OTTUMWA - Presidential candidate Chris Dodd kicked off his five-day "River to River" tour across Iowa today with events in Davenport, Burlington, and Ottumwa. Throughout the tour, Dodd is speaking about his proven leadership and bold ideas at a time when the stakes have never been higher.
"It's about bringing people who don't always agree together to get things done," Senator Dodd told the crowd packed in to Ottumwa's Canteen in the Alley. "I offer very bold, very direct leadership. I don't believe in half-measures on such important issues."
Dodd has rapidly established himself as the candidate of bold solutions to America's most pressing challenges - from leading the fight in the Senate to responsibly end the Iraq War, to speaking honestly about the need for a corporate carbon tax to turn back the clock on global warming. Calling for a New American Patriotism, Dodd most recently unveiled his American Community Initiative, a sweeping and ambitious national service plan to engage the talent and energy of all Americans in getting our country back on track.
Dodd began his "River to River" tour this morning with a breakfast at The Golden Leaf Restaurant in Davenport, where he was introduced by Sue Frembgen, chair of the Scott County Democratic Party.
The tour then traveled to VFW Post 10102 in Burlington for a community gathering with state Senator Tom Courtney. Senator Dodd told the gathering, which included a number of veterans, about his national service initiative and the importance of calling a new generation of Americans to participate in something larger than themselves.
On the way from Burlington to the tour's next scheduled stop in Ottumwa, Dodd stopped off in Fairfield to shake hands and meet lunch-goers at the local Hy-Vee lunch counter.
In Ottumwa, Dodd held a Community Kitchen Table meeting at long-time Ottumwa institution Canteen Lunch in the Alley. There, Dodd was introduced to the crowd by state Representative Mary Gaskill and ate one of the Canteen's famous sandwiches during a lively Q & A session.
Dodd will finish his day today by joining his wife and daughters to march in West Des Moines' Independence Day Parade, followed by a street celebration at Valley Junction.
Tomorrow, Dodd will make stops in Norwalk, Pleasantville, Wellman, Coralville, and Cedar Rapids. Stops later in the tour include Clinton, Dubuque, Waterloo, Waverly, Mason City, Fort Dodge, Sioux City, Carroll, and Council Bluffs.
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