Is Hillary Poaching Iowa Endorsements from Edwards?

Today the Clinton campaign in Iowa announced a list of 14 endorsements from state legislators. Among them is State Senator Dennis Black, who lives outside Grinnell and represents the district that includes the city (and Speedway) of Newton.

Just three weeks ago, before my very eyes, Black seemed to endorse Edwards. No, not explicitly in the words, “I endorse John Edwards,” but it was more than the usual non-endorsement legislators give when they are just introducing a candidate to a local crowd of their constituents out of politeness. It was a pre-written introduction speech for Edwards’s June visit to Grinnell College, and at the time it sounded as if it had been vetted and refocused around campaign talking points. Its conclusion, from what I remember without having it written down, used language like “John Edwards is the best candidate to lead our country.” No oscillation or equivocation; Black said Edwards was “the best.” The event ran so late that I wasn’t able to verify with Black that it was an endorsement before I left, but I really did not think it was necessary at the time: it seemed obvious from his words.

Maybe Black, who endorsed John Kerry early in the 2004 Caucuses and was probably ready to support Kerry again had he run, was just extra-polite to a fault when he introduced Edwards last month (Black is one of the nicest guys in the legislature), or maybe he has changed his mind. If he has, why? Are more defections on the horizon?

The full list of endorsements is below the fold.

The 14 legislators who have announced their support for Senator Clinton are:

· State Senator Staci Appel (S-37) of Ackworth
· State Representative Paul Bell (H-41) of Newton
· State Senator Dennis Black (S-21) of Lynnville
· State Senator Dick Dearden (S-34) of Des Moines
· State Senator Bill Dotzler (S-11) of Waterloo
· State Senator Gene Fraise (S-46) of Fort Madison
· State Senator Wally Horn (S-17) of Cedar Rapids
· State Representative Mark Kuhn (H-14) of Charles City
· State Representative Vicki Lensing (H-78) of Iowa City
· State Representative Mary Mascher (H-77) of Iowa City
· State Senator Becky Schmitz (S-45) of Fairfield
· State Senator Roger Stewart (S-13) of Preston
· State Representative Roger Wendt (H-02) of Sioux City
· State Representative Cindy Winckler (H-86) of Davenport