Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
The struggling campaign of Arizona Sen. John McCain was dealt a devastating blow today when some of his top advisers resigned or were fired, quite abruptly. According to Marc Ambinder, McCain decided to fire campaign manager Terry Nelson, and in reaction, chief strategist John Weaver and long-time chief of staff Mark Salter quit the campaign, though Salter will still advise McCain on speeches without pay.
This is a big deal. As Ambinder says:
The departure of Weaver and the reduction in role for Salter are extraordinary. For years, both served as the architects of McCain's public image. Salter and McCain finished their fifth book late this summer — Hard Calls. As McCain's counselor, Salter crafted every significant word McCain uttered, and Weaver was responsible for guiding McCain through the perilous precincts of Republican party politics. They were McCain's original, ardent, and at times, only defenders.
Many will say that McCain's campaign is effectively over today, though I'm not sure we can say that. But if his national campaign is on the rocks, his Iowa campaign is truly on life support. The Des Moines Regsiter reported Friday that McCain had cut his Iowa campaign down to seven staffers. The one glimmer of hope was said to be that Nelson, a native of Marshalltown Iowa and a veteran of Iowa politics, remained. Nelson managed former Congressman Jim Nussle's 1994 race and later served as majority staff director of the Iowa state Senate caucus.
With Nelson gone, his chances at doing well in Iowa are even slimmer. And with his alter-egos–Weaver and Salter–departed as well, it must be a lonely place in Camp McCain.
Update: Ambinder says "Salter declined to comment on Nelson except to say that 'he was not fired.'" Nelson resigned last night and according to an anonymous source, "McCain's refusal to give Nelson absolute authority over the campaign 'cost McCain both Weaver and Salter.'"
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