Why didn't Kerry come out and speak?

[ND_Democrat]

Just wondering why John Kerry didn't come out instead of John Edwards?

[jean]

1. don't know, don't care - Edwards kicked ass, short and to the point

[ethereal]

4. Probably

because he's behind the scenes, directing the next moves--exactly as a Commander in Chief *should* be.

[ND_Democrat]

6. Oh, don't get me wrong I'm not questioning

the decesion just wondering if anybody has any opinions on why JFK didn't come out?

[JSK]

11. Gergen was criticizing Kerry

for not coming out himself. Said people will see him as a weak leader. Said, "Can you imagine * sending Cheney out to speak?"

Idiot.

[splat]

2. Tradition says you only come out to concede n/t

[NVMojo]

3. don't know, don't care, give the guy a freaking break.

they've got to be strategizing...

[soothsayer]

5. Looks petty if he does it. Using Edwards was a great call.

[oldtime dfl_er]

7. Kerry must remain presidential

at least , in his public face, even as he KICKS ASS behind the scenes.

[daleo]

8. Edwards seems like the right guy, for the moment

I think he will have his heart in the job rather more than that VP candidate fellow did four years ago.

On edit - I think his legal experience will come in handy over the next few days, especially in terms of presentation of their case to the public.

[Bridget Burke]

9. It's a custom that the candidate doesn't appear until the end.....

A bit like the belief that it's bad luck for a groom to see his bride on the day of the wedding--until the ceremony. That's why it was so jarring in 2000 when Georgie & the rest of the Bush family was interviewed before the results were in. (Yeah, I know that the Florida results were never actually "in".)

Kerry may appear tomorrow since this thing may go on for a while. But that will be in the cold light of day. Right now, it's time for everybody to go home & rest.

[AgadorSparticus]

10. right call. kerry to give acceptance speech. edwards to give the

give them warning speech.