The Fallon Campaign in Iowa's Third Congressional District

April 27, 2008

The official campaign for the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s Third District is in its fourth month. Ed Fallon, a progressive Democrat who served in the Iowa Legislature for 14 years is challenging Blue Dog incumbent Leonard Boswell.

“PDA's priorities are ending the Iraq war, universal health care, economic justice, global climate change, and clean, fair, transparent elections,” said Des Moines PDA chapter secretary Peg Smith. “Those are the issues Ed Fallon has been talking about for years and are the focus of his campaign, so it was an easy choice for us. The vote was unanimous and enthusiastic.”

Smith said that the local chapter sent both candidates invitations to a candidate forum, but received no answer from Congressman Boswell’s campaign to two invitations. Smith added, “We weren’t surprised. At least nine debate invitations have been given to the two candidates; Fallon has accepted all of them and the Congressman has yet to accept any. They probably looked at PDA’s platform and realized that it was Fallon’s natural constituency and not Boswell’s.”

“I’m grateful for the endorsement,” Fallon said. “It’s another sign that people in Iowa and around the country are ready for real change in Washington. Our government is broken, most of all because of the presence of big money and well-heeled special interests. That has to change if we are to meet the challenges facing us.” When asked about where the campaign stands today, Fallon said, “Our internal polling looks very good, which is why I think the incumbent has been running an extremely negative and deceptive campaign, avoiding the issues and his record at all cost.”

As in his seven previous campaigns in the Iowa Legislature, all of which he won, Fallon is running a grassroots campaign that focuses on contacting voters through door-to-door canvassing and phone banking, as well as creative use of YouTube. Recent productions include a mockumentary “Campaigns of the Rich and Powerful” and a rap video on fiscal responsibility and tax reform.

Fallon’s home is in Polk County, which counts for about 70% of the primary vote and just over half of the votes in the general election. When I ran unsuccessfully for governor two years ago in a three-way primary race,” Fallon said, “I won this congressional district and beat the winner by 10% in Polk County.

Fallon is challenging incumbent Democratic Congressman Leonard Boswell, who is completing his sixth term in the House this year, which is two terms more than the limit of four he promised when he first ran. Boswell is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats who have often voted with Republicans to support President Bush's agenda. Smith listed some of the times Boswell has broken with his fellow House Democrats to support Bush’s position include: “Authorization of the Iraq War and funding for it that doesn’t include timetables, the reauthorization of the PATRIOT Act, the so-called bankruptcy “reform” of 2005, the Military Commissions Act that allows the president to decide what “torture” is, giving the president “fast-track” authority to push trade deals through Congress, three so-called “free trade” agreements and permanent trade relations with China, the Bush version of a prescription drug plan for seniors, and other measures opposed by the majority of House Democrats, and many votes unfriendly to the environment. The list goes on and on.”

Learn more about Ed Fallon here.

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The Fallon Campaign in Iowa's Third Congressional District

April 27, 2008