Vet presents medal to Ford during local campaign rally

November 2, 2006 By CHANTAL ESCO | The Leaf-Chronicle

Clark: "This election is about change, and you have to change the people in Washington. (Ford) stands for common sense leadership."

An Iraqi campaign medal given to U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. by a 101st Airborne Division veteran Wednesday touched the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, and he said it goes to the heart of his campaign.

"This means more to me. ... I've never received anything like this before," Ford said of the medal presented to him by Mike Krause, who served two tours with the 101st in Iraq. "Our side isn't the Democratic side. Our side is to do what's right for America."

Ford and Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme allied commander and one-time presidential candidate, made a Clarksville stop to rally supporters. Nearly 200 people — many waving Ford campaign posters and sporting campaign pins — withstood cold temperatures and drizzle when the Ford bus rolled up at 2:55 p.m. at Veterans Plaza.

The Ford campaign had been in Memphis earlier in the day, where former President Bill Clinton stumped for the Democratic hopeful.

Krause, now an Austin Peay State University public administration senior, said he liked what Ford had to say, especially about changing the course in Iraq. As he presented Ford with the medal, he talked about the lives of combat veterans serving overseas and how they need to be cared for when they come home.

"There's also a battle here for honesty, a battle for change, and this is the man to lead that battle," Krause told the crowd. "As an Iraq war veteran, I proudly cast my vote for Harold Ford Jr."

Clark said as a former soldier who served for 34 years, he knows the sacrifices made by those in uniform.

"We live in a democracy, but right now our democracy is being taken in the wrong direction," Clark said about the Bush administration, adding there is no real plan of withdrawal in the Middle East and troops are paying the price.

"What a tragedy it is to see what's going on in Iraq today. Staying the course won't do it," he said.

The retired general went on to tell the crowd that if Ford is elected as Tennessee's U.S. senator, he will bring courage, integrity and decency to the office.

"We have a great man with Harold Ford Jr.," Clark said while on stage with supporters — many of them military veterans. "We really need him in Washington. This election is about change, and you have to change the people in Washington. (Ford) stands for common sense leadership."

Ford echoed Clark's remarks, saying his campaign isn't about him but it's about change in the White House.

Regarding his prospects for victory on Tuesday, Ford said, "I got to tell you, I've got a good feeling about it."