ELECTION 2008

Tom Vilsack explains to the media the exact cause of the downfall of his 2008 presidential bid.

Tom Vilsack Blames Campaign Failure On Webkinz

DES MOINES, Iowa (CAP) - Democrat Tom Vilsack, who recently announced that he is dropping out of the race for the 2008 presidency, has now come forward with additional details surrounding his surprise decision. Vilsack originally said the decision was completely about money, but now he's backing off that statement.

"When my campaign workers told me they'd raised over $1 million in 2006, I figured we were in pretty good shape," Vilsack told Inside Edition in an exclusive interview. "What I didn't realize is that it was actually $1 million in Kinz cash."

Kinz cash is the online currency used by children on the website webkinz.com to help purchase virtual items for their Webkinz dolls on the site. However, the money is not transferrable into actual U.S. dollars.

According to Vilsack, when he thought his volunteers were out pounding the pavement earning much needed campaign funds, "they were actually spinning the Wheel of Wow" and earning cyber money for their children's dolls. He said that perhaps the issue was not so much about money, but about communication.

"I guess I should have paid more attention when someone said they sold a huge gem for $435," said Vilsack during the interview. "I just assumed Wacky Zingoz was a liberal lobby group we had received support from, but I guess not."

Campaign workers were apologetic to Vilsack once the monetary miscommunication came to light, but most agreed that if they had it to do all over again, they wouldn't do anything differently.

"Listen, I know I'm not playing against an 8-year-old when I'm competing in Super Modelz at 11 at night," said volunteer Steve Franklin. "But let's face it - Tommy didn't really stand a chance, and I managed to pick up that trampoline and the wallpaper that my daughter wanted."

The full interview with Tom Vilsack will air on Inside Edition tomorrow night, opposite the final part of Access Hollywood's three-part series about judges who cry in the courtroom.