July 10, 2003
...on Harkin's Iowa Forums
Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (D), who has put together a series of "Hear it From the Heartland" forums across the state for his party's nine Presidential hopefuls, says that he's out of the forum business after Joe Lieberman's September 21st event in Cedar Rapids- even if other candidates join the existing Democratic field.
Harkin's decision is noteworthy because rumors abound that Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden is about to join the race, and supporters of General Wesley Clark continue in their efforts to woo him into the Democratic contest.
Harkin told me during an interview this week that "it would be unfair" to schedule forums for any new entries into the race now that the series has begun.
The Iowa Senator also added that while he will turn over the list of forum attendees (complete with names and addresses) to the nine Democrats currently in the field, he would not share that list with anyone who jumped into the race at this point.