In the first installment of Iowa Independent’s video series Highlight Reel Part 1, we covered candidate introductions.

In this installment, we continue with supporters and the people surrounding the candidates. But these videos will be more like full-blown testimony and praise for the candidates.

These videos are interviews with the people who have decided on their candidates leading up to the caucuses; some famous and some not-so-famous.

Below the fold: more than a dozen presidential candidate endorsement videos from the Iowa Independent.Let’s start with some Republican endorsements…

Ken Van Doren drove several hours with a group from Wisconsin to see his candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul,  deliver a speech to hundreds of fans on Oct. 26 in Ames, Iowa.

Mike Huckabee has a friend in Bob Anderson. Anderson introduced Huckabee at an event in Vinton, Iowa on Nov. 7 and talks about Huckabee’s “charisma” and “authenticity” in this video.

After months of water-testing by the former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson, Ray Garringer and his son, Bryson, witnessed the three-day old candidacy in Cedar Rapids. Thompson had announced he would officially run only three days prior to this event.

Oscar Argueta said he trusts Mitt Romney: “He [Romney] has the sense to do what is right …” He saw the former Massachusetts governor in Washington, Iowa.

Maggie Tinsman is a former state senator from eastern Iowa.  She introduced Rudy Giuliani in Bettendorf, but Iowa Independent cameras were also rolling for an interview in Iowa City.

Young Republican organizer Jacob Nieuwsma saw his candidate, Rudy Giuliani, in Cedar Rapids. Nieuwsma has a GOTV event planned at Linn-Mar High School for caucus night, Jan. 3.

Patrick Riley and his mom, Sarah Riley, talk about Democratic Senator Joe Biden at a house party in Marion, Iowa.

Another Biden endorsement video, this time it’s State Sen. Joe Seng talking about his candidate with the Iowa Independent in Davenport after the AARP debates.  Seng was the first state senator from Iowa to endorse Biden for president.

The International Association of Firefighters rolled out their endorsement of Sen. Chris Dodd in Iowa City on Aug. 30. This was one of the first presidential caucus event videos for the Iowa Independent.

Another Dodd supporter, Eva Bunnell, was in Davenport talking about her close family friend. Iowa Independent reporter Lynda Waddington has a video of Bunnell’s speech in Cedar Rapids.

Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne were in Grinnell to play a short concert for John Edwards.  Interestingly, Browne had donated to Barack Obama’s campaign before shifting his support to Edwards.

James Lowe is another Edwards supporter.  He was in Lisbon, Iowa talking up his candidate. Lowe’s story has become well-known after Edwards has used it as an example of problems in the U.S. health care system.

P.J. Sesker-Green said Bill Richardson was the only candidate who promised her that he would bring the troops home. In this video, she explains what led to her support of Richardson and she talks about her nephew, Sgt. Daniel Sesker, who died in Iraq.

Hillary Clinton fan and precinct captain Lars Lavender, a Parnell, Iowa resident, likes her strength and experience. He saw her on Dec. 8 in Williamsburg, Iowa.

Health care workers for Hillary, right? And college students for Obama?
Not in the Taylor family! In this video, mom and daughter have chosen different candidates but sat together on Oct. 6 at the Johnson County BBQ.
[Cute baby ALERT!]

Harris Wofford is a former senator from Pennsylvania. Considered by Bill Clinton as a running mate in 1992, he was in Mt. Vernon, Iowa to endorse and introduce Barack Obama.

For more Iowa Independent videos check out the youTube channel for the I.I. at:
http://www.youtube.c…

Coming next in the Highlight Reel series is Part 3: Comparing the Candidates on Comparing the Candidates.  The candidates talk about each other in Part 3, so stay tuned!

If you missed Highlight Reel Part 1: Comparing Candidate Introductions, click here for more videos: http://www.iowaindep…