TIME: Betting the Farm (John Edwards)

[Divine Discontent]

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1657558,00.html?xid=feed-yahoo-full-nation



<snip>

By ERIC POOLEY

At the end of a perfect summer day in Iowa, it is almost possible to believe that John Edwards' presidential campaign is right on track. At stop after stop on his mid-August bus tour, the pretty small-town squares fill with voters who say they feel a strong attachment to the former Senator from North Carolina. They relate to his rural Southern style. They agree with his argument that Washington insiders have twisted the system to rip off people like them. They don't care how much he pays for his haircuts. And they plan to caucus for him.

Edwards hopes these people will propel him to the 2008 Democratic nomination, despite national polls and fund-raising tallies that heavily favor Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The Democratic establishment has fallen into line behind Clinton; a great many people are inspired by Obama; the media are preoccupied with the competition between the two. But Edwards is busy casting his own spell in Iowa, where he came from nowhere to a second-place finish in 2004, before joining John Kerry's ticket as the vice-presidential candidate. He is betting that early success in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina can slingshot him into contention in the 20 or so states that vote on Feb. 5. But in recent weeks, as his campaign pulled staffers from Nevada and he stayed stuck in third place in New Hampshire, the first of those four states has become a must-win. "I'm not going to kid anybody," says Edwards strategist Joe Trippi, who ran Howard Dean's 2004 campaign. "Not winning Iowa would severely diminish our ability to whoosh out."

<snip>


Incredible article. Just saw John myself, this week, he was incredible and focused & sounds determined to see this through and told me running for president is a unique way to live, which made me laugh after I joked how excited everyone was to try and get near him at the end. When I spoke to one lady at the rally, she seemed put off by my comment that, if the race were down to just a few choices, John's #'s would rise drastically. I see inside this story that my thought on that is shown to be true in a poll, as his #'s over Hillary skyrocket in a 4 person race! It's a must read - very detailed for just a several page article.

[waiting for hope]

1. Awesome article -

Trippi likes to say Edwards is running a "transformational" campaign that calls on our better angels rather than a "transactional" campaign full of policies meant to buy votes from specific groups. But Edwards' sales pitch is full of transactions—a couple hundred billion dollars' worth of them, give or take—and the crowd in Ottumwa wants all of it. When he is finished, the people clap and whoo-hoo and head up to shake his hand and hug Elizabeth. A gray-haired woman in front of me, who wears a blouse covered with Harley-Davidson logos, is cheering as hard as anyone, so I tap her on the shoulder. When she turns, I can suddenly see the tears welling up in her eyes. I apologize for intruding and say, "He touched you, didn't he?"

She nods. "And she did too," she says. Her name is Donna Ward, and she works in a mousetrap factory. "I've made up my mind," she says. "He's my man. He knows exactly what we want." When I ask her what impressed her most, she can't point to anything in particular. She's quiet for a moment, then says, "It's more the whole feeling."

That sums it up - we need a President in the White House that will inspire Americans - thus creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm to get things done.

Thanks! :kick: and a :thumbsup:

[Blaze Diem]

2. Amen

Someone who knows what the American people need and want fo rtheir country, and someone who actually gives a crap about the value this nation has within its own borders.

John Edwards is the only one who has consistantly been true to America and believs in "We the People." He is the only candidate that speaks for the American citizen and sees the danger of corporate power that has dismantled our great nation.

John Edwards is authentic.

[Blaze Diem]

6. Wonder who he would choose as VP??

Maybe Al Gore..ha
that would be cool.

[Lex]

11. I've long thought he'd choose Wesley Clark.

It would be a good choice, imho.

[earthlover]

19. Wes Clark would be everyone's best VP pick....

National Security is still an issue. With Wes as VP, the Pres would be Swift-Boat-Proof. Wes would raise holy hell and set them straight....and people would listen...and the media would be forced to report....This is true for Hillary, Obama, and Edwards.....they all would get a strong shot in the arm by Clark's presence on the ticket.

[Divine Discontent]

3. ur welcome - and I wish every voter would read this

I know it's long for most - but what change it can inspire - just in words!

thank you for sharing the hope that JE will be our next president!

[waiting for hope]

5. It's on DKos too!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/30/11026/4316

The word is getting out!

[zazzle]

10. Yes!!

and I like it that John Edwards has practically lived in Iowa and is literally FIGHTING to be our president - while Corporate Democrats aren't breaking a sweat while the Corporate Media promotes them 24/7.

[rurallib]

4. Love John and have committed to caucus for him

He, Dodd and Kucinich "get it". Sometimes Obama sounds good and then retreats to neo DLC. Hillary, good lord what a chameleon.

[Blaze Diem]

8. Agree..Hillary was my choice long ago, she is smart and world

knowledgeable. I do worry sometimes that she is , as you say, a chameleon..maybe too beholding to corps who have supported her..

Don't know about Obama..
But I will be there in the barricades for John Edwards.

His loyaloties and passion for the future of my America are with mine.

[bain_sidhe]

7. What I like about Edwards...

Is that he seems to be the only one who is talking about the *systemic* problems. The other candidates have some good points and policies, and some that I don't care much for, but in the end, they're piecemeal fixes... Not bandaids, some of them are quite extensive, and might go a long way toward fixing this or that problem. But there doesn't seem to be an overarching sense that it's the whole *system* that needs to be addressed.

Edwards is, as far as I can tell, the only one talking about how we have to affect/fix/change the whole *system*.

[Blaze Diem]

9. Well Said..that is it exactly.

..the problem is systemic...
I also do not hear the others speak in this context.
and this truely IS the problem.

John Gets it.

[jgraz]

12. Exactly -- isn't it depressing that he's still stuck in third place?

I mean, it's not like his message doesn't resonate with everyone who hears it. Well, every non-DLCer who hears it, anyway...

[Lex]

13. Edwards is #1 in Iowa among likely voters.

That can't be bad.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/08/edwards_romney.html

[jgraz]

14. Yes, but if he loses there it's over for him

Dude should be cleaning up. :wtf:

[Lex]

15. Since he's not losing there apparently

then I seriously doubt it'll be over for him.

He gets the nomination I predict. When actual voters start voting in actual primaries, he'll win.

[jgraz]

16. Your mouth to the voters' ears

For once it would be nice to have a nominee we're proud of.

[earthlover]

20. He certainly has a good chance....to dismiss his chances is idiotic.

[loudsue]

17. I wholeheartedly agree.

Of all the candidates running, John Edwards is the best, by far.

If Al Gore doesn't get into the campaign in September, I'm going to work hard to get John Edwards the nomination.

:kick:

[midnight]

18. I like this last pic. The reflections looks a bit like John Kennedy

looking back at him.

[Divine Discontent]

21. me, too. I edited the OP to show that one also. I pray he gets our nomination n/t