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Washington Prowler

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Edwards is certainly learning what matters. During his speech he stressed continued financial support for ethanol to much applause from the true believers in the audience. Edwards's presence in Iowa, and his frequent visits, would indicate that he's focusing on that state's caucus as his presidential candidacy's ground zero. Edwards's campaign invested in a complete Iowa Democratic Party mailing list several months ago and is working hard to set up a grassroots program instate.

"Kerry and Gore will probably be battling it out hard in New Hampshire, and Kerry, coming from Massachusetts, probably has a better hold on that state than we would," says the Edwards adviser. "We'll make a good showing there, but Iowa is where we can make a stand."

Edwards, meanwhile, is reconfiguring his Washington staff, with a Clintonian accent. He recently named former Clinton administration staffer Miles Lackey as his chief of staff. He replaces Jeff Lane, who had served in the post for almost two years and reportedly has taken paternity leave. Lackey ran the legislative affairs office for Sandy Berger and the National Security Council, and Edwards hopes he will help him burnish his foreign policy credentials leading into the campaign.

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Foreign Policy, Business