Contact: Shannon Murphy

Des Moines, IA - To highlight the desire of Iowa voters to hear more from the presidential candidates about their plans for K-12 education, today Strong American Schools' ED in '08 Campaign announced an aggressive new television advertising campaign in Iowa leading up to the ABC Republican Debate and Iowa Straw Poll and featuring recent Iowa high school graduate Abby Bowman.

"Like all Americans, Iowans care deeply about the bread and butter issues that affect them and their families, and K-12 education is one of those issues," said former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, who serves on the ED in 08 statewide leadership team. "ED in '08's TV ad, coupled with Iowa's presence in the early stages of the presidential campaign gives all of us a unique opportunity to talk about education and urge the candidates who visit Iowa to do the same."

ED in '08 is investing more than $45,000 over a nine day period in the Des Moines market alone to inform Iowans and candidates of the need for K-12 education reform. The ad features a recent Johnston High School graduate and Iowan, Abby Bowman, 17, who will cast her first vote in a presidential election next year.

"In Iowa, one in five students drops out of high school and one in three college freshmen fails to earn a degree," said Marc Lampkin, Executive Director of ED in '08. "Students like Abby Bowman, who is featured in our ad, are standing up and demanding that candidates take notice of the failing state of our nation's schools. As the candidates gather in Iowa this week for the debate, I hope they will all demonstrate true leadership and raise the most important issue: the quality of our children's education."

The script of the ad follows:

ON SCREEN: Abby Bowman Johnston High School
ABBY: "I feel like the government is kind of letting us down."
ON SCREEN: 19% of Iowa students don't graduate high school
ABBY: "When I hear that other kids in other countries are so much more advanced than we are in education it's kind of embarrassing, that says something about where our priorities are."
ON SCREEN: America's graduation rate has fallen to 19th in the world.
ABBY: "I fear that my generation is not prepared to handle the real world."
ON SCREEN: 70% of 8th graders are not proficient in reading
ABBY: "People need to stand up and say to the presidential candidates 'we want to hear about education.'"
ABBY: "Education is critical for our future, come join us at EdIn08.com"

To see the "Abby Ad," and for more information about "ED in 08" events and a list of the Iowa advisory board members, log onto: www.EDin08.com