Carol Moseley Braun on the Campaign Trail
— -- ABCNEWS' Monica Ackerman travels with former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun as she campaigns for the presidency. Scroll down for the latest report.
Moseley Braun visits with veterans
Nov. 12 — "By the way Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun, how's your campaign going?" reporters asked the ambassador yesterday while she visited veterans at a Chicago VA Hospital. Moseley Braun repeatedly cited the most recent Newsweek poll, in which she and Senator John Kerry are tied at 7 percent. This poll has her campaign on a natural high. But the numbers probably don't have the same effect on Senator Kerry. The ambassador quickly commented on how the poll probably has John Kerry wanting to "slit his wrists."
Veterans knew exactly who Carol Moseley Braun was as she walked through the in-patient ward. Even those who could barely move recognized her. One patient pulled the ambassador close to his bed giving her a huge hug. "Carol, How ya doing?" he asked. "Isn't this a joy?" another veteran said. He then asked which public office was her favorite. "Ambassador to New Zealand," she replied. Moseley Braun often refers to her tenure in New Zealand as being "ambassador to paradise." Another veteran even gave Carol Moseley Braun a demonstration on the proper way to hold a lady's hand. "You've held so many public offices and often men grab your hand like football players do; I grab your hand with my right and then caress it with my left hand."
Moseley Braun moves (literally), new staffer moves in (to the campaign that is)
Nov. 10 — Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun was out of the public's eye this weekend, reportedly moving in her hometown, Chicago. And speaking of moving, the Ambassador has someone new "managing the operation": Paula Xanthopoulou, the Florida president of the National Women's Political Caucus, has temporarily moved to Chicago to, in her words, "manage the operation," but not necessarily to be the campaign's manager.
An endorsement with less fanfare
Nov. 7 — "Which endorsement is that?" Michael Fitzgerald replied when asked for his opinion on Howard Dean's SEIU endorsement. Talk about raining on Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun's parade. Moseley Braun stood in a small Chicago conference room yesterday while Fitzgerald, Business Manager of IBEW's local 134, read his personal endorsement statement in front of four journalists and four of Moseley Braun's campaign staff.
"Word spreads quickly," Moseley Braun's consultant, Kevin Lampe, said in hope that others will follow Fitzgerald's lead. Fitzgerald is going to head up the "Fitzgerald's for Moseley Braun committee."
Moseley Braun receives Chicago labor leader's endorsement
Nov. 6 — The "Seabiscuit campaign" is how Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun describes her run for the presidency. But can she pull out of the pack? She's still campaigning and has participated in every debate, even if it means driving herself there. Thursday in Chicago she plans on getting some extra help. Mike Fitzgerald, Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-local 134, is giving Carol Moseley Braun his personal endorsement. Her campaign calls Fitzgerald "one of Chicago's most prominent and powerful leaders." Local 134 has 18,000 members.
It was back to the Granite State Wednesday for a college speech and yet another forum. Carol Moseley Braun became the seventh Democratic presidential candidate yesterday to visit New England College. She then finished the night at the Forum on Woman's Issues. Being the only female candidate, she seemed rather confident with the topics discussed, especially when asked how she would grade herself as a parent. Moseley Braun answered, "I'm the only mom up here. I did it all. Sick babies, nursing, Day Care, picking up from soccer classes, faxing homework … .."
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun on Howard Dean's apology on the Confederate flag:
"I'm very happy about that; I'm glad he did. I think it helps us get past the issue all together."
Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun on Howard Dean and public financing:
"I should have the luxury to ask the question (to his supporters). That's his prerogative, obviously, and if he feels confident that that kind of money is going to be available fine. Our objective has got to be to beat George W. Bush whatever it takes. Money is a funny thing. In the end of the day, it's how many votes you have not how much money you have."
Moseley Braun passes on pot question
Nov. 5 — Three out of the eight candidates at CNN's Rock the Vote said they had smoked marijuana. The only candidate who didn't give a straight answer was Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun. She simply replied, "I'm not going to answer the question." Later in the spin room, she cited the 5th Amendment.
Contrary to some of the other candidates, Ambassador Moseley Braun contributed in a rather tranquil manner to the controversy over Dean's Confederate flag statement. "We are in a global competition. We have to deal with and address the rest of the world. And we can't do it as long as Americans are still fighting each other. And we need to find ways as Democrats to come together. Yes, this is an important conversation. But it has to be done in a way that does not play into the real racists and the real right wing."
Moseley Braun makes rare New Hampshire visit
Nov. 4 — Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun campaigned in New Hampshire Monday, and was one of the last candidates to participate in the Every Child Matters Forum. Sam Young of PoliticsNH.com joked about Moseley Braun's appearance in New Hampshire: "Though Halloween was last Friday, some Granite Staters might've thought they saw an apparition at the University of New Hampshire Monday afternoon." LINKAccording to a local news producer, more children were in the audience for Moseley Braun's appearance than any of the other six candidates who have already participated. After the forum, teenager Kim Lynch said, "I think she has a great chance of running against Bush and like my mom said, it's really cool that a woman is running for president because women have something to say."
Ambassador Moseley Braun reacted with surprise later that afternoon when I told her Bob Graham wasn't seeking re-election in the Senate.
"No! That's too bad! Oh, Bob. Bob, we hardly knew you. He's been a terrific Senator for Florida and I hope this is not a signal that his health is deteriorating so much that he has to step out of the public light. His commitment to serving people really is unparallel. I wish him all the best. I wish him and Adele a lovely time together. Certainly they've worked hard enough, so they've earned the right for him to retire. But he will absolutely be missed within the public sphere."
Moseley Braun celebrates 1992 victory anniversary, heads to Granite State
Nov. 3 — Eleven years ago today, Carol Moseley Braun became the first black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. But, it has been over a week since the debate in Detroit, and since then Ambassador Moseley Braun has not campaigned publicly once. She gave a paid speech in Dayton, Ohio, Thursday. The speech, however, was not campaign related. On Monday, she'll speak at the University of New Hampshire's "Every Child Matters" forum. This will be the first time since I started covering the Ambassador that she has visited the key state of New Hampshire.
Over the weekend, Moseley Braun, who memorably spoke from the Senate floor on the Confederate flag back in 1993, gave a statement in response to Dean's flag comment. Moseley Braun said, "The Confederate flag is a symbol of division in our country. Our challenge is to unite Americans, not pour fuel on the flames of racial acrimony. It is unfortunate that Dr. Dean would choose words that resonate so negatively in our national debate. I call upon all the Democratic candidates to embrace racial harmony and to rally around our American flag that brings us all together."
Moseley Braun stumps in Wisconsin and Chicago
Oct. 27 — On Saturday, Moseley Braun went from speaking to African-Americans to an unusual Taiwanese-American audience. First she visited the key Midwestern state of Wisconsin, where she spoke at the Black Holocaust Museum before a small, yet vivacious, crowd. Then she appeared at the Woodland Organization's 38th convention in Chicago.
One of her strongest supporters, Congressman Danny Davis, was there, and said, "She doesn't have a lot of money but she has a lot of spark and energy … … winning is a lot of different things … … when the deal goes down, win, lose or draw, Carol Moseley Braun will have been there. Win lose or draw there are eight candidates who will not have the most votes. Win lose or draw I think democrats will have had a good exploration of issues. We will have debated the problems and the key deal is let's beat George Bush in November."
Moseley Braun sets stump speech aside for women's group
Oct. 24 — Ambassador Moseley Braun gave the keynote speech Thursday at an award ceremony hosted by the Harris County (Texas) Women's Political Caucus, which is affiliated with the National Woman's Political Caucus.
Her NOW and NWPC endorsements in September have yet to show much of a financial reward for Moseley Braun's campaign.
Braun spoke to about two dozen people of the "sticky floor" which she describes as women who are trapped because of their gender.
In terms of gender issues abroad, she said women in Afghanistan will be helped when women in our country are helped because "we can become advocates for them."
She Noted, "that was not a stump speech … I reckon that this was not the setting, I wanted to speak in more general terms."
Moseley Braun Heads to North Carolina With Fellow Candidates
Oct. 10 — Carol Moseley Braun, Richard Gephardt and John Edwards are all on the same flight to Charlotte, according to Kevin Lampe.
After the Thursday debate, Moseley Braun attended a private fund-raiser in Phoenix.