Kerry's Search: In Depth, In Secret

[stevedeshazer]

Edwards Boosted As Running Mate

By Jim VandeHei and Lois Romano
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, June 18, 2004; Page A01

John F. Kerry has been phoning friends at all hours and reviewing vice-presidential choices dating to 1932 as the Democratic candidate nears what many consider the biggest -- and most telling -- decision of his general-election campaign, according to Democrats inside and outside the campaign.

While Kerry is tight-lipped about the pick, these Democrats said the process is revealing much about how the Massachusetts senator views his strengths, his leadership style and the role of a vice president. Kerry has privately expressed confidence that voters see him as sufficiently strong on national security, they say, but wonders whether he needs a moderate or conservative Democrat on the ticket to improve his centrist credentials. Still, Kerry is skeptical a running mate can make a decisive difference in the election's outcome, these sources said, and is much more concerned with finding a ready-made president, though one who will not try to steal the show.

Sen. John Edwards (N.C.) has emerged as the favorite of many Democratic senators and Kerry friends and advisers. Edwards's stock has shot up in recent weeks as private polling shows the freshman senator providing a boost to the ticket in key states because of his southern appeal and perceived likeability, two sources close to the campaign said. "The delay in announcing someone has helped Edwards," a Democrat close to Kerry said.

Kerry, who had been enamored with the idea of a unity ticket, all but dropped that as a possibility after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) rebuffed his overtures, the sources said.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50708-2004Jun17.html

[OneBlueSky]

1. I really hope this isn't accurate . . .

"Kerry has privately expressed confidence that voters see him as sufficiently strong on national security, they say, but wonders whether he needs a moderate or conservative Democrat on the ticket to improve his centrist credentials." . . .

if this is his thinking, he may end up regretting it . . . I'm not all that sure that voters see him as sufficiently strong on national security, and if BushCo pulls a fast one and replaces Cheney with McCain at their convention, Kerry's gonna be at a huge disadvanttage if he has someone like Gephart or Edwards as his running mate . . . his smartest move would be Wesley Clark, imo, but if this article is accurate, that apparently ain't gonna happen . . . which would be a huge missed opportunity . . .