It is now 300-plus lives and counting that have been affected, said Omvig. He said components of the federal bill have rescued more than 300 soldiers and thousands have called a veterans hotline.

"The Veterans Suicide Prevention Act is where it should be out and working for our veterans," said Omvig, whose son was 22 years old when he took his own life in 2005 after returning from Iraq.

Omvig said he wasn't sure if this law could have saved his son, but added Josh would have had a better chance to survive.

Boswell, who authored the bill, said this legislation not only honors veterans for their service to their country, but gets them the necessary mental health care they may need upon returning home from their tour of duty.

"I am positive, positive, this legislation will begin to save lives," Boswell said.

Listen to audio of the presentation

WATCH/LOOK/LISTEN: Culver urges Iowans to study Martin Luther King Jr.'s teachings

2008-01-22T10:18:00.000-06:00

Gov. Chet Culver challenged Iowans to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, and lives their lives by his example at a ceremony Jan. 21 at the State Historical Building.

WATCH: Rants, Mascher react to Condition of the State address

2008-01-15T15:15:00.000-06:00

House Minority Leader Christopher Rants said he was "extremely disappointed" that Gov. Chet Culver pushed "the most divisive issue this General Assembly has faced in a long time, and that's the gutting of Iowa's right-to-work law."

He also said the speech sent the message that "tax increases are on the horizon."

Rep. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City, said she was interested in Culver's rhetoric on cooperation and bipartisan unity.

"We as Democrats, if anything, do that better than anybody in terms of reaching across the aisle and working in a bipartisan fashion," she said.

She also called the proposed bottle deposit increase "an uphill battle" but "do-able."

LISTEN: Legislators react to Culver's speech

2008-01-15T14:41:00.000-06:00

After Gov. Chet Culver's Condition of the State speech House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said he wants to work with Republicans to find a solution to transportation budget shortfalls.

"Everybody wants to make it out as an election year, but we still have to govern," Murphy said. "We will look at (raising fees on) pick-up trucks and different proposals out there to see what we can do. We will look at what kind of funds we can raise for infrastructure issues."

Listen to audio of Murphy

Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, addressed Gov. Chet Culver's call for civility.

"We went through the entire session last year to the best of my memory and we were allowed to get one Republican-drafted bill out of the Senate. And I believe we got less than 10 amendments," Wieck said. "If we want to have civility and if we want to have bi-partisan cooperation, we need to listen to each other. Sen. Gronstal is not listening to the Republican voices in the senate unless he wants to raise taxes. And then, he wants us to help him do the heavy lifting. So if we continue to raise taxes on the backs of Iowa's families you will not hear civility from Ron Wieck."

Listen to audio of Wieck

More audio reaction:

WATCH/LISTEN: Iowa Legislature opens 2008 session

2008-01-14T15:16:00.000-06:00

The 2008 session of the Iowa Legislature is under way and top House Dems addressed members of the media about the issues that could arise in the weeks ahead, shooting down discussion that this would be a "do-nothing" Legislature.

Minority leaders Rep. Christopher Rants and Sen. Ron Wieck also addressed the press. They challenged Dems on taxes and spending.

Click below for more video, plus audio and text from today's session.

WATCH: New Huckabee ad, "Tax Cuts Matter"

2008-01-01T17:43:00.000-06:00

Mike Huckabee's campaign today said it was launching an ad titled "Tax Cuts Matter" in Iowa, even though a Monday note to supporters said the ad would be playing exclusively in New Hampshire.

The ad discusses his record as governor of Arkansas, saying he cut taxes more than 90 times and left behind a budget surplus.

See the ad script and press release

WATCH: New Edwards ad, "Bishop"

2008-01-01T11:52:00.000-06:00

In concert with a full-page ad his campaign purchased in today's Des Moines Register, John Edwards' campaign is planning to air a 60-second ad featuring former Maytag employee Doug Bishop, who argues that Edwards is ready to fight for "saving the middle class and American jobs in the face of corporate greed.

See the press release and ad script

WATCH: New Huckabee ad, "Our Values"

2007-12-31T18:09:00.000-06:00

Mike Huckabee's new Iowa ad, called "Our Values," highlights his opposition to abortion: "The pro-life position was the one espoused by our founding fathers," he says in the ad.

Huckabee shot this ad and two others in Little Rock on Sunday. One of the other ads was the negative ad he decided not to run today. In a note to supporters, Huckabee explained his decision on that ad:

"This morning, I ordered my staff to pull the ad; I told them I do not want it to be run. If it was run at all, it would be until the stations pulled it off their schedules. And we are now committed, from now through the rest of the caucuses, that we will run only the a ds that talk about why I should be president, and not why Mitt Romney should not.

Read Huckabee's note about the ad

WATCH: New Romney ad, "Everywhere"

2007-12-31T17:19:00.000-06:00

Republican Mitt Romney has launched his newest television ad, "Everywhere."

The ad talks about Romney's experience "tackling big problems" and says he can "turn around Washington."

Read the press release and ad script

WATCH: New Obama ad, "Hope"

2007-12-29T21:27:00.000-06:00

Democrat Barack Obama's new ad, titled "Hope," features excerpts from the newspaper editorials that have endorsed him.

WATCH: New issue ad favors Huckabee over Romney

2007-12-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

Common Sense Issues is a 501 c4 non-profit group running this ad, which favors Mike Huckabee in a comparison with Mitt Romney. The ad is titled "Trust."

Read the group's press release

WATCH: New ads from Huckabee, Obama

2007-12-28T18:39:00.000-06:00

Huckabee: "Founding Fathers"

Mike Huckabee has two new Iowa ads. "Founding Fathers," shown above, is an upbeat ad that shows graphics touting his record as governor with audio of Huckabee discussing the values of the country's founding fathers. "Start Now" criticizes the "desperate and dishonest" attacks on him coming from other candidates and outside groups.

Two new ads from Barack Obama today:
-- "Interest" highlights the money spent by outside groups to attack Obama's health care plan.
-- "Listening" features footage of Obama's speech before Iowa Democrats at this year's Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner and endorsements from Iowa newspapers.

WATCH: New ads from Romney, Clinton, Thompson

2007-12-28T14:34:00.000-06:00

Romney: "Ready"

Mitt Romney's new ad, "Ready," criticizes rival Mike Huckabee for being "soft on government spending," and granting more than 1,000 pardons and commutations as governor.

Clinton: "President"

Here's the script of Hillary Clinton's new ad, titled "President":

ANNCR: What if we had a different president this year?

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton called for action on America's housing crisis in March… in June… in August.

ANNCR: George Bush and Wall Street did nothing.

ANNCR: Since then home prices have plummeted and millions may lose their homes.

ANNCR: Hillary's plan: freeze home foreclosures, freeze rates on adjustable mortgages, provide real tax relief for the middle class.

ANNCR: When we choose a president next year, let's choose one that would have started fixing our economy this year.

ANNCR: Hillary Clinton: "I'm Hillary Clinton and I approve this message"

Thompson: "Substance"

Fred Thompson's new ad calls him the "clear conservative choice" and ticks off a list of endorsements and praise for his plans on taxes, immigration and the military.

Here's the ad script:

Fred Thompson: I'm Fred Thompson and I approve this message.

Announcer: The Wall Street Journal says Fred Thompson's tax cut plan "leads the GOP field."

A leading economic group calls it a plan "conservatives can rally around."

The conservative National Review says only Thompson has outlined "specific, conservative policies" on immigration.

Investor's Daily says Thompson's national security plan features a "Reaganesque rebuilding of our military."

And the National Right to Life Committee endorsed him because they know he can win.

Fred Thompson. The clear conservative choice.

WATCH: New ads from Paul, Richardson, Biden, Giuliani

2007-12-27T18:58:00.000-06:00

Republican Ron Paul's new biographical ad, titled "Defender of Freedom," is on the air in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Read ad background

Democrat Bill Richardson has a new Iraq-focused ad airing today in Iowa. The ad, titled "A Way Out," discusses his plan to pull troops from Iraq.

Democrat Joe Biden's new ad "Office" asks voters to think about the kind of person they want sitting in the Oval Office in 2009. His campaign is using the ad in a fundraising push in hopes of paying for ad time.

Republican Rudy Giuliani has a new ad, titled "Freedom," airing nationally on Fox News. The ad discusses the U.S. response to 9/11.

Read the campaign press release