The Link to Victory?

From Vilsack to Victory? Jeff Link's now helping out with the Edwards campaign. He's undoubtedly hoping for a longer run than he got with Tom Vilsack's short-lived candidacy. Here's the release from the Edwards campaign:

JEFF LINK ENDORSES EDWARDS, JOINS CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE AMERICA

Veteran Strategist Has Proven Record of Success in Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa – The John Edwards for President Campaign announced today the addition of Jeff Link as an adviser on message and strategy. Link, a Burlington native, is widely respected as one of the top Democratic operatives in Iowa.

“I’m honored to have Jeff Link joining our campaign,” Senator Edwards said. “He shares my view that we need real change in this country, and that change begins in Iowa. His skills and experience will help us to engage Iowans in an important cause: ending the war in Iraq, guaranteeing health care to all, and expanding opportunities for every American.”

“Not only does John Edwards have the boldest agenda of change and taking on special interests, but he is the strongest candidate to carry our party to victory next November,” Link said. “He is the only candidate who has won in a solidly red state and in poll after poll he is the best Democratic candidate against whomever the Republicans nominate. I’m honored to be a part of his team.”

Jeff Link has nearly two decades of Iowa political experience and is widely respected as one of the state’s top political strategists. Link's work in campaigns has dovetailed with his experience in government. After successfully managing Sen. Tom Harkin's 1996 reelection campaign, Link served in Washington, D.C. as Sen. Harkin's Chief of Staff from 1997 until 1999. In 1999 Link returned to Iowa to obtain his law degree from Drake University.

During law school, Link founded LinkStrategies, ran the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign in Iowa and began managing Senator Harkin's 2002 reelection campaign. Senator Harkin was reelected to his fourth term in November 2002 and Link's work in the campaign was recognized by the American Association of Political Consultants with a Pollie Award for combining technology with grassroots organizing. Most recently, Link served as Senior Communications Strategist for former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s presidential campaign.