Edwards' message endures

[surfermaw]

Edwards' message endures

Democrats likely to retain candidate's optimistic argument

E.J. DIONNE

Washington Post Writers Group


WASHINGTON - John Edwards won just one primary, yet he leaves his party with a legacy. Such an achievement usually eludes also-rans.

Edwards' strengths were said to lie in his smile, his warmth and his trial lawyer's gifts of persuasion. But these do not define his most important contribution. What Edwards leaves behind is an argument -- an analysis of what ails our country and an approach to putting things right that will survive his campaign.

Edwards talked everywhere about "two Americas," one for the privileged, and one for the rest of us. Most political types said it was one of the best stump speeches they had ever heard. It will galvanize Democrats much as Ronald Reagan's great speech on behalf of Barry Goldwater 40 years ago galvanized conservative Republicans.

The Gipper called his address on behalf of the 1964 Republican nominee "A Time for Choosing." Many liberals mistakenly dismissed it as representing the ravings of the radical right, much as Edwards' critics write off his speech as run-of-the-mill populism. But like Reagan, Edwards had a larger goal than winning applause. He sought to reframe the choices of American politics

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[Jim Sagle]

1. Yeah, yeah, we know he's the son of a mill worker.

[Alexander]

2. This is important.

More Democrats acting like Edwards will cause less disaffected liberals to vote for Nader.

We do want to win this year, don't we?

[surfermaw]

3. Presenting a Republican for VP

Might cause a landslide for Bush, have you ever thought about that?

[AP]

4. How many Republicans talk about fixing the tax code, ending

poverty, and redistributing economic, political and cultural power down to people who work for a living rather than up to the richest people in America?

[Alexander]

5. Then it's a good thing Edwards is a Democrat.

[w4rma]

6. I agree with AP about Edwards.

Edwards is no Bush-lite. I would love to see him on the ticket.