Agreement on new debate; Edwards voices satisfaction

[maddezmom]

By Raja Mishra, Globe Staff, 2/22/2004

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The remaining candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination agreed yesterday to meet in an additional debate before the March 2 primaries. The development was welcomed by John Edwards.

The North Carolina senator is trying to raise his profile and to draw contrasts with Senator John F. Kerry before Super Tuesday. And as Edwards sounded an anti-Washington theme in New York, Minnesota, and Ohio yesterday, aides said debates offer a forum to showcase his rhetorical skills.

On Friday, Edwards challenged Kerry to three debates in addition to a scheduled Los Angeles forum on Feb. 26. Kerry rebuffed him. But yesterday, the Massachusetts senator agreed to a second debate, on Feb. 29, sponsored by CBS News and The New York Times.

Edwards performed well in a debate two days before the Wisconsin primary, and confounded pre-election polls to finish a close second to Kerry. The Rev. Al Sharpton of New York and Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio also agreed to participate.

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more:http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/02/22/agreement_on_new_debate_edwards_voices_satisfaction/

[devoedem]

1. If past trends continue,

the more "equal time" Edwards gains, the more he leverages it.

[spooky3]

2. yes, but he doesn't IMHO consistently excel in the formats

we've seen. He did a good job in the last one. I think he will still need help from local newspapers endorsing him. It's as if some people need a third party they trust to tell them he's for real.