Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) joined us for a press conference today in Des Moines. It was a beautiful, sunny day in a beautiful location - on the third floor terrace of the Iowa State Historical Building, overlooking the state capitol.

State Senator Jack Hatch and State Senator Matt McCoy also addressed the large lunchtime crowd. Senator McCoy talked about the $10 million Iowans pay each year in state health care costs because Wal-Mart chooses not to provide health care for its workers in Iowa.

Michael Glynn, a nurse from Broadlawns Medical Center, talked about how that irresponsible business practice hurts Iowan familes and taxpayers from a personal perspective.

After the event, a current Wal-Mart worker, who came to the event in support of our effort, told Senator Biden that she and many other associates are glad he and other political leaders are standing up for Wal-Mart associates. She brought the letter Wal-Mart sent to all of its Iowa workers, attacking politicians like Senator Biden. The letter only makes her more committed to standing up and fighting for health care and a better America.

We're on the road now to a town hall meeting tonight in Davenport with Gubernatorial candidate Chet Culver, Iowa's Secretary of State. We're trucking down highway 80 to make it in time (don't worry, we're not speeding).

More later from the Quad Cities.

- j.bird