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Government Officials Continue Campaigning As Election Draws Near

By: Matt Laslo // November 3, 2012
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It feels like it's easier to see government officials in Iowa than it is in D.C. these days. Vice President Joe Biden is crisscrossing swing states stumping for his boss.

Biden's not the only one. Many members of the cabinet are wearing two hats these days: one as a secretary and one as a surrogate of the president.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also has a vested interest in Iowa's fourth district House race where his wife Christie is trying to unseat Republican incumbent Steve King. As for why he isn't back in D.C. at his desk? Vilsack says he performs his official duties in between stump speeches.

"Well there's nothing that prohibits me from doing work while I'm driving from community to community, and in fact, that's precisely what I'm doing," he says.

Critics say these top government officials are coming awfully close to breaking the Hatch Act, which prohibits government workers from electioneering.

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