Vilsack endorses Clinton a second time

CEDAR RAPIDS - Citing her loyalty and support in the past as well as her qualifications for the job, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is formally endorsing Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

'Hillary Clinton has the right policies to strengthen and expand the middle class, is battle-tested and has the experience and relationships to lead and govern well,” current U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack says in an op-ed to be published in The Gazette Aug. 26. 'For all of those reasons, as well as our friendship, I will caucus for Hillary Clinton on Feb. 1.”

Vilsack endorsed Clinton in 2007 and served as her national campaign co-chairman after ending his own campaign for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination.

Their history goes back much further, Vilsack writes, noting that Clinton supported him in his long-shot bid for governor in 1998.

'My election that year was a surprise to many, but not Hillary,” he writes. 'She encouraged people she knew from all over the country to pitch in when I needed help, especially in the last weeks of the campaign. Without her support I may not have won.”

In his endorsement, Vilsack says that in her public life Clinton has fought to expand and strengthen the middle class.

'I have no doubt she will continue that fight as president,” he writes.

Clinton, he adds, understands that some of the 'deepest and most pronounced poverty exists in rural areas.” Her support for the Renewable Fuel Standard and bio-based manufacturing 'makes clear she will work hard to promote meaningful economic opportunity throughout the country.”

Clinton knows that expanding and strengthening the middle class starts with quality jobs and that depends on a well-educated and trained workforce, Vilsack writes. She's laid out a 'specific, workable plan” to make education - including college - affordable to everyone.

But good ideas alone are not enough, Vilsack says.

'We recognize the most successful presidents are those who can both lead and govern, while navigating the toughest job on earth,” he says. 'Leadership inspires. Governance delivers.”

He's confident Clinton will both inspire and deliver results 'because I have worked with her and called her a friend for nearly two decades.”

Read the entire endorsement.