Where's John Edwards?

[Norquist Nemesis]

Tonight on Hardball this is one thing that they were discussing...he's not getting any press, yet Cheney does. That's when it donned on me that I really haven't seen ANY coverage of Edwards except maybe one appearance since the convention. :shrug: What's up?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. He was in New Orleans today

Edwards criticizes Bush's record on job creation.

NEW ORLEANS - Speaking to participants at a New Orleans job training program, Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards blasted the Bush Administration's record on job creation and attacked what he called tax policies favoring the rich. Edwards arrived Wednesday for his second visit to Louisiana in as many weeks, criticizing President Bush's economic policies. "Halliburton is going to get their money; the job centers are not getting theirs," Edwards said during a visit to New Orleans Job1 Career Center. "We believe in work and we believe in those who want to work." He referred to July employment figures, showing the nation's economy added only 32,000 jobs when analysts had been expecting more than 200,000.

<snip>

Edwards' quick trip underscores what Democrats and campaign officials insist is a determined effort to compete for Louisiana's nine electoral votes, despite President Bush's wide lead here in recent polls. Two weeks ago Edwards spent a day touring north-central Louisiana, attracting decent-sized crowds in areas that gave Bush big margins in 2000. New Orleans votes Democrat, but Edwards is using a visit here to highlight a current theme of the Kerry-Edwards ticket, spurred by July's dismal national employment report: job creation and domestic economic strength.

The ticket's most visible Louisiana supporter, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson of New Orleans, touted the visit Tuesday as further evidence that, in contrast to Al Gore in 2000, this year's Democratic contenders haven't given up on Louisiana. Jefferson, like Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, went on the road with Edwards two weeks ago. And Jefferson said that, unlike in 2000, when prominent legislative Democrats like the current speaker of the Louisiana House, Joe Salter, came out for Bush, no such group has appeared this time (an assertion the Bush campaign countered immediately with a prepared statement from state Rep. Charlie McDonald, D-Bastrop.)

"What it means is that Kerry-Edwards is taking Louisiana seriously. It's not only in play, but they have a very good chance to win it," Jefferson said, adding that the better-funded Kerry-Edwards ticket won't be forced, like Gore, to cut Louisiana off for money reasons.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/9432443.htm

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Thanks! Great news

to hear he's making an impact and putting the state into play! :)

[Rowdyboy]

2. He's been in the south, speaking everywhere...

Most recently, Arkansas and Louisiana (New Orleans today, I believe). He's doing town hall meetings, and talking to local press. In other words, he's busting his ass and doing the job we want him to do.

Give 'em Hell, John!

[Norquist Nemesis]

3. That explains the blackout then!

Since the south seems to be viewed as a lock not worth spending time on. It sounds like he's making some inroads! :bounce:

How are the crowds?

[gumby]

5. Good question

because asking it illustrates the media blackout of Edwards.

[FrenchieCat]

6. Well...

There was no media black out before Edwards was named VP. In fact, at that time he had maybe a bit more press than deserved. But I guess because the top news of the day for the last few weeks have been all about Swift Vets, re-deployment of troups, War on Terror and War in Iraq, maybe these are not areas that Edwards can't really be of great help to Kerry.

When one thinks about, it is ironic how the media works things, isn't it? For a while many thought the media loved Edwards. Maybe they did....or maybe they were just manipulating things, as usual. Guess what the media giveth, the media can taketh.

Oh, by the way.....this is a great pic of the man we have been hearing a lot about. Couldn't get his name in the media much before....but I guess the coast is clear now.

[spooky3]

16. As the study that AP consistently cited in response to this kind of

allegation clearly showed, Edwards has NEVER been a favorite of the media and has never received the coverage he deserves. He is a favorite of the majority of Democratic voters re: VP, and of a few independents and Republicans as well.

[TheRovingGourmet]

24. One caller to a fairly conservative talk show here said that if

Edwards was running for President and the election was held today but no Democrats voted, Edwards would still win by a landslide. No callers challenged him on this.

[Placebo]

7. He is out there, but the 'FAIR AND BALANCED MEDIA'

doesn't give him any airtime, they focus entirely on kerry, and then bush AND cheney seperately, so its like 2 against 1.

[CarolNYC]

8. I thought one of the plusses....

....of the Edwards pick was that the media loved him so. What has our VP nominee done to piss them off so all of a sudden??

[spooky3]

18. (a) media "loving" him has been debunked; (b) why are you blaming

our VP nominee for the failures of the media?

[spooky3]

17. Exactly!

[wishlist]

9. ABC news last night ran a story about Edwards remarks about Halliburton

Edwards apparently said something about a phone call involving Halliburton's Pentagon contracts and they ran a short news item on ABC evening news, but I only caught the end of the story and I haven't seen it anywhere else and I did not see it run again this morning on ABC.

I finally found the article on ABC where there is a short mention of Edwards' recent remarks about Halliburton.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/reuters20040818_307.html

[quaoar]

10. Edwards was in Alabama on Tuesday

For a fundraising dinner. The event was the lead story on the front page of the state's largest newspaper.

Just because Edwards isn't on national TV, doesn't mean he isn't getting major play in local media. And in the end, that's probably more important.

[haypops]

11. Edwards needs to do better

Local media would be more important than national TV if it were a local election. On second thought even then it would be second best. Edwards needs to turn it up a notch or two. He needs to say something of interest to the media whores.

[quaoar]

12. Well, it is a local election, sort of

A whole series of local (state) elections. We need to carry states. And getting coverage in local papers and on local TV stations has much more impact in that state than appearing on CNN or whatever.

[TheRovingGourmet]

19. Good point. The national press is a little busy right now with

the Michael Jackson stories and all and can't be bothered with anything else at the moment. Edwards does get good coverage in the states and what he has to say does get reported in them. That is what counts. If he comes to Texas I plan to go see him or at least give him the name of some places to get good BBQ.

One problem with Edwards is that he is too squeaky clean. He needs to take the advice given to Johnny Cash at the start of his career to go out and sin a bit. :)

[incapsulated]

13. He needs to say something nasty about Bush

Everytime that fuck Cheney opens his piehole about Kerry it get's coverage. :grr:

[TheRovingGourmet]

21. He needs to go Arrrrrgggggghhhhh!!! hehehe

[swag]

14. There was a great DU report from Joplin, MO where he drew 10k!

[unfrigginreal]

15. I hear that he may be coming to Charlotte on Sunday...

right on the heels of a Kerry visit on Friday. Can you say swingstate, anyone?

[DjTj]

20. Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana...

http://www.wsav.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSAV/MGArticle/SAV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031777339537&path=!frontpage

http://www.nbc13.com/news/3661300/detail.html

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/9423995.htm

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-11/109275984926810.xml&storylist=

[Padraig18]

22. Swinging through the South, AFAIK.

:)

[TheRovingGourmet]

23. Even our conservative radio stations in Central Texas report

on what Edwards is up to, and nicely I might add.