John Edwards Endorsed by Iowa's First Lady

At a rally attended by about 200 Democratic caucus-goers, many of them steelworkers and other union members, John and Elizabeth Edwards were joined by Mari Culver, the wife of Iowa's Governor Chet Culver and Roxanne (Barton) Conlin. Mari Culver, an attorney, has endorsed Edwards, while her husband has decided to remain officially neutral.

Roxanne (Barton) Conlin, who was one of three people who introduced Edwards, is a Drake graduate (at the age of 21, with honors, after entering college at age 16 in 1961). She has, among other "firsts," been the first woman to run for Governor of Iowa. She narrowly lost, but was one of the first two women to become a United States Attorney and also be elected President of the Federal Executive Council. In 1975, she was named one of 44 Women Who Could Save America and declared "Cabinet-worthy." She was the first woman President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, a 60,000-member organization to which Edwards also belonged to during his law career.

In introducing Edwards, Conlin, whose remarks followed those of Citizen-Activist Caroline Vernon, said she had known John Edwards for twenty years, both as a friend and as a colleague. "If you care about these issues, he's your guy. When they come at John Edwards, he will fight back. If you want change, he's your guy!" Conlin stressed Edwards' electability.

Conlin also exulted that the Edwards camp "can feel the momentum. It feels a little like 2004, when Edwards was running only 5% in the polls and came in second only to Kerry at the caucuses."

Conlin said that the Democratics, this year, have "an embarrassment of riches" in terms of qualified Democratic candidates. Of the Republican candidates, she said, "They've got an embarrassment, but not of riches." She added, "We can't stand 4 more years of Republican leadership. It is our country. We want it back. We want an end to the ignorance, greed and corruption."