presidential campaign considered potential vice presidential candidate senator presidential election iowa governor began campaign democratic_party nomination president united_states november second democratic candidate officially announce presidential run short lived campaign focused home state iowa suffered low standing national polls lack recognition campaign emphasized war iraq plan ending run concluded february debates funding endorsed senator hillary_clinton exit shifted barack_obama withdrawal early stages near end years governor iowa head campaigned democratic gubernatorial candidates nation campaign trail support possible presidential run inspired results mid term elections proclaimed americans sent clear message want leaders share values understand needs respect intelligence intend president november filed announced building blocks needed run successful national presidential campaign formal announcement november campaign developments announcement iowa listed themes campaign energy independence national security economy candidate promised change government means reduced impulse divide conquer acknowledged status given low profile outside iowa hampered fundraising december embarked campaign tour beginning hometown pittsburgh addressed local childhood adopted mother overcame alcoholism discussed policy iraq war advocating control iraqi government country future willing fight certainly willing die returned iowa fundraiser later week mid december interviewed major magazines news world report explained decided forming committee like democratic rivals principle work linked issue energy security global warming national security advocated moving american troops southern central iraq north commented political reconciliation building local governance spending time national government interview rolling_stone distinction experience judgment emphasized importance attacked republican candidate john_mccain planned iraq troop surge making big mistake bigger denied military resources execute importance recognition said people don remember remember letter stands vision stands victory stands expressed satisfaction hillary_clinton calling big fan january toured new_hampshire site primary met middle school students discussed plans rebuilding iraq dismissing democratic opponents calls caps american troops nation advocated troop withdrawal talked iraq employees blaming costs rebuilding lack public funds available domestic projects iowa later month reiterated opposition troop caps staying course stated troop reflects continuation failed policy america ought aggressively troops iraq february appearance tonight jay_leno visited san_francisco gave speech energy explained campaign remained carbon neutral purchase carbon credits tonight joked relative obscurity remarked okay making jokes margin error polls anybody says important officially withdrew race february stating crowded field democratic candidates impossible raise money continue campaign explaining withdrawal stated came time life hard work effort couldn overcome electoral process saw dominated fundraising left race proclaiming money money reason leaving today raised million run left race hand polling race democratic nomination polls placed support november december fell january remained withdrawal february report published december polled voters preferences variety hypothetical presidential showed preferred arkansas governor margin trailed new_york_city mayor similar poll published february withdrawal found trailed republican senator john_mccain separate poll viewed favorably electorate voters information opinion respondents considered moderate considered liberal considered conservative describe political stands aftermath withdrawing race endorsed senator hillary_clinton presidency march hoped build momentum iowa governor identified clinton candidate best ideas energy values vision lead country shortly endorsement clinton named wife chairman campaign iowa clinton campaign announced help pay campaign debt campaigned clinton nationwide national campaign chairman focused helping win iowa despite efforts clinton finished barack_obama following clinton withdrawal endorsed obama presidency july labeled obama candidate voters change tone washington later nominated president obama serve united_states secretary agriculture administration confirmed post senate inauguration day
Tom Vilsack presidential campaign, 2008