from April 27
-DODD:  DODD LIVESTREAM WINS RAVE BLOGOSPHERE REVIEW
-EDWARDS:  MORE PRAISE THIS MORNING FOR EDWARDS ON LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE
-RICHARDSON:  Governor Bill Richardson A Standout at First Democratic Presidential Debate

from May 8
-GRAVEL:  Gravel becomes an "Internet Sensation"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

Contact: Annie Tomasini

Orangeburg, SC (April 26, 2007) – U.S. Senator Joe Biden announced tonight that education should be a major priority in this election.

When asked at the Democratic Presidential Debate in South Carolina tonight how the U.S. will compete in a global economy when we have the least number of young people going for advanced degrees in science and engineering, Sen. Biden, the only candidate to address education issues tonight, said:  "Change the fundamental way we educate children.  There are two things everyone knows: the smaller the class size, the better the outcome and the better the teacher, the better the outcome."

In coming months Sen. Joe Biden will tour the country meeting with teachers and parents and discussing his education priorities:   increasing flexibility in evaluating students; paying teachers more; providing incentives to lure talented teachers to low-performing schools and attract the brightest minds to the profession, and providing every parent with the option of sending their child to preschool and at least two years of post-high school training or college.

Contact: Annie Tomasini

Orangeburg, SC (April 26, 2007) –  Sen. Joe Biden tonight declared that the next president ‘must restore America’s respect in the world’ and demonstrated that he is the candidate best positioned to do that job.

“The fact of the matter is that the president has a fundamentally flawed policy. It's based upon the notion of being able to set a strong, central government in Baghdad that will be democratic. The real question is: Are we going to be able to leave Iraq, get our troops out, and leave behind something other than chaos?”  said Sen. Biden tonight at the Democratic Presidential Debate in South Carolina.

”Look, there's only one way.  You've got to change the fundamental premise of this engagement, and that is, you've got to decentralize Iraq, you've got to give the regions control over their own destiny, get them control over their police forces, their own identity, and have a limited central government and share their oil wealth. The president better get on the game plan here, or he is just going to drag this out to the point where it's not recognizable,”  added Sen. Biden.

Senator Biden is the only candidate to have offered a comprehensive plan (www.PlanforIraq.com) to bring stability to Iraq so that U.S. troops can responsibly withdraw.  His plan cuts through the false choice many believe we face between continuing on President Bush's failing course and handing the problem off to the next President or just leaving and hoping for the best.

Biden’s Plan for Iraq, which he developed with Leslie Gelb, President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, was first published in May, 2006.  It recognizes that while leaving Iraq is necessary, it is not a plan. We also need a plan for what we leave behind, so that America's interests and security are protected.

Sectarian violence among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds is the major impediment to stability in Iraq. No number of troops can solve that problem. The only way to hold Iraq together and create the conditions for our armed forces to responsibly withdraw is to give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds a way to share power peacefully. That requires a sustainable political settlement, which is the primary objective of the plan.

The Biden-Gelb plan would:

·        Keep Iraq together by giving its major groups breathing room in their own regions and control over the fabric of their daily lives, including the police, education, jobs, marriage and religion. Limit the central government to common concerns like defending the borders and distributing oil revenues.

·        Secure support of the Sunnis, who have no oil, by guaranteeing them a proportionate share of oil revenues.

·        Increase, not end, reconstruction assistance but insist that the oil-rich Arab Gulf states fund it and tie it to the creation of a jobs program and to the protection of minority rights.

·        Initiate a diplomatic offensive to enlist the support of the major powers and Iraq's neighbors for a political settlement in Iraq and create an Oversight Contact Group to enforce regional commitments.

·        Begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces this year and withdraw most of them by early 2008, with a small follow-on force to keep the neighbors honest and to strike any concentration of terrorists.
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

Contact: Press Office

MSNBC'S MATTHEWS – HILLARY 'DID VERY WELL…HER PRESENTATION WAS VERY SOLID…VERY IMPRESSIVE':  -- “I thought Hillary Clinton did really well tonight. As a frontrunner, I think she held her place. I think her voice, her manner, her presentation was very solid…I thought she held herself as a frontrunner and kept her status…I think that she kept her voice, and she was very controlled, and very professional and very impressive.” [Chris Matthews, MSNBC, 4/26/07]

MSNBC'S SCARBOROUGH -- HILLARY 'SOLID…HER ANSWERS…WERE STRONG.': "Hillary Clinton…Not flashy but solid. Her answers on health care and government competence were strong." [Joe Scarborough, MSNBC.com, 4/26/07]

BOB SHRUM – HILLARY WAS 'SUPERB': "Clinton was superb…Winner: Hillary Clinton." [MSNBC.com, 4/26/07]
 
 

Contact: Press Office

WASHINGTON POST'S CHRIS CILLIZZA - HILLARY 'CRISP AND CONCISE,' 'HELPED HER CAUSE BY FLASHING HER EXPERIENCE AND THE BREADTH OF HER KNOWLEDGE': "[I]n Clinton's case, she may well have helped her cause by flashing her experience and the breadth of her knowledge on the issues... Clinton was crisp and concise, rarely going over her allotted time and keeping to her message of experience and leadership." [Chris Cillizza, The Fix, 4/26/07]

PAT BUCHANAN - HILLARY 'LEAVES THIS DEBATE AS A STRONGER FRONT-RUNNER': "Hillary Rodham Clinton entered this debate as the front-runner and leaves this debate as a stronger front-runner. She won going away. Responding in what she would do in an event of an attack, Hillary was an almost echo of Ronald Reagan." [MSNBC.com, 4/26/07]

MICHAEL CROWLEY - HILLARY 'SMOOTH AND STEADY': "Smooth and steady--she's disciplined and it shows." [TNR.com, 4/26/07]

TUCKER CARLSON - HILLARY 'RELATES TO THE CROWD,' SHOWED 'NOBODY IS BETTER IN THIS FORM THAN SHE IS': "Clinton came out and immediately got specific and earthy... There is a gospel band, voices of Christ up on the stage. She comes out and immediately says the music here world-renowned, terrific, I love South Carolina, your ROTC program has boosted all these generals, details about the school itself, the crowd loved her...Hillary Clinton always goes for the specifics, and always goes for the specifics that relates to the crowd that she is speaking to. Nobody is better in this form than she is." [Tucker Carlson, MSNBC, 4/26/07]

MSNBC'S MATTHEWS - HILLARY 'DID VERY WELL...HER PRESENTATION WAS VERY SOLID...VERY IMPRESSIVE': -- "I thought Hillary Clinton did really well tonight. As a frontrunner, I think she held her place. I think her voice, her manner, her presentation was very solid...I thought she held herself as a frontrunner and kept her status...I think that she kept her voice, and she was very controlled, and very professional and very impressive." [Chris Matthews, MSNBC, 4/26/07]

MSNBC'S SCARBOROUGH -- HILLARY 'SOLID...HER ANSWERS...WERE STRONG.': "Hillary Clinton...Not flashy but solid. Her answers on health care and government competence were strong." [Joe Scarborough, MSNBC.com, 4/26/07]

BOB SHRUM - HILLARY WAS 'SUPERB': "Clinton was superb...Winner: Hillary Clinton." [MSNBC.com, 4/26/07]

For Immediate Release April 26, 2007 Contact: Christy Setzer

Colleen Flanagan

ORANGEBURG -- Distinguishing himself from the rest of the field with bold ideas and a record of concrete accomplishments, Chris Dodd demonstrated Presidential leadership at tonight's debate.  During the 90 minute debate, Dodd displayed the strength, conviction and bold vision voters are looking for in their next President.

"When the candidates stood next to each other, offered their records and pointed to the ideas they would bring to the White House, Chris Dodd came out on top," said Dodd Campaign Manager Sheryl Cohen.  "Americans know that the times require bold ideas and proven leadership. It was clear tonight that Chris Dodd is the only candidate who offers both."

The distinction was clearest on the issue of Iraq.  "I don't think the stakes have ever been higher for us as a country," said Senator Dodd.  "We need bolder experienced leadership that will take us in a different direction than we're clearly headed."  Dodd was the first candidate to support the Feingold-Reid legislation, which would force the President's hand by allowing funding for one year in which time combat troops could be safely redeployed, and bring and end to the Iraq war.

"There was one President standing on that stage tonight and it was Chris Dodd," said Dodd Campaign Co-Chairman, Rep. Xavier Becerra.  "At a time when the stakes could not be greater for our country, Chris Dodd offers bold leadership and a proven ability to bring people together to get things done."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2007

CONTACT:
Kate Bedingfield

Daily Kos Readers Declared Edwards The Winner.  According to the Daily Kos poll, "Who won the debate," as of 10:30 pm after the debate John Edwards led the pack with 20% of the vote (1034), leading Obama at 17% (881), followed Clinton at 10% (530).  The answer "More than one of the above" received 12% of the vote (600) and "None of the above" had 11% of the vote (584). [dailykos.com, accessed 4/26/07]
 

EDWARDS WIDELY PRAISED FOR HIS SUBSTANTIVE IDEAS AND VISION

Time's Joe Klein: Edwards Is "Best Candidate In This Race So Far;" "Has More Details Than the Others." Tonight Joe Klein wrote, "I'd just spent a few days with Edwards and my feelings about him haven't changed: he speaks simply, he has more details than the others. He's been the best candidate in this race so far." [Time's Joe Klein, 4/26/07 (http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/04/spun.html)]
 

NBC's Joe Scarborough: "John Edwards Just Gave a Fantastic Closing Argument," "Type Of Snapshot Of A Candidate's Soul That Moves Voters."  Tonight Joe Scarborough said, "Damn. John Edwards just gave a fantastic closing argument. It was the most human moment of the debate and is the type of snapshot of a candidate's soul that moves voters." [MSNBC’s First Read, 4/26/07 (http://hardblogger.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/26/170537.aspx)]
 

WashingtonPost.com's The Fix: "Edwards Was Steady…Offering Big Ideas And Backing Them Up With Specifics."  "The Fix" wrote, "Edwards was steady and made sure viewers knew that he was the only candidate among the big three offering big ideas and backing them up with specifics. The former senator's best moments came when contrasting his healthcare plan to those of his rivals." [WashingtonPost.com's "The Fix," 4/26/07
(http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/04/democrats_focused_their_fire_o.html)]
 

Huffington: Edwards Did "Particularly Well" Talking About Iraq; Was a "Great Contrast" To Clinton. On Larry King Live, King asked Arrianna Huffington how Edwards did.  Said Huffington, "Well I thought he did particularly well when he talked about his vote and on the war in Iraq and his very sincere apology about it. I thought it was a great contrast to Hillary Clinton's ongoing refusal to apologize about her vote. I thought that was definitely the high point for me." [CNN’s Larry King Live, 4/26/07]

For Immediate Release
April 26, 2007
Contact: Stacie Paxton/Mark Paustenbach

Washington, DC – Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement following the first Democratic Presidential Debate at South Carolina State University:

“The American people were the real winners in tonight's debate. Tonight our Democratic candidates showed that they stand with the American people and offered real solutions to end the war in Iraq and protect America from terrorist threats.  The security of our country demands nothing less.  So far, the leading Republicans only offer more of the same of George W. Bush's failed policy in Iraq.”

Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. (“Mike”) Duncan released the following statement in response to the 2008 Democrat Presidential Debate in South Carolina:
 

“The Democrats’ performance in South Carolina could not have been more predictable.  There is a reason the Democrats have failed to win South Carolina in a presidential election in the last 30 years.  On every issue, from the War on Terror to keeping our taxes low and our economy strong, Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, and others are out of touch with the values of the people of South Carolina – and all of America.”

Senator and Presidential candidate Chris Dodd, showing his commitment to building an innovative grassroots campaign, won plaudits from around the blogosphere for offering a window into his debate war room.  Thousands of viewers joined Deputy Campaign Manager Matt Butler and Policy Director Amos Hochstein, who answered questions and offered reactions live via webcam.

The livestream, broadcast via UStream.tv, was carried on five major blogs, including Daily Kos, Blue Hampshire and BooMan Tribune, as well as on MySpace.

The unique window into a campaign war room was "pretty neat," wrote prominent blogger Matt Stoller.  "At least one of the candidates will provide a unique, behind-the scenes live view," wrote Verge New Media. Blue Hampshire called the tactic "frankly one of the coolest ideas I've seen in a while."  Many others, including the Wall Street Journal, paid attention.

"Offering a window into the campaign and having a real dialogue are important parts of building grassroots momentum," said Dodd Campaign Online Strategist Tim Tagaris.  "Senator Dodd is committed to interacting with Americans on an individual basis, and giving everyone that opportunity, whether it's at the kitchen table or over the internet, is proving to be incredibly popular."
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2007

CONTACT:
Kate Bedingfield

CNN's Candy Crowley: Edwards Provided Substance and Detail About His Health Care Plan.  "On healthcare, John Edwards was asked about his plan. He has a very detailed plan out there about universal healthcare coverage. He was challenged on how he was going to pay for it, he said he would roll back part of the Bush tax cuts for those making $200,000 and over. So, there was time for them to get out some substance." [CNN, 4/27/07]
 

New York Post: Edwards "Got Kudos on Health Care."  The New York Post's focus group watching last night's debate found: "Sen. John Edwards got kudos on health care" "It was Edwards whom Renee Mittler, a 49-year-old Legal Aid lawyer from Manhattan, was leaning toward at the start - and that's where she ended when the 90 minutes were over.  'I think he spoke well,' she said. 'But I also know that he really does have that health-care plan. And he really did answer that question about how he was going to pay for it.'" [New York Post, 4/27/07]
 

New York Post: Voters Want A Lot Of The Same 'Human' Quality From Edwards." "The Post watchers, all of whom found fault with the debate format itself, said that in the next debate, they would want a stronger performance from Obama, a better attempt by Clinton to connect with the viewers, and a lot of the same 'human' quality from Edwards."  [New York Post, 4/27/07]
 

Frameshop Author Jeffrey Feldman: "Scorecard: Edwards on Top."  Jeffrey Feldman, editor and founder of the blog Frameshop posted on his blog and cross-posted on Daily Kos: "In the end, then, it was Edwards who rose to the top by framing the restoration of American power in terms of a rededication to humanity." [Frameshopisopen.com, 4/27/07; dailykos.com, 4/27/07]
 

EDWARDS IMMEDIATELY PRAISED FOR SUBSTANTIVE IDEAS AND VISION

Daily Kos Readers Declared Edwards The Winner.  According to the Daily Kos poll on the night of the debate, "Who won the debate" had John Edwards leading the pack with 20% of the vote, followed by Obama at 17%, and Clinton at 10%.  The answer "more than one of the above" received 12% of the vote and "none of the above" had 11% of the vote. [dailykos.com, accessed at 10:30pm 4/26/07]
 

CNN's Abbi Tatton: Internet Showing "Positive Responses" To Edwards' Debate Performance.  Abbi Tatton reported on CNN that Edwards got a positive response from Internet bloggers.  Tatton said, "They poll their blog readers frequently, do straw polls to see who they like. And Senator Edwards is frequently out front. Senator Obama right behind and Hillary Clinton trails."  Tatton added about the debate response that night, “There are positive responses to the way Senator Edwards did during this. More mixed responses to Senator Obama."  Tatton commented on the Daily Kos poll showing Edwards support, "We know from this Web site that the readers really like Edwards and that he got a positive review." [CNN, 4/26/07]
 

TIME's Joe Klein: Edwards Is "Best Candidate In This Race So Far;" "Has More Details Than the Others." Joe Klein wrote, "I'd just spent a few days with Edwards and my feelings about him haven't changed: he speaks simply, he has more details than the others. He's been the best candidate in this race so far." [Time's Joe Klein, 4/26/07]
 

NBC's Joe Scarborough: Edwards Had "Most Human Moment Of The Debate;" "Type Of Snapshot Of A Candidate's Soul That Moves Voters."  Joe Scarborough said, "Damn. John Edwards just gave a fantastic closing argument. It was the most human moment of the debate and is the type of snapshot of a candidate's soul that moves voters." [MSNBC's First Read, 4/26/07]
 

WashingtonPost.com's The Fix: "Edwards Was Steady…Offering Big Ideas And Backing Them Up With Specifics."  "The Fix" wrote, "Edwards was steady and made sure viewers knew that he was the only candidate among the big three offering big ideas and backing them up with specifics. The former senator's best moments came when contrasting his healthcare plan to those of his rivals." [WashingtonPost.com's "The Fix," 4/26/07]
 

Huffington: Edwards Did "Particularly Well" Talking About Iraq; Was a "Great Contrast" To Clinton. On Larry King Live, King asked Arrianna Huffington how Edwards did.  Said Huffington, "Well I thought he did particularly well when he talked about his vote and on the war in Iraq and his very sincere apology about it. I thought it was a great contrast to Hillary Clinton's ongoing refusal to apologize about her vote. I thought that was definitely the high point for me." [CNN's Larry King Live, 4/26/07]

For Immediate Release April 27, 2007

Contact: Pahl Shipley Katie Roberts

ORANGEBURG, SC - The reviews are in following the first Democratic Presidential debate last night in Orangeburg, South Carolina. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson showed why his extensive diplomatic and foreign policy experience and accomplishments as a Congressman, US Ambassador to the United Nations, Energy Secretary, and two-term Governor make him the best qualified candidate for President.

"The State" newspaper in South Carolina said Governor Richardson was one of two candidates who "stood out with clearly stated positions and deft handling of a few tough questions". That was just one of the many reports today praising the Governor's performance in the debate and his impeccable and unequaled experience and credentials.

Debates like this give candidates the opportunity to showcase their experience and abilities and allow the public to evaluate their ability to be President based on substance, not on hype or popularity polls.

During the 90 minute debate Governor Richardson defined the differences with the other Presidential candidates on a number of critical issues facing America:

IRAQ WAR
"This war is a disaster. We must end this war.

This is what I would do if I were president today. I would withdraw all of our troops, including residual troops, by the end of this calendar year. I would use the leverage of that withdrawal, coupled with intensive diplomacy in three areas: One, a political framework led by the United States where the three religious entities in Iraq have a coalition government, divide oil revenues, and possibly set up three separate entities.

Number two, I would convene a security conference, and I would invite Iran and Syria. They're going to be tough, and we should be tough with them. But we have to have an international peacekeeping effort.

And thirdly, I would have a donor conference. I would have other countries take over the reconstruction responsibility and the security of Iraq."

HEALTHCARE
"In our health care plan, my new health care plan, no new bureaucracy. Every American shares, along with businesses, the state and the federal government. I would focus on prevention. I would also ensure that the first thing we do is deal with bureaucracy and inefficiencies in our health care system. Thirty-one percent of our health care goes to inefficiencies in bureaucracy. If we had a health information system where doctors and nurses could share information about health care, we would save billions of dollars. I would also make sure that we would reestablish the doctor-patient relationship, eliminate those in the middle like HMOs and others.

But my plan, I believe, would focus on prevention. We need to focus more on deterring these diseases like diabetes that is 30 percent of our Medicare cost."

And the Governor believes we can institute Universal Healthcare without raising taxes.

FOREIGN POLICY
"My precepts in foreign policy are this. I think this president characterizes this. Being stubborn isn't a foreign policy, and power without diplomacy is blind. I would focus my presidency on dealing with the real threats to America -- international terrorism, nuclear proliferation. I've dealt directly with North Korea... I would deal with issues like Darfur. Why is it that America does not care about Africa, about genocide, about issues relating to enormous amount of deaths that are brought forth by international poverty?"

Governor Richardson strongly opposes any effort to limit the number of Presidential primary debates and believes this is the best way for the American people to accurately evaluate the candidates.

"I am also looking forward to future debates where we can discuss important domestic concerns that my administration would address- education, immigration, growing our economy, and helping America's middle class."