I know its from December but a lot of you heh were impressed by her. Thanks to AP for giving me the link earlier.
http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/web_exclusives/more/more_studentbody.html"December 8, 2003
Student Body Politic 3: A Visit With Cate Edwards
By Andrew Romano ’04
This time next year, Cate Edwards ’05 might have to help her family pack up its belongings and move to a new house – the White House. Her father, John Edwards, is one of nine Democrats vying for the party’s nomination. I sat down with Cate on a recent Sunday in December. I wanted to know more about the life of a would-be First Daughter. She’s gregarious but guarded; casual but driven. She understands what she can and cannot say in an interview about her father – no strategy talk, no badmouthing the other Dems. Cate has learned the rules of the presidential race – but she hasn’t grown cynical. She still believes in the power of politics to move people. And most of all, she still believes in “Dad.”
So how did you react when your father told you he was running for president of the United States?
To be honest, my dad didn’t make the decision to run for president individually. It was made as a family on many levels — mom and I knew that he wanted to do it, so we were very supportive. When he finally decided he was gonna go for it, he asked our permission to make sure that we were cool with the craze that the race entails.
Is it tough to be the daughter of a presidential candidate?
Of course it’s hard simply on the level that my dad is running for president; it’s a big deal. Sometimes I just think – who am I?
On a practical level, what are the demands your father's campaign places on you?
I’ve been on the road throughout the summer and fall, speaking mainly with young people in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. While my roommate is in Hawaii for Christmas break, I’ll be traveling with my dad and family in New Hampshire and Iowa. Presidential politics just isn’t quite as glamorous as one might think.
These demands must conflict with your life as a Princeton student. Have you had to make compromises, academic or social, in order to help out with the campaign?
Of course. I’ve been gone on weekends campaigning instead of hanging out with my friends. I’ve had to shift my workload and class schedule to cater to the demands of the campaign. But since I know my dad has made much bigger sacrifices for me, it never really seems like that big of a deal to miss some of the little things.
It has to be trying. What's the worst thing about being the daughter of a man who's running for president?
The worst thing about dad running for president is his busy schedule. I wish that we could see him more often, but his schedule is pretty packed. He always makes time for me when I’m home, but all of us are definitely distracted by the campaign. The good news is, he travels up near Princeton fairly often, so I get to see him while I’m at school more than I used to.
How has having a father in the public eye — especially now as a presidential candidate — affected your life in general? Do people treat you differently?
With dad running for president, people naturally want to know how the campaign is going and are inclined to discuss issues with me. I definitely hear about and get questions about the campaign all the time, but since
is a huge thing it would be more surprising if people didn’t talk about it. Of course my friends make jokes about it all the time. I’ve gotten lots of “Are we all invited to the White House?” types of questions. Like any other change in a person’s life, it's weird until you get used to it.
Do you ever disagree with your father on political issues or campaign strategies?
I don’t think we’ve ever disagreed exactly, but I am probably a little more liberal than he is. Though this could just be a function of my age.
In general, how do you two discuss politics? Does he seek your advice?
It’s funny because my dad often talks to me like one of his political advisers. I guess in a way I am, but it took me awhile to realize the benefit he gains from understanding the opinions and ideas of our generation. He wants to hear about my interactions with kids of our generation. I certainly have a different viewpoint than his other advisers.
What exactly does he ask about these interactions?
My dad wants to know what kids are worried about in terms of policy and how he might help them. He wants to hear their ideas for policy. He wants to know is how we might engage the youth more in politics – how we can lift the disillusionment.
Have any suggestions you've made influenced his political stances or campaign strategy?
I have made some suggestions — both political and strategic — that he has taken.
Like?
I basically contributed to his thinking about young people. The policy ideas that I impacted came out of conversations I had with him, so it's hard to be specific about. And I cannot comment about strategy. Sorry!
Well, let’s talk about our generation. What impressions do you have of young voters you've met on the campaign trail? Are they disillusioned? Idealistic?
Well, of course the voters that I come across on the trail are more active than the typical youth vote. However, these young people do seem to be slightly disillusioned, and certainly concerned with the direction of politics in this country — they definitely have a sense that there is more out there, better leadership to be had. The youth is ready to look forward with optimism. I think they are looking for a leader with a good heart, integrity, and positive vision for America.
What have you learned about the presidential race from being behind the scenes?
Well, I could write my thesis on the things I’ve learned from being “behind the scenes.” Actually, that is what I’m writing my thesis about. But, in short, I’ve been a bit surprised at learning what really determines the race. The press plays a huge role. Strategy — particularly focus on early primary states — plays quite an interesting role. And the way a candidate connects with voters can be quite moving. I know that’s a funny way to describe a campaign, but I was surprised that a campaign could really move people.
How, exactly? Is there a specific scene or moment that you remember?
We were in New Hampshire and a woman asked my father a question about her husband's rising medical costs and the lack of attention that the administration gives these problems. My dad took her hand, and asked for her name, and promised to help her. You could see a tear roll down her cheek. That's when I knew we were making a difference in the lives of real people.
Have you personally moved anyone to join the Edwards camp?
I remember very well going to the National Young Dems convention in Buffalo, and I was there to talk to attendees and give them an impression of my dad and his campaign. I ended up debating with the guy running the Kucinich table for a long time. Some of the staff said when I left,
Speaking of humorous, what's the funniest thing that's happened on the trail?
Oh my gosh, there have been lots of funny moments on the trail. Things you can’t capture in the press — the very real moments. I guess I had the most fun when the kids – my sister Emma Claire is 5, and my brother, Jack, is 3 – requested “John Edwards signs” before one event in New Hampshire. They held them up and ran around my father during an entire stump speech he gave to a large audience. Emma Claire would occasionally stand in front of him and dance. He tried to shoo them away to concentrate, but that just wasn’t going to happen. The best part was that it seemed like such a stunt, but it was totally just the kids being kids — they really love those signs.
Have you met the other candidates' kids? Do you bond at all about being sons and daughters of candidates?
I sat in front of Al Sharpton’s daughters, who are about my age, I think, at the debate in New York. They were very funny, and able to joke about their father the way that my mom and I sometimes do — it was really nice to see that same dynamic.
How would you handle that position of First Daughter, were you thrust into it? Do you ever think of the Bush twins or Chelsea Clinton as examples – either to emulate – or not?
Well, I think I differ from , so it would be difficult to compare. I would hope that, were I given that position, I would be able to use it to discuss some of the issues that I find important, like education, equal rights, and AIDS.
Final question, Cate. As a college student, and not as his daughter, why will you be voting for John Edwards?
Well, there are a number of reasons that John Edwards is the best candidate in the race — and particularly for our generation. He’s optimistic, and he has visions for the future of our country and actual solutions to the problems we face today. So many young people are turned off of politics because they simply don’t trust their leaders. Well, dad is an honest, sincere leader who not only has ideas for how to change the direction that our country is headed, but also wants to hear the ideas of our generation — since it is our future in so many ways. He’s always asking me for ideas, or asking what my peers think of our country’s situation. Not only this, but he understands the problems we face — the costs of college, getting a job, obtaining health insurance just out of college, affording a place to live — and he has actual tangible solutions for these issues."
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