Tom Vilsack

DENVER -- Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said that despite the months he spent hoping that this week in Colorado he would become the Democratic presidential nominee he hasn't thought once about the fact it is obviously not going to happen.

In an interview outside of Iowa's delegation breakfast, he said that instead he was reminiscing on his political career as a whole. In 1986 he and his wife Christie began traveling around Iowa as youth coordinators for Joe Biden's 1988 presidential run. It was during that campaign that Biden quoted a phrase that if people didn't get involved in politics then the ones who do will be less qualified.

Former presidential candidate and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland — both Democrats — ripped presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain's (R-Ariz.) record on energy in a conference call with reporters Wednesday. Vilsack and Strickland said McCain has been opposed to alternative energy and a supporter of big oil companies, while presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has been a champion of renewable fuel sources. Their comments came ahead of yet another scheduled McCain trip to the battleground state.

Alex Castellanos: Getty Images

Harvard University's Institute of Politics announced the names of six major political figures on Monday that will be resident fellows at the Kennedy School of Government next fall.

The fellows span the gamut ideologically and include heavyweights Alex Castellanos, former Governor Mitt Romney's media consultant during his presidential bid this year, and former Iowa Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Tom Vilsack. They will interact with students and pursue their own writing projects at the school.

Jennifer Donahue, political director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, has been designated as one of six Resident Fellows at Harvard University's Institute of Politics in the Kennedy School of Government, the school announced today.