Edwards' policy ideas are shaping the Democratic presidential race

[draft_mario_cuomo]

Man of the left

Jul 19th 2007 | TAMA AND MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA
From The Economist print edition
John Edwards trails in third place. But his policy ideas are shaping the Democratic presidential race

==Mr Edwards is a man of big plans. No other presidential candidate, of either party, can match the sheer quantity, let alone the ambition, of his policy ideas. He has grand, progressive, goals—to end the war in Iraq (obviously), provide universal health care, address global warming, eliminate poverty in America within 30 years—and detailed blueprints of how to do it all.==

==The Edwards campaign openly evokes RFK's 1968 presidential bid, which combined vocal opposition to an unpopular war with a telegenic focus on alleviating poverty. Mr Edwards launched his candidacy outside a wrecked house in New Orleans's ninth ward. This week he spent three days on an anti-poverty tour, one that finished, not uncoincidentally, in Prestonburg, Kentucky, where Kennedy ended his own poverty tour 40 years ago.==

==On economics, too, the Edwards brand of populism is hard to pigeonhole. With roots in the textile mills and strong links to the unions, he is regarded as the most protectionist of the Democratic front-runners—though the margins are narrowing fast as Hillary Clinton stages a retreat from her husband's embrace of free trade.==

==By and large, though, Iowa Democrats are buying Mr Edwards's brand of populism. He has campaigned hard there, visiting the state more than 20 times in the past two years. His strategy depends on doing well in the first-off Iowa caucuses, and at present he leads the pack in polls there, though Mrs Clinton is closing in fast. Nationally, Mr Edwards trails far behind Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama, both in polls and the race for cash. He raised only $9m between April and June, compared with Mr Obama's $32.5m.

Surprisingly, perhaps, Mr Edwards's brand of populism seems to appeal to Republicans. When pitted against Republican candidates in polls, he scores better than the other Democratic front-runners. But it is the primaries that matter, and there Mr Edwards must hope for one of the others to stumble. If Obamamania fades, or the Clinton machine stalls, an Edwards nomination is just possible. But even if the man himself does not make it, the Democrats' presidential platform will be shaped by Mr Edwards's plans.==

Read the rest at http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9514336

[Capn Sunshine]

1. I Hope so

Edward's campaign deserves to be incorporated into the platform, no matter who gets the nod. Certainly only good can come of that.

[rinsd]

2. Credit where credit is due. Obama has started to talk about poverty.

Now its not like Obama's a stranger to the issue but it hasn't exactly been a big part of his campaign thus far.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

3. Wow, rinsd giving JE credit

;) :thumbsup: