| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, July 13, 2007 |
Contact: Trevor FitzGibbon, Alex Howe |
ONE Vote ’08 Kicks Off $30M Campaign in Four Early Primary States
Unprecedented Grassroots Effort Targets Presidential Candidates to End Global Poverty
Following an energetic national launch in June, recently more than 60,000 ONE Vote ’08 members helped launch a $30 million campaign in four early primary states, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The campaign will infuse the pressing issues of extreme poverty and global health into the 2008 presidential elections.
“The momentum for ONE Vote ’08 in the states is electrifying,” said campaign manager Liesl Hickey.
“From Las Vegas to Des Moines, from Columbia to Concord, thousands of voters are mobilizing, urging all presidential candidates to include global healthy and poverty in their national security platforms and pledge to fight for real solutions if elected President. Global health and poverty and the desperation it breeds not only effects countries overseas but also the national security of the United States,” said campaign manager Jessica Vanden Berg.
Highlights of the state launches follow:
NEVADA
Nevada’s ONE Vote ’08 launch generated approximately 1,017,283 media
impressions through print, TV, radio and Web.
At the launch were Honorary Chairs Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) and Congressman Jon Porter (R-NV), Julie Pippenger, Executive Director of the Agassi Foundation, represented Honorary Chair Andre Agassi, Ben Parker, Pastor of The Crossings, Aid for AIDS of Nevada Executive Director Caroline Ciocca, State Senator Steven Horsford, Jenna Morton of N9NE Group and Adam Bellamy, founder of the ONE Nevada Yahoo Group.
At the launch were Co-Chairs former Governor Terry Branstad and former Lt. Governor Sally Pederson, African Drum Corp Tubabu, Christian Conservative Leader and ONE Board Member Marlys Popma, Pastor Bill Bernau of Grace Lutheran Church, and former Ambassador and head of the World Food Prize Kenneth Quinn
Ray Hoffmann, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, issued this
statement on the ONE Vote ’08:
"ONE Vote '08 is a very important bi-partisan campaign that is making
global health and poverty a priority for candidates in the upcoming election.
The Republican Party of Iowa is 100 percent behind ONE Vote '08 and their
efforts to educate and involve voters in the political process by raising
awareness of these global issues."
Chairman Scott Brennan from the Iowa Democratic Party released the
following statement in support of the ONE Vote ’08 Campaign:
“ONE Vote ’08 is a way for Iowans to bridge the partisanship that so
often divides Democrats and Republicans; we can all unite behind the goal
of ending extreme poverty around the world,” said Iowa Democratic Party
Chair Scott Brennan. “As the First in the Nation Caucus, Iowa has a unique
opportunity to encourage all presidential candidates to address the ways
foreign policy and security will focus on saving lives by expanding global
access to health services and education, while reducing the number of people
living in hunger. I applaud these efforts and look forward to working with
former Governor Terry Branstad and former Lt. Governor Sally Pederson in
the fight against global poverty.”
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement yesterday
on the launch of the Iowa ONE Vote ’08 campaign:
“Extreme poverty is a deeply disturbing problem that breeds global
instability and unrest. Taking a strong leadership role in eliminating
global poverty will only make America stronger in the eyes of the world.
I'm proud to be a part of Iowa ONE Vote '08 to send a message to our next
President that this issue is of critical importance.”
Rep. Dave Loebsack (R-IA) released the following statement yesterday
on the launch of the Iowa ONE vote ’08 campaign:
“Thinking globally and helping others throughout the world has never
been more important. I am proud to join the ONE Vote ’08 campaign because
it is critical we elect a President committed to using our nation’s influence
to help end global poverty. This is important for the future of America
and the future of millions across the globe.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire’s ONE Vote ’08 launch had approximately 790,485 media
impressions.
At the launch were Chamber President Chris Williams, former RNC Committeeman and NH Delegate to the 2004 Republican Convention Rich Ashooh, former Clinton Press Secretary Mike McCurry, former Bush advisor Jack Oliver, Nashua Mayor Bernie Streeter, and Nashua Chamber of Commerce President Chris William.
At the launch were former Governor Jim Hodges, former Superintendent of Education Inez Tenebaum, Greenwood Mayor Floyd Nicholson, and South Carolina Policy Council Vice President Ashley Landess, Oran Smith, the executive director and President of the Palmetto Family Council, AIDS activist Natalie M. Sugira, and Joseph Duffield, an 9-year-old from South Carolina who raised around $6,000 for AIDS medicine in Africa, and staff members from the presidential campaigns of Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama, as well as former Governor Romney.
ONE Vote '08: Saving Lives, Securing our Future is an unprecedented non-partisan campaign to engage and energize U.S. Presidential candidates on issues of extreme poverty and global health, bringing high visibility for these issues into the U.S. political arena along with commitments by each candidate to support real solutions.
ONE Vote ’08 brings together a brain trust of celebrities, strategists, people of faith, activists and those who have served in public office, including: Sen. Bill Frist, Sen. Tom Daschle, Sen. Bob Kerrey, Dina Powell, Donna Brazile, John Podesta, Tucker Eskew, Mike McCurry, Geoff Garin, John McLaughlin, Steve Jarding, Tom Brady, Matt Damon, Pastor Brian McLaren, and Jack Oliver.
For more information, please visit: www.one.org