Dick Gephardt on the Campaign Trail

— -- ABCNEWS' Sally Hawkins was on the road with the former House Democratic leader in his quest for the White House. For the latest report, scroll down.

"The Silver Lining"

ST. LOUIS, MO JAN 20--There was not a dry eye in the room. Even before he uttered a word, Congressman Gephardt's eyes were filled with tears. His wife, Jane, stood beside him where she has stood for 37 years. His three grown children stood behind him as they passed tissues and listened to their dad announce the end of his lengthy and distinguished political career.

"I accept the results with the knowledge that I gave this campaign everything that I had in me. Today, my pursuit of the presidency has reached its end. I'm withdrawing as a candidate and returning to private life after a long time in the warm light of public service. I love this country. I love my family. The silver lining in all of this is that I'll finally get to see them - at every opportunity, rather than when opportunities could be found. Jane, Matt, Chrissy, and Kate are my life --and for them, I'll always be grateful." At times, it seemed the words would never make it out.

No matter how hard campaign reporters tried, efforts to fight back tears were fruitless. A round of hugs was in order for those who have followed Gephardt to every union hall, senior center, library, diner, and Super 8 Motel for months. "Don't forget about us. Send a Christmas card," said Jane.

An hour before the concession was made, Gephardt held an emotional conference call with all of his campaign offices. A senior staffer described the call as "surreal" when people from all over the country logged on and announced their location. "Sioux City here," "Los Angeles is on," "This is St. Louis," "New Hampshire is here." Another staffer described it as upbeat but emotional as Gephardt thanked his staff and told them he loved them.

Instructions were given to close up the shops by Friday. Computers are being sent back to rental companies. Phones are being disconnected. Mailers thrown out. Electricity turned off. And, there's lots of stuff for the dumpster. Staffers will remain on the payroll until the end of the month to give them ample time to find new jobs. Ray Plowden, Michigan state political director said, for him, it was a bit like a death in the family. "We went through all the stages of a death -- denial, anger, sadness". And today, they came to terms with the loss and began emptying out their closets. "We never got a chance to show what we could do. We felt that in Michigan we could really make something happen for him. We never got a chance to show our stuff." Now, Plowden says, Michigan is "wide open."

Hot Commodities

Gephardt's well-organized campaign niches around the country became hot commodities only hours after his loss in Iowa. Ray Plowden says Gephardt's backers in Michigan are fielding loads of calls. So far, representatives from the Edwards, Clark, Dean and Kucinich campaigns have all dialed in to the campaign office. High on their list is the endorsement of 68 black Detroit-area ministers who threw their support behind Gephardt.

A similar scene is playing out in South Carolina, where the campaign had high hopes of a win, thanks to a highly organized staff and influential endorsements. Rep. James Clyburn is now being courted by "everyone under the sun", but sources say Edwards may have a leg up. Gephardt's South Carolina state director, Ike Williams, returned to his old job in Clyburn's office. Maurice Daniel, Gephardt's national political director, said, "I felt that we had talent in South Carolina. If we could have won Iowa, we could have come in with momentum."

Undecideds and Unions

FORT DODGE, IOWA Jan. 15 -- If all of Rep. Gephardt's campaign events were as fiery as today's Alliance for Economic Justice rally in Marshalltown, the number of number "1s" his campaign has locked in would likely be sky high.

After a ho-hum day on the trail in northern Iowa where Gephardt attracted moderate crowds, the union rally was what a hot fudge sundae dessert is to a cold meatloaf dinner. These guys know how to hold a rally. All the stops were pulled out as a fleet of tractor trailers, horns blaring, pulled up to the Best Western for a show of union force. President, James Hoffa spiced up the evening climbing aboard his personalized 18-wheeler, complete with a painted picture of himself on the cab, and introducing an extra-fired up Gephardt to the rowdy crowd of about three hundred.

Gephardt was himself times ten. Speaking about his son's battle with cancer, watchful eyes detected the congressman slightly choking up but he recovered quickly to introduce a new rally cry. "Take back America! Take back America!," he yelled as the crowd chanted along with him.

Shortly after reporters boarded the bus en route to a small house party, one reporter begged the question, "Who was that guy inhabiting his body in there?" Another reporter agreed, "Who are you and what have you done with Dick Gephardt?"

The event, not open to the public, had the potential to win over loads of undecided caucus-goers. But, FEC regulations prohibit unions from spending money on non-members for political reasons, so only the long-converted were in attendance. An unfortunate reality for the Gephardt campaign since his hard count has not moved like his opponents have, and undecideds at an energetic union rally could help reel some in.

Gephardt pollster, Ed Reilly admitted that Edwards and Kerry have been raiding Dean's numbers while Gephardt's gain from Dean's loss has been small. But, Reilly seems confident that Gephardt has the highest number of committed caucus-goers. Even so, Reilly called the race a "four man race" on the campaign daily conference call with reporters.

A surprise visit by the congressman's son Matt at a morning event in Mason City became a study in genetics. Matt, who is a clone of his parents, told reporters it was difficult to watch his father talk about his childhood cancer, but it was his idea for his father to tell his story. He also ran through a long list of Gephardt family members who are dispersed throughout the state, including his wife and several members of her family. As the event wrapped up, the two stood side by side, wearing matching v-neck sweaters, and greeted supporters. Gephardt's usual, "Are you going to come out for me?" turned into "come out for us". At one point, Matt playfully mimicked his dad's typical, "We're goooonnaaa win!", in a way only a Missouri son could do. The two exchanged loud "I love you's" and embraced before separating and heading out to divide and conquer.

Can the Tortoise Beat the Hare?MASON CITY, IOWA, Jan. 14 - The tortoise made one last pre-caucus speech today making his best effort to begin his dash toward the finish line. The speech, which seemed at times like a check list of the year's Dean attacks, gaffes, and flip-flops, also summed up Gephardt's vision of his presidency.

Later, snowy weather forced the Gephardt charter to circle over Flint, Mich. before the pilot finally re-routed the campaign to Grand Rapids. The show went on, though, as hundreds of disappointed union members gathered at the Ironworkers Hall with the mayor of Flint, instead of their favorite candidate. At the Grand Rapids event, Gephardt was presented with a shiny new University of Michigan football jacket, something he said he's always wanted. He wore it proudly for the rest of the night and said it made him feel like he was in law school again. Taking reporters on a quick trip down memory lane, he talked of his freezing cold house in Ann Arbor. So cold, he said, that on wintery nights he piled sweaters and coats on his bed to keep warm -- a desperate measure at least one campaign reporter found herself in just weeks ago at a Super 8 in southeast Iowa.

Media strategist Bill Carrick held today's daily conference call with dozens of reporters who got a lesson in loyalty. Carrick says Gephardt has the most loyal and "intense" supporters and Dean has the "softest". He believes Dean's lack of loyal following could be at the core of the small boost seen among Edwards' and Kerry's number crunchers.

Everyone agrees that the tortoise has remained steady but, in the end, is that enough? Dean is far from hemorrhaging supporters but, according to various Gephardt sources - including Carrick - he is losing supporters and is missing out on undecideds. Throughout all the talk of undecideds, the Gephardt campaign is standing on the side lines. Their support is a straight line, despite his many months of campaigning tirelessly and relentlessly hammering away at Dean. Is it possible that Gephardt's repeated jabs at Dean has helped Kerry and Edwards more than himself?

Tomorrow, Teamsters President Jimmy Hoffa will rally his troops at union hall in Marshalltown. The event, which is guaranteed to be lively and colorful, is open only to invited guests and members of the media, so any effort to sway the undecideds will remain at the local libraries and homes for the aging.

The campaign is already watching the five-day forecast for an early read on their possible caucus-night support, especially among those who might consider passing up the opportunity to go out on a frigid night to a crowded and small room and wait for hours. As of now, it's looking like Iowa will be clear and cold. No snow on caucus-night will be a good thing, the campaign says. And, if there is snow? Neither rain, sleet, nor snow will stop Chuck Rocha and his cast of thousands from getting even the most housebound people out to caucus, that is, if they're for Gephardt.

At It Again

Jan. 13 - After a short pause, Rep. Gephardt and Gov. Dean are at it again. With Dean's new negative ad focusing on his rivals' war voting records, Gephardt was once again striking back.

At a press availability in Seattle, the Congressman said, "He must feel he's falling behind" when asked about Dean's new ad. Gephardt would not disclose whether they were preparing a defensive ad strategy, but said he would not rule it out. Later, a campaign staffer said there was talk of a putting out such a spot, but nothing had been decided yet.

Only seven hours after the Congressman's charter plane lands back in Iowa at 3:00am this morning, he will deliver a speech which kicks off Gephardt's "Victory Tour." The speech will round up why Gephardt thinks he would be the best Democratic candidate. Bill Burton put it this way: "We've hit the very last leg of the stretch toward the Iowa caucus and Dick Gephardt is making his case. He'll talk about his 'bold ideas' and many of the reasons that he's running. In the end, a fight for the Democratic nomination is a fight for the soul of the party."

Fresh back from a multi-state tour of New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and Iowa, Gephardt is not in Iowa for long. With five days left until the caucuses, Michigan also came calling. Steve Murphy characterized the Michigan trip as "the absolute lynch-pin of our strategy" and "the culmination of our early stage strategy." Voting has already begun online in Michigan, where the labor force is huge and several superdelegates are still undecided. The Gephardt campaign is banking on the endorsement of the UAW, guaranteed to be a huge February 7 force. Which candidate wins in Iowa could make the decision of where the UAW goes a little easier.

Despite Dean's new war attack ad, a Gephardt campaign source says their data reveals that a large part of the undecideds right now "are not making up their minds solely on the war votes." "That's the nature of being undecided," the source said. The theory, he says, is that Governor Dean has already nabbed most of the anti-war vote and those supporters will never budge. But, the undecideds who are left are not flocking to his "perfect storm." Edwards has very recently enjoyed a small improvement in Iowa. The Gephardt camp thinks many people who had leaned toward Dean over the last few months, took a turn toward Edwards since he is considered a fresh face inside the Beltway and therefore wins over supporters who are looking for a Washington outsider. The Gephardt campaign is actively looking to be the second choice for Edwards' supporters since he will likely not get enough people out at the caucuses to qualify in all of Iowa's precincts.

Top Ten Reasons to Not Be In Iowa Six Days Before the Caucuses

NEW YORK CITY, Jan. 12— 10. You're giving a foreign policy speech at the Council of Foreign Relations, in which Bush is referred to thirteen times in various disparaging ways but there is nary a mention of any of your Democratic opponents.

9. You are doing some much-needed fundraising in New York and Los Angeles, where the votes may be few but the big money is bigger than in areas where thousands of jobs have moved to China.

8. You're feeling more confident in your performance on the 19th, since one of your staffers has concluded you are first on the "second-choice list" of likely caucus-goers' and Howard Dean is last -- because he's polarizing. Edwards is second on the second-choice list, since few can find something wrong with him and Kerry is third.

7. You're in good hands with labor coordinator Chuck Rocha and five presidents of the major unions, who have endorsed you.

6. Howard Dean and John Edwards are out-of-state too.

5. You are receiving the nod from former South Carolina Gov. Jim McNair today.

4. You are running a national campaign and must make your rounds to plan for caucuses in Washington State on Feb. 7th and the primary in Michigan , where Internet voting has already begun.

3. Your new ads are going up in Iowa and the expensive Boston markets that reach southern New Hampshire, so you're covered.

2. You have surrogates pouring in from around the country to campaign for you, including eleven members of Congress who will rally Iowans on your behalf. Also, your daughters Chrissy and Kate, son Matt and your wife Jane will all be in Iowa for the final push. Even "The Creek Dippers," an unknown folk band found their calling and arrived in Iowa to jump on your campaign trail.

1. You got an NYPD escort and sped through midtown Manhattan in rush hour traffic to make the taping of The Late Show with David Letterman on time, and that beats riding in a mini-van on I-80 any day.

Determined to win Iowa

DES MOINES, IOWA, Jan. 11— Rep. Gephardt must win Iowa in order to have a chance at the Democratic nomination. So say the pundits and political reporters. But, even his campaign manager has said it in the past and Gephardt, himself, has admitted a caucus win is essential on at least one rare occasion over a hamburger at a Des Moines Wendy's.

However, day in and day out, when Gephardt wraps up his speech and asks for help on caucus night, he consistently says "I'm going to win in Iowa and I'm going to win in the mid west. I'm going to win in South Carolina and I'm going to beat George Bush."

Gephardt has been questioned almost every day for months about his fate after the caucuses if Dean wins. His standard answer is to declare that he will win and that he does not answer "iffy questions." Time and time again, reporters rephrase themselves to see if they can dig out a different answer, and almost always the effort is fruitless. So, reporters' pens began scribbling quickly when a change was heard -- twice in recent days.

The Congressman told an audience in Williamsburg, Iowa, "I've got to win Iowa so I can win the nomination and take on George Bush." It happened again this morning in Madison County and, again, reporters made note.

Is there a difference?

Steve Murphy advised not to read into it too much. On a conference call with reporters the Gephardt campaign manager was asked about the candidate's apparent inconsistencies. His answer was a familiar one. "We consider that to be a moot point, because we are very confident that we are going to win here." Later, he added that the two sentences are one in the same and advised that there is no change afoot. But, while he would not address a scenario where Gephardt loses in Iowa, he did say a Howard Dean loss here would be "devastating" for him since Dean has "created the expectation that he's going to win." "If he's loses here, that's going to be a very damaging defeat for him. And he will start to take on the characteristics of a failed front-runner," Murphy said of Dean.

Tomorrow night, Gephardt will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman where he'll read the "Top Ten List." Perhaps, it will be the top 10 ways to say "I'm going to win in Iowa."

Gephardt keeps his cool

DES MOINES, IOWA, Jan. 8 — One thing that's clear in this race is that the Gephardt campaign likes to shake things up. The Congressman is known by his staff as the mild-mannered, affable, easy-going boss who never loses his cool even when mired in the worst of travel nightmares. People who work for him have to reach back to the day when the AFSCME endorsement was handed to Dean to recall a moment when he lost it.

When it comes to politics, though, Gephardt's campaign strategy of late seems to be shoot at anything that moves and hope after the fact that his target is wounded. Attacks on Dean became even more plentiful today, and reporters could hardly keep up.

First thing this morning, the campaign distributed information on why Gephardt's tax plan is superior. This afternoon, campaign manager Steve Murphy held a conference call specifically to address intelligence that the Dean campaign planned to register out-of-state staffers and volunteers to vote as Iowans and cast their vote for Dean on caucus night. Murphy fired off a letter of protest to Joe Trippi. Murphy also told reporters that he is prepared to "question the eligibility of any particular voter" and that they are training their precinct captains to be on the lookout for ringers.

No details on the identity of the Dean staffer because Murphy says he is reluctant to "out the whistleblower". But skeptics suspect it could have been a, er, late-night conversation among two young regional Iowa campaign staffers. Nevertheless, the Iowa Democratic Party does not seem overly worried that this will be an issue on caucus night. If it does, however, Gephardt told a Time Magazine reporter that "it would wreck the Iowa caucuses forever."

To finish the day, the Gephardt campaign put together a press conference for the congressman to respond to an NBC report in which Dean denounced the Iowa caucuses as "dominated by special interests." "He should certainly give him an explanation of what he meant," Gephardt said to the cameras about Dean. "The idea that I.owa caucus goers are extremist and not centrist is just un-noble to me, and I don't know where he came to that conclusion."

While the number of campaign staffers and reporters traveling with the campaign grows each day, noticeably absent from the trail are two things: the full-sized Gephardt for President 2004 campaign bus that was built more than two decades ago and couldn't survive the freezing and windswept Iowa highways; and, Jane Gephardt, whose bout with the flu took a turn for the worse. She is now home in D.C., recovering from pneumonia but expected to be back in action alongside her husband soon. Gephardt told reporters, "I miss her."

Welcome to the Club

DENISTON, IOWA, Jan. 7— At a rowdy Steelworkers rally in South Carolina, Wes Clark became the latest on the Gephardt attack list.

The Congressman slipped a shiny black satin Steelworkers jacket on and spoke to over a hundred out of work and fired-up union members about his plan to restore jobs like theirs. Then, a name rarely mentioned by Gephardt was added to his regular list of rivals who, he says, supported damaging trade agreements and contributed to the shutting down of Georgetown Steel.

Edwards was first, then Kerry, then Dean, (he forgot Lieberman this time) and then: "Wesley Clark gave a speech in Arkansas in 2001 in which he said he was for NAFTA. So, if you're looking for the candidate who's for fair trade not just free trade, you're looking at the only one who was there!" In a written statement, the campaign later added, "(Clark) told the Pulaski Country Republicans that he was 'pleased' that NAFTA passed and that we had seen positive results and would see additional positive results tenfold in the next few years."

After the event, reporters pressed Gephardt about his decision to lump Clark's name in with the others and whether it was in reaction to a fresh USA Today/Gallup poll that suggests Clark could be the strongest Dean alternative. Gephardt backed away from naming names but said, "Well, I haven't really talked about it before. I think it's important to set out the reference for how you come up with the information -- and the information's out there for Howard Dean and the information's out there on the others."

Later, at an evening event back in Iowa, the Clark attack was already woven into his regular speech -- and there it will likely stay.

The conclusion of the post-Steelworkers rally press avail brought jubilation for the traveling campaign reporters when a relaxed Gephardt showed off his goofy side that few get to see. When asked whether he likes his new satin union jacket, he replied, "I love my new jacket. Wanna see the back of it?"

The Congressman turned around to show the Steelworkers logo off to dozens of surrounding reporters and struck an out-of-character bodybuilding pose complete with flexed arms bent in front.

"Wanna see my 'Incredible Hulk' routine? I used to do that with my kids."

"Did you rip the shirt," a reporter asked?

"No, I'd pre-rip a shirt and then it would rip."

As Gephardt made his way back to his black SUV, the rave reviews from the press corps could be heard for miles. "Wow! Spontaneous!" Another said, "Off the charts." "We're all for it!"

On a charter plane back to Iowa, the Congressman had a good laugh watching a reporter's video of his routine. "I make Schwarzenegger look bad," he said.

Gephardt tunes in on the radio

DES MOINES, IOWA, Jan. 6 — As the mercury in Iowa continues to bottom out, the race toward Jan. 19 is heating up even more with news reports that Sen. Kerry is gaining ground here and could pose a threat to the Gephardt-Dean showdown.

At the NPR debate, Iowa's top-tier trio made up of Kerry, Gephardt and Dean exchanged barbs like never before. Gephardt took aim at Kerry for his Social Security and Medicare plans after Kerry lumped Gephardt and Dean together in an attack on their plans to repeal the Bush tax cuts.

At a post-debate media blitz, Rep. Gephardt seemed almost uncomfortable as he went after Kerry. When a reporter suggested the debate was another Dean pile on, Gephardt disagreed and used the question as an opportunity to take another jab. "I talked about the Social Security proposal that John Kerry has that I don't think makes sense because it would undermine the Social Security trust fund so I don't think that's a good idea." A mild attack, perhaps, but significant since it seemed to reveal that the Kerry threat level has been raised to orange.

Campaign manager Steve Murphy told reporters that while they are worried about qualifying in a couple of Iowa City precincts where Dean is set to run away with the delegates, and where even Kucinich has a steady following, they are not worried one bit about a Kerry surge.

Iowa press secretary Bill Burton said Kerry has put all his eggs in one basket. "He's a great guy, but look at the facts. He's moved all his senior level advisers and a lot of staff members here. If anyone has a one-state strategy it's John Kerry. And, he has a lot of challenges in Iowa. Gephardt has 95,000 union members in Iowa. It's hard to beat that."

When asked if he had reached out to Senator Harkin, Gephardt said he has "tremendous respect for Senator Harkin, he's a great friend and I've worked with him on lots of issues. I'm sure...I'd love to have his support -- and I'm sure everybody would love to have his support but that's a decision that Tom Harkin has to make and I don't think he's made it yet." Bill Burton, who once worked for Harkin and keeps in regular touch with his staff agreed, "He's keeping his decision close to the vest."

Gephardt has hundreds of people piling in to Iowa and not all of them are Steelworkers. The campaign is expecting a long list of Capitol Hill supporters to arrive over the next few days to divide and conquer. Some will hold their own campaign events and even hit the airwaves. Names include Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Scott Schiff, whose has also loaned his press secretary to the Gephardt campaign in South Carolina. Gephardt has also added Donnie Fowler Jr., formerly of the Clark campaign, to their roster in Iowa but an endorsement from former DNC Chairman Don Sr. is still on their wish list…for now.

Negative Four

MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, Jan. 5 —Iowans love jokes about their weather. While Rep. Gephardt has trimmed several laugh lines from his speech in an effort to tighten it up, he's worked another one in about the Iowa wind. The Congressman says that as a part of his Apollo 21 energy program, he would promote the use of environmentally friendly natural resources like solar power, ethanol, soy diesel -- and wind. After listing off several energy alternatives to Saudi oil, he now says, "And, you've got a lot of wind here in Iowa," which draws a response from the crowd so loud that he often has to pause before continuing. "Tony Blair said the other day he's going to put windmills up and down the coast of Britain. Well, that wind has to come from somewhere. Let's get it before he does!" As the newest reporters on the campaign trail have puzzled looks on their faces, the joke never fails with Iowans.

His speech wraps up with another weather joke only an Iowan could love. As he asks the audience for support on caucus night, he frequently adds, "Jan. 19 will be a warm, balmy evening." Once again, the joke falls flat for most out of towners, but Iowans fall to pieces. The lines took on a new meaning today as the sign at a local bank in the south eastern part of the state read -4 degrees.

While sleeping less and campaigning more, the Congressman is taking steps to stay healthy as he makes his way around the bitter cold state. Gephardt's wife Jane returned home to D.C. yesterday after coming down with a bad case of the flu, but the Congressman is determined to stave it off. At the end of a long day as the campaign staff and ever-growing group of reporters flash-mobbed the lobby of the Mount Pleasant Super 8 (his "favorite hotel"), Gephardt was asked if he too was getting sick by a reporter who noticed his voice was a little raspy. Gephardt grinned and said emphatically, "No. I don't get sick. No time for that." "Are you taking your vitamins?" one reporter asked. "I'm taking everything," he said. "C, E, K, B....you name it, I'm taking it."

The campaign announced the addition of state directors in Delaware, Virginia and Tennessee and a Wisconsin field director which brings the number of states where Gephardt has full-time paid staff to 14. Also today, after a short rally in Des Moines with about 200 union members from the Alliance for Economic Justice, Gephardt held a conference call with reporters to slam President Bush's visit to an elementary school in Gephardt's hometown of St. Louis in anticipation of the second anniversary of the signing of "No Child Left Behind." "George Bush always makes time for campaign photo-ops in the Midwest and fundraising events, but he's shortchanging our future by not taking the time to make critical investments in public education," he said.

Two Weeks To Go

DES MOINES, IOWA, Jan. 4 — Congressman Gephardt says he's fired up. In two weeks, he'll know his political fate and his staffers will either be dreaming of White House jobs, or looking for new ones.

The new year has brought an infusion of energy to the candidate as he attracts bigger and more attentive crowds who are signing up for "Team Gephardt" in Iowa at double the rate of last month. Fresh Dean attacks are aplenty as Gephardt continues his mission to gray the area between Dean and Bush and draw stronger contrasts for himself on issues like Medicare, trade and now national security, where Dean has been picked apart.

There are lots of new faces at each stop. New staffers and volunteers can be seen scanning the stump crowds for nodding heads and enthusiastic clappers who they b-line toward when the speech concludes. It's signing up time. The addition of supporters adorned in campaign buttons standing as a backdrop behind Gephardt is the work of new advancers. Other staffers that have been added to the dole include press handlers to take care of the ever-growing pool of weary reporters, and a new press secretary in South Carolina in anticipation of a heated Feb. 3 race. Another addition to the Iowa trail is Gephardt's new full-size campaign bus (actually it was built in the '80s) that has a newly overhauled exhaust system to prevent additional headaches on the road.

As crunch time sets in, Gephardt now unabashedly pleads for help at the end of his speech. After briefing the audience on his caucus-night needs for volunteers and precinct captains, the Congressman now holds his own wedding-like receiving line to shake hands with, and ask each attendee, "Are you going to caucus for me?" At one Des Moines union rally that attracted about 150 people, Gephardt stood at the auditorium exit and asked for help from almost every person who exited. Most people enthusiastically gave him a verbal pledge, but overheard several times was "I will if the weather isn't too bad."

Gephardt says his 4th quarter earnings are going to look just as they did in the past two quarters, which would put him at an unremarkable $3.8 million. The number should put them "close to their goal of $20 million for the year," he said, which should be enough to get them through Michigan. With his primary support in Iowa being elderly folks on fixed incomes and union workers whose jobs are being sent overseas, Gephardt has a tough time raising the big bucks. He now travels full-time with a young fundraiser who arranges dialing for dollars while the Congressman is rolling through the cornfields or stuck at O'Hare.

The new year has given a temporary reprieve to the campaign coffers with an infusion of $3.1 million of much-needed matching funds. When asked how they will compete with Dean's mother lode, several staff members are quick to point out that Howard Dean may have raised lots of money, but he is also a big spender and may not have as impressive amount of cash on hand.

The matching funds will help Gephardt get up on the airwaves in more than the three states where his ads are now appearing. Since their run in South Carolina recently expired, Gephardt ads are up in only Iowa, Oklahoma and Michigan (where he is the first and only candidate on the air). Several more early states including New Hampshire, where he is the last holdout, will be added to the advertising list very soon. One campaign staffer says they have been waiting to spend the money on the higher-priced and farther-reaching Boston media markets.

The countdown Begins

NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 19 — After a warm endorsement Thursday from his longtime friend and political ally, former Rep. Bonior, Gephardt rounded up his most recent criticisms of Howard Dean, going after him for making allegations that President Bush knew about the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and for his comments that the world is no safer with Saddam captured. Gephardt told reporters the comments were "ludicrous" and "wrong" and "belies a lack of experience in foreign policy and in dealing with a lot of these issues."

Earlier, campaign manager Steve Murphy held his own conference call in an effort to keep the Dean sealed records story alive, telling reporters that Dean signed a law in 1997 reducing the public disclosure requirements on captive insurance companies while "bragging about deep cuts in social services." Murphy said that if he becomes the nominee, "It's going to be very very difficult for Gov. Dean with these type of contradictions along with the doubletalk we've seen throughout the campaign, to take on President Bush and VP Cheney on these types of issues."

Gephardt labors on

NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 16 — While on a four-day fundraising tour of several states, Gephardt held a conference call that was mostly a re-hash of Monday's Dean attack. Tuesday, Gephardt 's language was stronger, saying that Dean "has consistently exploited foreign policy for his political agenda and his positions don't demonstrate a person grounded in serious foreign policy experience and expertise."

In other Gephardt news, the campaign announced an endorsement received by the Northeastern Oklahoma Labor Council that is "affiliated with the AFL-CIO and is a consortium of more than 20 unions in northeastern Oklahoma," according to a release. Gephardt also received the nod of the Daily Nonpareil newspaper in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Gephardt hesitates to get warmed up

DETROIT, Dec. 15 — Even though freezing cold places like northern New Hampshire, Milwaukee, and Detroit were on Rep. Gephardt's schedule over the last several days, he chose to leave his winter coat at home in Washington. While campaign staffers and reporters are bracing themselves for bitter January mornings in Iowa, being cold is clearly not at the forefront of Gephardt's mind.

Nevertheless, staffers discussed how they could keep the Congressman from shivering in front of reporters at a Detroit-area press event, held outside in the freezing windy parking lot of the Great Lakes Steel plant. The problem was, the presser couldn't be moved inside since Gephardt planned to go on the offensive, pointing out the enormous number of the plants' jobs that company executives had moved overseas. A young staffer, about Gephardt's size, came to the rescue and cheerfully made the ultimate sacrifice for his boss -- and it fit the Congressman quite well.

As the staff member stood shivering, Rep. Gephardt also went on the offensive with Howard Dean, noting what he believed to be inconsistencies in Dean's statements on foreign policy.

This morning, minutes after Gephardt and his travel aide (who also does not wear a coat) walked briskly across a Milwaukee airport tarmac to board a private plane to Detroit, Gephardt was asked of his no-coat reasoning. As he browsed the latest on the Rams in the sports pages, he admitted, "I would just lose it." Later, when others asked, he said "I'm from the Midwest. I can stand this cold." As for Iowa, he said, "Yeah...I'll bring a coat there. Maybe a sweater and maybe even gloves!"

Gephardt's busy South Carolina weekend unexpectedly busier

CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 14 — Thanks to a 6:45 a.m. link time in the lobby of a Columbia, South Carolina hotel, Rep. Gephardt was up and shaving well before dawn when he turned on the television in his room and heard the news about Saddam's capture.

Shortly thereafter, the weekend changed from the celebratory endorsement tour of Saturday that included popular South Carolinians such as Rep. Clyburn and Rep. John Spratt traveling the state on Gephardt's loaned 1981 bus -- a chaotic day jam-packed with interviews running hopelessly behind schedule.

At the first stop in Sumter, Gephardt sat motionless in the front pew through several choir hymns and a long sermon. Just outside the church another scene was playing out. Gephardt's assistant press secretary, Kim Molstre, was on her cell phone getting updates from campaign headquarters while print reporters called editors and TV producers scrambled to piece together logistics on how they could get the candidate on the airwaves from very rural South Carolina. In the end, a prayer room in the back of the Mt. Zion Union Methodist Church in Kingstree made do as a live-shot location.

Carolina In My Mind

NEW YORK, Dec. 11 — Endorsements from six South Carolina state politicians brought more good news for the campaign on the eve of Gephardt's trip to the Palmetto State, where he will make the rounds to several local colleges and black churches on a statewide bus tour this weekend. Gephardt will be joined by Rep. Jim Clyburn as well as Rep. James Spratt, who endorsed him earlier this year. ]

Not wasting any time in the wake of announcing his endorsement, Clyburn hits the South Carolina airwaves Friday, debuting in a new Gephardt ad entitled "Carolina" that focuses on jobs and trade. The ad, which will run statewide, was shot last weekend when Gephardt's media strategist paid a visit to Clyburn 's home state prior to the formal endorsement announcement. Clyburn also talked up Gephardt's candidacy on CNN's Inside Politics Thursday where he said "I think Gephardt has a real good chance here in South Carolina."

Welcome to Clyburn Country

NEW YORK, Dec. 10. — Rep. Jim Clyburn's much anticipated endorsement of Rep. Gephardt came today in the form of a delayed conference call during which dozens of reporters from across the country chatted amongst themselves while waiting for Gephardt's plane to land in Washington.

For weeks, rumors have been flying that an endorsement was on its way. Finally, the campaign realized Wednesday that the secret could be kept no longer.

In South Carolina, the Clyburn nod is as good as it gets. Clyburn is the first black Congressman in the state since the 19th century. He is widely popular and influential, and has a Rolodex of local black leaders and political activists like no other. This is a big boost for Gephardt, who has placed behind Edwards and even Sharpton in some polls, in the key Feb. 3 state. One campaign source expressed hope that the news would provoke hoards of current Sharpton supporters to jump on board with Gephardt.

Clyburn said his decision was not easy. "Edwards is a major player in this state. He has a personal claim. He was born here, lived here as a child and he's the son of a mill worker." He also considered Clark and, yes, Dean. However, for many reasons, he always went back to Gephardt. Among them, Clyburn said, "I drove a milk truck when I was 17, just like Dick's dad."

See Jane run, shop, and drink a beer

DURHAM, N.H., Dec. 10 — Jane Gephardt toured New Hampshire for the past two days, logging in over 700 miles and delivering numerous speeches for her husband's campaign -- speeches she admittedly does not love to give.

At a post-debate rally at the hopping Libby's Bar & Grill in downtown Durham, Rep. Gephardt thanked the crowd for their support as they clapped and cheered. He then transitioned into his usual thanks to his wife, but, looking around the room, he couldn't find her. "She's having a beer!" he yelled. "Come on up here, Jane!"

Earlier in the day, the Gephardts met each other at a Portsmouth housewares store for some pre-debate Christmas shopping. Their goal: to purchase a "home starter kit" for a needy family who the campaign is sponsoring through a local charity. The often shy Jane handled the press and supporters with ease.

When the Gephardts made it to the counter to pay for their wares, one reporter joked, "What are you going to get Howard Dean for Christmas this year?"

Gephardt, always careful, chose not to answer that one. Jane, however, picked up a small, black, oddly shaped item from the countertop display, help it up and grinned. It was a lump of black licorice in clear plastic wrap labeled, "Coal."

Gore surprise doesn't concern campaign

PORSTMOUTH, N.H., Dec. 8 — The Gephardt campaign was taken completely by surprise when the news hit that Gore would endorse Dean.

"With all the hype I'm hearing, this better be good," one staffer quipped earlier in the day.

After the Gore endorsement was reported in the media, Gephardt chose not to comment. However, his spokesman Erik Smith quickly released a statement: "Dick Gephardt fought side-by-side with Al Gore to pass the Clinton economic plan, pass the assault weapons ban and defend against Republican attacks on Medicare and affirmative action. On each of these issues, Howard Dean was on the wrong side."

Later, campaign manager Steve Murphy said they never expected a Gore endorsement. Murphy also responded to a report that the news is a stronger setback for Gephardt than other candidates because of his quest to beat Dean in Iowa. He responded, "We're beyond the stage that this would hurt us in Iowa. This kind of thing is good for fundraising, but it has little significance in this race for Dick Gephardt. It's the grass roots support and local political endorsements that help the most now."

South Carolina On My Mind

NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 4 — "I've got South Carolina on my mind Remembering all those sunshine Summertimes, And the Autumns in the Smokies when the leaves turn to gold Touches my heart and thrills my soul to have South Carolina on my mind" --from the state song written by Hank Martin and Buzz Arledge

Rep. Richard Gephardt went up with his first ad in the Palmetto State on Thursday. The 30-second bio, entitled "Struggle," is now running in Iowa and is likely to go up in other early primary states once campaign coffers are fattened up with federal funds after the New Year.

While Gephardt's next campaign trip to South Carolina is over a week away, they are gearing up for big news there — the long-awaited Rep. Clyburn endorsement.

Two campaign sources told ABC News that a Clyburn endorsement for Gephardt is all but certain and is likely to be announced next weekend as the campaign embarks on a state-wide bus tour. While he has not been leading there in the polls, even placing behind Rev. Sharpton in one poll, an endorsement from one of the most influential politicians in the state will likely be a huge boost. Also looking good for Gephardt is the lack of the Howard Dean factor, since Dean has been focusing his time and money in other early primary states.

Gephardt media strategist Bill Carrick, speaking of next weekend's campaign trip, told this campaign reporter, "Don't book your ski vacation for that weekend." Darn. I guess I'll have to cancel those reservations in Tahoe.