Edwards may win party's heart in end

[surfermaw]

Edwards may win party's heart in end

DON HUDSON


Think about it. A month ago today, Howard Dean and a fast-closing John Kerry headed into that night's Iowa caucuses as the two front-runners in the Democratic presidential race.

Today it's still a two-man race. Only Dean is out and John Edwards is in.

Somehow, voters sorted through 10 candidates to find the most electable two they had. That's amazing, when you consider how disorganized the Democrats first seemed against the GOP's re-election juggernaut.

My, how things change. A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll released Wednesday shows Kerry and Edwards holding double-digit leads over President Bush.

Odds are Kerry is the nominee. But Edwards has made an improbable run, proving he deserves to be in the Final Two.

My take is, Edwards needs to win at least two states on Super Tuesday, March 2, -- Georgia and Ohio or New York -- to stay viable. But with Dean out, Edwards has got a chance.

If Edwards can get to March 9, when four Southern states are up for grabs, (Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida) he might convince Democrats he is more electable, if not more qualified, than Kerry.

Why? Kerry is a Massachusetts liberal -- think Michael Dukakis and gay marriage.

It hasn't worked yet, but Democrats might eventually find Edwards' charisma and poor-boy Southern background more exciting than Kerry's droll maturity.

To win in November, you have to win swing states.

In Wisconsin, a swing state, independents and Republicans crossed over to vote for Edwards. That bodes well for Edwards in November. If, that is, he can get to November.

In June 2001, I had lunch with Edwards, talking about whether he'd run for president. What I remember from that encounter, besides how intense and focused he was, was his mannerisms.

Edwards seemed like so many of us Southerners, born into poor families where our dads started out in textile mills.

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/7986836.htm

[dweller]

1. ummm

esse quam videri,
ya'll.

dp

[White Mountain]

2. Wishful thinking

How many primaries has Edwards won?

[bigtree]

3. One term Senator. Trial laywer. Son of a mill worker.

Is that it? Am I missing somthing?

John Kerry:

-Swift Boat officer, serving on a gunboat in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. He received a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat V, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his service in combat.

-spokesperson for the Vietnam Veterans Against the War; testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he asked the question of his fellow citizens, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

-As a top prosecutor in Middlesex County, Kerry took on organized crime and put the Number Two mob boss in New England behind bars. He modernized the District Attorney's office, creating an innovative rape crisis crime unit.

-In 1984, after winning election as Lieutenant Governor in 1982, Kerry ran and was elected to serve in the United States Senate. Now serving his fourth term.

Legislative Accomplishments of John Kerry:

Cosponsored Gramm-Rudman-Hollings bipartisan deficit reduction Act. Kerry was one of the earliest Democrats to sign on to the effort to address the growing budget deficit.


Secured assistance for families of Agent Orange victims: Kerry cosponsored and worked to pass the Agent Orange Benefits Act to extend health care benefits to children of Vietnam Veterans who suffer from spina bifida. <1995 VA-HUD Approp>


Passed international anti-money laundering law: John Kerry proposed and passed anti-money laundering amendment that forced negotiations with foreign banks to keep records of US currency transactions of $10,000 & up and established penalties for countries engaged in money laundering. <1988: S Amdt 3697, HR 5210, #374, passed 85-3>


Introduced bill to significantly increase commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS: Kerry introduced, along with Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act. The bill would increase the U.S. governments funding of international HIV/AIDS efforts from approximately $1.7 billion in 2003 to $1.9 billion in 2004. This effort led to the unanimous passage in May 2003 the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act of 2003. AIDS activists characterized Kerry as one of Congress top leaders on HIV/AIDS policy.


Passed law addressing nurse shortage: Kerry introduced and passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act, to address the current shortage of Nurses in the medical profession.


Expanded early childhood development efforts: Kerry introduced legislation to expand state and local early childhood development efforts, including education, child care and health care for children between birth and six years old. At the end of 2000, a version of this bipartisan legislation was signed into law. .


Strengthened protection of seals, dolphin, whales and other marine mammals: Kerry sponsored legislation that extended and strengthened laws protecting Marine Mammals from commercial fishing.

Introduced plan that expanded childrens health insurance coverage: Kerry and Kennedy drafted an innovative plan to help states expand health care coverage for children in the 104th Congress. Their plan served as the framework for the Childrens Health Insurance Program in 1997

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. BINGO! Edwards the Slick Trial Lawyer is not going to....

win over anyone.

Kerry has the acomplishments! Vote Kerry!!!

[BridgeTheGap]

4. Edwards has my vote over Kerry

In the Primary, wins are somewhat deceptive when there are so many candidates. Instant run-off voting would reveal something different than broad support for Kerry. Edwards would stand a much better chance than Kerry against Bush.

[GreenArrow]

6. then again, he may not

Kerry is the man.