A Governor Gears Up for a Hard Sell

Democratic White House aspirant and outgoing Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack tells us that when he formally declares his candidacy this week, his message to the nation will be that it's time for tough love. Exhibit A: weaning the United States off foreign oil. Vilsack helped boost the Hawkeye State's ethanol production by 300 percent, making it the nation's top producer. "I realized the country was in need of somebody who would challenge it," Vilsack says, explaining his decision to run. "Somebody who is not going to tell you what you already think, but who will take you to a different place, a place we need to get to if we want a bright future for our kids."

–Dan Gilgoff