December 14, 2007
Posted: 11:30 AM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) Hillary Clinton’s campaign announced Friday that she had picked up the support of Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell, who pointed to her “strength and experience.”

“The country cannot afford for the Democrats to lose another election. There’s too much at stake,” the six-term congressman said in a statement. “She’s the most qualified candidate and has the best chance at winning back the White House.”

Half of Iowa’s Democratic congressional delegation has now publicly endorsed a candidate. Freshman Rep. Bruce Braley endorsed John Edwards earlier this month. Fellow freshman Rep. Dave Loebsack and Sen. Tom Harkin have yet to come out in favor of a presidential contender.

Harkin’s wife Ruth announced earlier this year that she is supporting Clinton.

– CNN’s Rebecca Sinderbrand

Filed under: Hillary Clinton • Iowa


Jan Villarreal, Bakersfield, Ca   December 17th, 2007 8:49 pm ET

Clearly we would not hire an inexperienced person to be CEO of our business. Why would we elect an inexperienced person to be President?

Tom Field, Chicago, IL.   December 17th, 2007 7:54 pm ET

Where is the Senator from Illinois while the Chicago Mass transit system falls into collapse? Probably on Oprah's private jet… just when you thought someone represented change you get them same old bull!

scott, lithonia, georgia   December 15th, 2007 6:23 pm ET

Hillary, this is going to be your winter of discontent and I am truly sorry because you were MY CANDIDATE until.

RuthieM   December 15th, 2007 2:48 pm ET

If the country cannot afford for the Democrats to lose another election, as Rep. Boswell has stated here, then he'd better withdraw his endorsement of Hillary Clinton because with her we'll lose, she will not get my vote and I've voted every election since I was voting age and that was not yesterday.

Josey   December 15th, 2007 8:36 am ET

If obamawinphrey gets the nom WE KNOW VERY WELL, HE CANT WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, THIS COUNTRY WILL FALTER UNDER A NEW 2008 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENCY… OBAMA IS HUGH MISTAKE FOR THIS COUNTRY, HE CANNOT BRING THIS COUNTRY TOGETHER, AND HE AND OPRAH HAVE DIVIDED US MORE THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE. AND NOW, EVEN MOVE DIVIDED AS A COUNTRY AFTER LAST WEEKENDS DOG AND PONY SHOW Yes Oprah has power, look what she did with it! She put women, black or white back 50 years! She makes it difficult for any other educated BLACK WOMAN TO SUCCEED NOW! I would never watch, read or use a product Oprah endorses. DO NOT VOTE FOR OBAMAWINPHREY, YOU’RE SELLING YOUR CHILDS FUTURE!

Darrel @Lone Rock Iowa   December 14th, 2007 11:40 pm ET

Hey, let me tell you a little bit about Leonard Boswell. Hillarys new supporter!
He is behind a push to either weaken or remove Iowas right to work laws that been serving Iowa so well since the forty's. Looks like she is for more and bigger Goverment and sideing with unions that is going to take mandatory deducts From Working Iowa Familys to support the UNION that 66% of Iowans don't want and don't need. This is a Democrat Adgena IN IOWA!!

Andy, New York, New York   December 14th, 2007 7:11 pm ET

One thing we can expect to see a lot over the next few weeks are outpourings of support for Hillary Clinton from white Democrats in congress. The Democratic party, though it draws more Blacks and other minorities than the Republican party, is still a 'white-controlled' political machinery that, at the end of the day, is far more amenable to a white politician being its candidate against a white candidate from the Republican party. White Dems know that white America (Republicans or Democrats) will never vote a black person as president, so white Dems will not waste time openly backing a black candidate. White Dems quietly are not even comfortable with a white female as a candidate, fearing America also is not ready for a female President at a time when the pressures from global changes are challenging America's status as lone superpower and defender/leader of the free world.

Harry, Wallingford PA   December 14th, 2007 6:35 pm ET

It appears to me that the media is turning the democratic race into a Jr. High school personality contest. Unfortunately we are trying to select a presedent of the U.S. not the student council

Brad, Stockton, CA   December 14th, 2007 6:28 pm ET

Endorsements are the crutches of the feeble minded. Apparently Hillary, and a number of other candidates, are letting voters know through endorsements that voters are far too ignorant to think for themselves.

Kay, Denver Colorado   December 14th, 2007 6:20 pm ET

Go Hillary!

MK, Los Angeles, California   December 14th, 2007 4:02 pm ET

Nice endorsement HRC, but unfortunately one person's endorsement cannot change the results on the ground. New Iowa poll came out today (taken between Dec. 10 to Dec. 13) by Research 2000 showing Senator Obama now has a 9 point lead over Senator Clinton:

Obama 33 (+8 from last poll)
Clinton 24 (-3 from last poll)
Edwards 24 (+3 from last poll)

If this keeps up Senator Clinton will have to worry about coming in 4th place in Iowa.

Tom - Dedham, Mass   December 14th, 2007 3:56 pm ET

She is much less experienced than Richardson, Biden, and Dodd. I am surprised these candidates let her get away with that claim.

Posted By JP Atlanta, GA : December 14, 2007 12:57 pm

Now why can't the MSM figure that out JP?

You are preaching to the choir, Biden forgot more than she knows and Richardson puts her resume to shame.

Now if the Democrats put them up as a ticket of Biden/Richardson they VERY possibly would win the election.

Just a thought.

No endorsements please   December 14th, 2007 3:20 pm ET

Boswell may have the early onset of something. Mrs. Harking just doesn't know any better. Get real America, the choice is clear.

John, Des Moines, Iowa   December 14th, 2007 2:42 pm ET

Obama is finished. He is a kid with absolutely no experience. Go get some real experience, Barack, and don't ever make the mistake of having Oprah endorse you again. No self-respecting American listens to what Oprah has to say.

Sittin Bull, Texas   December 14th, 2007 2:34 pm ET

Go Hillary!!! Finally someone who can clean up the mess. Work for Change

Scott, Madison, WI   December 14th, 2007 2:14 pm ET

Hillary's experience is about as relevant as George Bush's, Dick Cheney's and our current Congress'.
Get rid of the whole bunch of 'em. All of them are in collusion until the public learns the real truth, then they turn on the political in-fighting.

really?, Fort Myers, FL   December 14th, 2007 1:55 pm ET

Leonard who?

An endorsement from an unknown for an undesirable–sort of balances out.

Cheryl Oxnard Ca   December 14th, 2007 1:33 pm ET

Clintons the more she is negative the more her numbers goes down. YES or OH YES!

Ruth Bethinger, New York, New York   December 14th, 2007 1:11 pm ET

I must disagree with the congressman. Biden is the most experienced candidate. My decision was between Biden and Obama, and I decided upon Obama, yet I hope that Biden will join forces with Obama eventually.

Arlington, VA   December 14th, 2007 1:09 pm ET

Barack Obama

"Well, Hillary, I'm looking forward to you advising me, as well."

Again, as you can read Mr. Obama can’t stand on his own merits, he needs to count on other people’s knowledge (as Hillary) to hold his hand.

If Hillary is so, back to the 90s, why event think that she would make a great adviser?

I can bet, that you will not read from any of the other candidates; saying that they will consult Mr. Obama for his experience on any subject.

A vote for Mr. Obama will only take us back to where we are now (Remember the Uniter (Mr. Bush). This is the same situation with Mr. Obama. Someone else will be running the country, and he will be making excuses for them (Cousin, Mr. Cheney).

Mr. Obama thinks that he will get to the White House, and have the time to sit around singing kumbaya and spend a few years learning to make hard decisions.

Mr. Obama is a Charismatic Leader (Those who seem to be "Natural Leaders" and effectively inspire groups without really knowing the strategies or tactics used).

As for Mr. Edwards, after all his personal attacks on Mrs. Clinton; he is a Follower (May apply to people who attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another). He was not running with the populist message the last election (Today the term "populism" is often used both by journalists and politicians as a vague, frequently pejorative description, whether to describe vote-grabbing measures and rhetoric or in connection with new right-wing nationalist movements as well as many left-wing socialist movements).

Mrs. Clinton has what I call Military leadership (The process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction, and motivation).

Mrs. Clinton has all the experience and expertise required to hit the ground running. She will be able to listen to her advisers and make the best decisions for the USA. She has the foundation to know if the staff is only telling her what they think she wants to hear. And what you erroneously call mean, I call being assertive.

I don’t know how you will vote, but think about the world that we live in. This is really a global community, and Mrs. Clinton has the INTERNAL FORTITUDE to reach across party lines, across communities, across the world and work hard to get things done for all humanity.

My vote will be counted for Mrs. Clinton.

JP Atlanta, GA   December 14th, 2007 12:57 pm ET

I am sick of hearing Hillary Clinton described as the strongest and "most experienced" candidate. She is at best the third most qualified candidate, but more likely the forth. She is much less experienced than Richardson, Biden, and Dodd. I am surprised these candidates let her get away with that claim.

ia voter   December 14th, 2007 12:45 pm ET

This really surprises me, being a Boswell constituent. Too bad it won't yield an Iowa win for her.

Steve, Portland, OR   December 14th, 2007 12:43 pm ET

"The country cannot afford for the Democrates to lose another election". So let's put in more of the same Washington crowd who got us in this mess? We certainly can't afford to make another mistake by putting Hillary in the White House.There are other candidates that would do a better job.

Naom,nyc,ny   December 14th, 2007 12:43 pm ET

Reference UGH's post, that is exactly the thesis of my new book, "Hillary Clinton Nude: Naked Ambition, Hillary Clinton And America's Demise." Just reflect on what a two term Hillary presidency would mean; 7 consecutive presidential terms or 28 years dominated by two families in a nation of 300 million (and 9 terms or 36 years if Bush senior's two terms as Vice President are counted). This is de facto aristocracy.

Ann   December 14th, 2007 12:42 pm ET

All these polls are the effect of media pushing for Obama. When serious voters will make their decisions, Hillary will win. Listen/watch the last night debate and see how Obama is stammering on every single issue. He didn't actually answer any question… What do you see at this guy? (except what you HOPE to see)

Megan,s.c   December 14th, 2007 12:31 pm ET

meh, just a little fencing with words. no big deal. hillary got what she deserved. good one obama.

Amanda Orlando, FL   December 14th, 2007 12:22 pm ET

Oh, goody.

RightyTIghty   December 14th, 2007 12:19 pm ET

Who pointed to her strength and experience and said "The country cannot afford for the Democrats to lose another election."

Ha Ha!!

Atlanta, GA   December 14th, 2007 12:18 pm ET

Now does this mean their preduce too. Or is it ok to for them since their continuity in color and gender are comparable?

elbell   December 14th, 2007 12:16 pm ET

Old news from CNN to make people think that she is actually gaining ground. Endorsements are not people's votes!

jason smith, NY   December 14th, 2007 12:13 pm ET

Hillary Clinton changes her positions more than most people change their pants. She flip-flopped on ethanol; currently she supports it just like McCain just to get the Iowa vote, even though it is unsustainble, does not benefit Iowans in particular, destroys the environment, and only farmers who locked in prices early are making money….I think Iowans are smart enough to not ascribe to Bush's trickle down theory…that is, take the crumbs from the rich….we are more unequal than China…look at the Gini coefficient trends and see how the rich agribusinesses such as ADM are the only ones who benefit from ethanol….one fill up of an SUV with ethanol could feed a person for a whole year…..Hillary agrees with building a giant fence across all of Mexico….what a brilliantly, delusional idea….but if polls support it, then so does she!!!! We will go from a president bent on destroying the world to one who is totally spineless!!!!

I live in NY and I know how Hillary does nothing, even while promising a bunch of stuff….look at her false "universal health care plan" regurgitated and revived from 1993. It would leave out tens of millions and was not supported then by the budget….in a time of surplus when Bill was President….instead of staging questions, maybe somebody should ask her a real question, such as, "If it was not affordable in 1993, how can it be affordable now when our whole budget is being siphoned overseas?". Other spinelss politicians angling for a win and a cushy job in Hillary's white house need to grow a spine…and actually have some morals for a change….

Roxanne, New York   December 14th, 2007 12:12 pm ET

I am a Black woman and my support is strong and steady for Senator Clinton.

My top issue is the economy and I just can't buy Obama sweet brew of Kum-ba-ya, La-de-da, One love, let's get together and feel alright!

What a back of bull Poo-Poo!

What's that going to do for me and my child?

I just don't believe a 2 year Senator has anything that is needed to sit in the Oval office and focus on my bread and butter issues from day one.

That and I really do believe that the Senator is intent upon making Universal Health care her legacy. It would be nice not be afraid of getting sick out here anymore.

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