I haven't watched tonight's debate yet, because I was out trick-or-treating with my four-year-old, and then was tied up with bedtime routines. I've taped it and will watch later. For the record, I don't think many Iowans were watching--when I mentioned the debate to Democratic neighbors I ran into while trick-or-treating, no one seemed aware it was going on.

I had planned to write this post about Edwards' 99-county strategy for Iowa, and its implications for the 50-state strategy I believe Democrats must embrace to cement the political realignment that is there for the taking.

But then I saw today's mail, which contained a 12-page piece from Edwards. If I am not mistaken, I believe this is the first direct-mail piece he's sent in Iowa since his health care plan booklet (with DVD) that went out to about 70,000 Iowa Democrats in February.

I've noticed a lot of comments lately about how John Edwards supposedly is "only attacking Hillary" or "doesn't give people a reason" to vote for him. Anyone who has seen Edwards on the stump, or read one of his speeches, or spent five minutes looking at the issues page of his website would know better.

I don't have a scanner, and I haven't seen this mailer covered anywhere else on the internet yet. So I decided to reproduce much of the text and describe the images, to give you a sense of how Edwards is setting up the case for supporting him in the Iowa caucuses. (I don't know how large a group received this mailer. I assume it was not all Iowa Democrats, but primarily past caucus-goers, along with reliable primary and/or general-election voters.)

The cover page is a montage of Edwards, pictures of him with his family, and a crowd scene from a big rally. Near the bottom it says "Up from the Roots: The John Edwards Story."

Page 2 has a large photo of Edwards in a football uniform, presumably in high school. There is also this quotation: "Going to the mill alongside my father, I got to know the meaning of hard work and perseverance. I'll never forget where I come from."

Page 3 covers personal biography: Raised in a Mill Town
Born in Seneca, South Carolina, and raised in the small town of Robbins, North Carolina, John Edwards grew up with the values of grassroots America. There are also some photos of Edwards with his family (including a gorgeous wedding shot), and paragraphs under to the following subheadings:
Hard Work
John's father, Wallace Edwards, earned his living in the textile mills. His mother, Bobbie, ran a shop and worked at the post office. Working in the mills for 36 years and bringing his son alongside him on the job, Wallace Edwards taught John the value of perseverance--to keep working until the job is done. It's a lessong John has always remembered.
Opportunity
A proud produce of public schools, John was the first person in his family to attend college. He worked his way through North Carolina State University where he graduated with high honors in 1974.
Fairness
With his strong belief that all Americans deserve an equal opportunity to succeed and be heard, it was only natural that John went on to earn his law degree in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Soon after, he began a twenty-year career as a passionate advocate fighting for the people he grew up with.
Family
John and Elizabeth met in school and were married in 1977. Thay have had four children: their eldest daughter, Cate, who is attending law school; a nine-year-old daughter, Emma Claire; and a seven-year-old son, Jack. Their first child, Wade, died in 1996.

Page 4 is a photo of Edwards speaking at a campaign stop, with the quotation, "I've fought my entire life for regular people in their darkest hours against powerful interests--and won."

Page 5 covers professional biography: Fighting for Regular People
True to his roots, John Edwards has dedicated his passion and advocacy towards one aim--fighting for regular people against powerful special interests.
On Our Side
As a private attorney, John represented the underdogs--folks who had been treated unfairly, who had little or no money and lacked the power to fight back against big, irresponsible corporations. He fought on our side, for people facing steep odds at their most difficult moments.
Fighting Powerful Interests
Insurance companies and other powerful interests had armies of lawyers and unlimited funding. But for twenty years, John took them on...and won. He did more than win cases for individuals who had unjustly suffered tragedy. He forced the big interests to change their practices, for all of us.
Champion in the Senate
John ran successfully for the U.S. Senate in 1998 without taking a dime from PACs or Washington lobbyists. There, he quickly emerged as a champion for the issues that make a difference to American families: quality health care, better schools, national security, protecting civil liberties, preserving the environment, saving Social Security and Medicare and reforming the ways campaigns are financed.
A Real Leader for America
In 2004, John ran for president, bringing an important message to the people about the two Americas that exist in our country--one for people at the top who have everything they need, and one for the rest of us, who struggle to get by. John was proud to be selected to carry the banner as the vice-presidential nominee and bring his message throughout the nation--a campaign he continues today.

Page 6 is a more recent photo of John, smiling, looking at a smiling Elizabeth, with the quotation, "In the quiet of a hospital room, Elizabeth and I decided what we're going to spend our lives doing...to go out and fight for what we believe in."

Page 7 lays out the big themes underlying the campaign: Overcoming the Odds, Working for Real Change. John and Elizabeth know personally the deepest challenges Americans face; their commitment for working for change comes directly from the heart.

The American Challenge
In our country today, the typical CEO makes more money by the end of lunch than an average wage earner earns in a year. Ninety-five percent of American workers haven't had a real raise in seven years, even as the economy grows. That's the American challenge.
Real Change in Washington
John Edwards believes that closing the gap--bringing health care to every American and raising up every family--is America's most pressing need. He also believes that the system in Washington, DC is broken, and that it will take more than just changing presidents to change our country. It requires changing the whole broken system.
Standing Up to Special Interests
In Washington, there are now 60 lobbyists for every member of Congress. Powerful special interests have their voice. But average Americans have no lobbyist. Real change requires a president who is absolutely independent. Since first running for public office, only John Edwards has made, and kept, his pledge not to take a dime from PACs and Washington lobbyists. Only someone who is strong enough to say no can bring real change in Washington.
Building One America
John Edwards is the only candidate for president with a real plan to build One America. He knows it's not going to be easy because people with power--the big oil, insurance and drug companies--won't give up that power without a fight. No other candidate has the commitment John has for the battle; and no other candidate has the experience of taking on the powerful interests...and winning.

Page 8 has a big photo of Edwards with his arm around a supporter (woman, senior citizen) in a crowd that seems to be mostly women. The quote says, "Forty-seven million Americans without health care is a moral outrage. We need true universal health care. In the America I believe in, we don't compromise our principles."

Page 9 lays out A Plan to Build One America

Guaranteeing True Universal Health Care
Forty-seven million Americans, and more than 300,000 Iowans, without health care is a national disgrace. John Edwards has a bold, detailed plan to take on the big insurance and drug companies and guarantee universal health care for every American:
-Requiring employers to cover employees or help finance their health insurance.
-Offering new tax relief to make care affordable and provide help to kids and working families who can't afford insurance on their own.
-Creating "Health Care Markets" to give everyday Americans increased bargaining power and the choice of a public plan.
-Once these steps have been taken, requiring all Americans to get insurance.
John is honest about how he will pay for his plan--by repealing the Bush tax cuts for the highest income Americans. Over time, the plan could evolve into a single-payer approach.

Ending the War in Iraq
John Edwards will end the war in Iraq by immediately drawing down 40,000-50,000 troops from Iraq, with the complete withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq within nine to ten months.
Ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home with honor is John's first step toward rebuilding America's credibility in the world, so we can lead on the great challenges before us--the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the genocide in Darfur, extreme poverty and, of course, the crisis of global warming.

Revitalizing Rural Iowa
As a native of a small, rural town, John Edwards understands the values of rural America. Today, many rural areas in Iowa are struggling. John will help bring rural communities back to life with a comprehensive Rural Recovery Act that will:
-Provide capital to rural small businesses
-Create new opportunities with ethanol and other energy sources.
-Strengthen schools and improve health care in rural Iowa.
-Rid rural America of methamphetamines.
-Protect family farms against corporate agribusiness, enact a packer ban and impose a moratorium on concentrated animal feeding operations.

Page 10 has a photo of Edwards with Emma Claire and Jack in front of a big crowd at a rally, along with this quotation: "We are the guardians--it is you and I who can, and must, redeem the promise of America and our children's future."

Page 11 continues to lay out A Plan to Build One America

Improving Our Schools
John Edwards is proud to have been educated in public schools and he was the first in his family to go to college. He knows that the American Cream starts in our schools.
As president, John will work to provide quality teachers in every community--urban, rural and suburban--by raising teacher pay. He will offer Great Promise universal preschool and make college affordable for every American family with a national College for Everyone program that pays for the first year of public-college tuition, books and fees for students who work hard and stay out of trouble.

Strengthening Middle Class Families
We can't go on with Two Americas--one for the very wealthy and big corporations, and one for everyone else. John Edwards will build One America where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.
John will fight for a higher minimum wage, ending poverty, stronger union and smart and safe trade policies that put workers first. He will shut down offshore tax havens that ship American jobs overseas and fix our tax code by providing middle class tax relief--it's wrong when the middle class pays higher taxes on their work than the very wealthy pay on their investments.

Taking the Lead on Global Warming
Our generation must be the one that ends our nation's dependence on oil and ushers in a new energy economy. John Edwards will lead America in the fight against global warming.
The Edwards Plan will require all cars sold after 2010 to run on biofuels. John will place a national cap on carbon dioxide emissions, stand up to Big Oil and end our oil addiction. He will ban new coal-fired plants that can't capture their carbon and make new investments in solar, wind and alternative energy that will create more than a million new jobs and strengthen our economy.

The back page has a photo of Edwards in front of a crowd, with contact info for the campaign office (address, phone, website) and the quotation, "Washington is broken. Real, honest change is our only course. It's time for some backbone--to fight for regular people against the powerful interests. Help me build One America."

Sorry this post is so long. I won't add to its length with a lot of analysis. The mailer hits a lot of points, but also connects them to big ideas and core values that many Democrats hold. (Several other candidates have sent out multiple direct-mail pieces, each focusing on a different campaign issue.) The language is similar to what Edwards says as he campaigns all over this state. Remember that next time someone claims that Edwards only attacks other candidates or fails to offer any solutions to the problems he identifies.