Lack of money was former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s reason for withdrawing from the 2008 presidential election.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about hard work or good ideas, it’s about money,” Vilsack said at his withdrawal speech.
Some of Vilsack’s supporters believed in his views and saw him as a dark horse pick in the crowded presidential election.
The announcement came to many Iowans as a shock because he could have had a good chance at the Iowa Caucus primaries which are the first to be held in the nation and an indicator of the strength of each candidate. The Iowa Caucuses is what made Bush a contender in 2000 and put him ahead of Ariz. Senator John McCain to win the Republican nomination and then the presidency.
The rest of the candidates will probably be looking for Vilsack’s support as it may be the difference in winning and losing the state of Iowa. Vilsack’s support in the primary may even pay off for Vilsack, as he may receive the nomination for vice-president from any of his fellow party members.
Previous vice-presidents have been nominated trying to help the presidential candidate win a state or two. In the 2000 election, Dick Cheney’s home state of Wyoming helped get George W. Bush the presidency.
As Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, told the Des Moines Register, “this is certainly not the last we’ve seen of Tom Vilsack.”