Reporters ambush Sen Kerry in Iowa

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(Mrs.) Vilsack endorses, helps Kerry in (snowball) fight

MUSCATINE, IOWA, Jan. 12 — Sen. Kerry strode confidently down the steps of Iowa's Capitol with the Hawkeye State's first lady, Christie Vilsack, by his side this afternoon. Behind Kerry, 27 state legislators joined the march, each of them contributing to a state house endorsement total exceeding that of Dean and Gephardt combined.

Kerry praised Vilsack's work as an educator, calling her the "first teacher of the state of Iowa." The bonnet-donning Vilsack paraphrased the Lovin' Spoonful's "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" when describing her decision, saying, "It's like that song … you have to say yes to one, did you ever have to make up your mind, say yes to one and leave the others behind. I made up my mind to stand up for John Kerry in the Iowa caucus and I'm very proud of it."

Though the distinguished and independently popular first lady's endorsement stands on its own merit, many observers see it as a wink and a nod of approval from her husband, Gov. Tom Vilsack as well.

Mrs. Vilsack joined Kerry for an exhaustive, five-stop campaign day through eastern Iowa, including a swing by the Vilsack residence in Mount Pleasant.

As 30 neighbors joined the Senator and First Lady inside for coffee, the traveling press corps was left outside to their own devices in 40 degree, snowball-perfecting cold.

When the Senator emerged from the Vilsack's gray with green trim, two-story home, the press stood patient, poised with crystallizing snowballs in hand. The Senator sensed an ambush, but it was the First Lady who fired the shot heard round Mount Pleasant, starting a war she would not finish, and leaving the Senator to mount a one-man offensive.

Diving off the porch, the 60-year-old Senator quickly surveyed the scene and, without hesitation, took the most aggressive tactic possible, driving straight at his pen and pad-less opponents. A daring move, mind you, as he immediately faced hostile fire from ABC on the right. Doing his best "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", Kerry jumped and with both legs in the air managed to avoid what seemed to be an inevitable hit.

Kerry continued his counter-offensive, pointing his right index finger at his intended target: David Halbfinger of the New York Times . Halbfinger fired a solid pitch; the Senator was only glanced, slowed but not stopped, and thus forcing Halbfinger's retreat into the neighbor's yard. Picking up fresh arsenal from the Governor's ice-soaked lawn, the Senator and the reporter charged simultaneously, locking arms, before there was a final peace.

Another prominent woman campaigns for Kerry tonight in Iowa; Carole King will perform a concert Tuesday night in Cedar Rapids. Teresa Heinz Kerry, the Senator's headlining "Women for Kerry" attraction, returns to Iowa Wednesday.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Politics/DailyNews/fieldkerry-1.html