Democrats just lost a good Senator!

[CoffeePlease1947]

John Edwards says he will not seek re-election to the Senate and will focus on his Presidential race. I am upset about this. I really think he should have stayed in the senate. Now he will be neither. He has no chance at President and little chance of being a VP. This will most likely lead to a Republican gaining that seat in NC.


Mike

[Brucey]

1. yeah,

I don't know much about that state, but I think you are right. Too bad, wrong decision.

[chimpymustgo]

7. I trust Edwards' instincts.

This is man who has come from nothing, to build a career, a fortune, a family - using his God-given talents - nothing else. No trust fund, no inheritance, no safety net.

I'll support his decision.



edited for spelling

[Terwilliger]

2. ACK!!!

He should have done the opposite

[wrkclskid]

3. I like him

But he prob would not get re-elected to his seat, polls had him losing to Burr by 10%, it's part of N.C. politics from what I understand, they don't like heir representatives jetting off to run for national office, but the good news is it gives Bowles a chance to start running, he is their best chance to keep a souhern seat, especially if Graham and Breaux retire.

[DemPopulist]

5. What polls??

Cite

[wrkclskid]

13. Admittedly I can not

But this summer in DC I read every issue of roll call and the Hill I could (I am a dork I know) and the campaign news cited several polls, mainly from local news outletts, the had him losing. One of them was cited on "Inside Politics" as well. I don't have them on me now, so I ask u to trust me, thoguh I undersand ur skepticism due to my inability to produce them.

[chimpymustgo]

20. I'm pretty sure the most recent polls had Edwards leading Burr.

He could have won re-election. I think he believes Bowles can win, too.

[wrkclskid]

21. well no use splitting hairs

I hope you're right :-)

[DemPopulist]

26. Most recent poll showed him up 8 over Burr

This link has the most recent NC polls: http://www.ourcampaigns.com/cgi-bin/r.cgi/RaceDetail.html?&RaceID=3809

[KeepItReal]

4. There may be a cabinet post in his future?

If we have 1 fair election left in '04.

[oasis]

9. Atty. General...replacing Asshat

[carpetbagger]

17. Spitzer's the only one for that position.

He's been doing for years now what Ashcroft won't regarding prosecuting securities fraud.

[nannygoat]

45. Maybe Spitzer would be great as head of SEC?

[CoffeePlease1947]

12. I Hope so, hate to lose him completely

But still, he was our best shot to keep that seat. They are not going to vote for Bowls (sorry on spelling). I think Burr will win for sure now.

Mike

[TheDonkey]

6. Sad

His lack of experience definetly needed that position longer.

I hope the Dems can think of a good NC replacement, we need the (d).

[Cheswick2.0]

8. ooops you got it backwards John

Forget it John, you are not going to be Pres and now you aren't going to be a senator either.

[poskonig]

10. Do'h!

This really sucks. We need as many good people in the Senate right now as possible.

[Clete]

11. Why doesn't he do both like Lieberman did?

I don't think he will be elected President so he will retain his Senate seat.

[PurityOfEssence]

38. If he did win the Presidency while running for Senator we lose a seat

This way, we have a decent chance of retaining that seat. It's a bold and noble move, and what's more, he's doing it in a timely and honorable fashion.

It's showing what he's made of, and it's a commanding move.

The conspiracy of the right and the right-controlled media, along with the factional derision from other Dem candidates has kept him in the dark in a very frustrating way. Boldness is actually prudence in this case, and he has every right to do it. Beyond that, he's doing this on his own terms, instead of "doubling down" or "playing the field" or however else you want to describe it. This is not a selfish move.

Dems have to stop cowering with the assumption driven into our collective heads that we don't really deserve to exist or have any power positions and should just take what we can get. Should he fail, he's still a very viable future statesman; with any sense from the permanently disorganized left, he will be a man for the ages yet.

Decisiveness is good: it's a sign of executive mentality.

[HereSince1628]

14. Undoubtedly a man with a parachute

he must have 8 offers to be VP!

[IndianaGreen]

15. I read this in LBN and I thought Edwards was making a mistake

You should only make such commitment when you have a fighting chance at the nomination. Edwards has no such chance, trailing Gephardt in many polls.

This is a mistake that will bring to an untimely end a promising career in politics.

PS: Edwards would be my choice to replace John Ashcroft as AG.

[poskonig]

18. Perhaps he only became Senator to run for president.

Confusing.

[wrkclskid]

19. That is possible

Considering how quickly he sarted running, it is almost unheard off to run for President afer only 4 years in elected office, yet a good asset he still was he will be missed.

[UTUSN]

16. Sorry to See Him Go, I Love ALL Dems n/t

[mb7588a]

22. edwards

He's very young, very talented. I wouldn't count him out for 2008, 2012 etc. He is very definitely VP material.

[newyawker99]

40. Hi mb7588a!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

23. He is definitely Kerry's 1st VP choice now

I had heard this to be the case but this confirms it. I think blm has said this here.

[newsguyatl]

24. i hate to see this

as well, but i knew it was coming...

i like edwards, i really, honestly do. but the best he can hope for is a cabinet position in the new democratic administration.

the good side to all this is, of course, that north carolinians will have a DAMN fine choice for a senator in erskine bowles. he's brilliant, and i feel confident he can beat burrrr :scared:

[DemPopulist]

25. You say he has no chance

He's leading (albeit narrowly) in SC, a point behind the much-better known Gephardt and Lieberman in NH and tied with Gephardt for fourth-place nationwide in the last CNN-Time poll, with most of the major candidates bunched together in a relatively narrow range.

[tjdee]

27. Edwards just can't catch a break with you people, can he?

Not only does he not have a chance to be the nominee, but he has "little chance" of being VP? What? Care to back that up?

You know, to hear you people talk, everyone but Dean or Clark should just pack it up and go home. Guess what, doesn't work like that MONTHS BEFORE THE PRIMARIES EVEN START. Things change every day. If Edwards' presidential campaign doesn't pan out, he would be an extremely good candidate for VP, and NOBODY knows what is going to happen. At any rate, I'm so sure DU is going to be crying tears about he and his poor family. :eyes:

Edwards' seat is the tricky seat in NC, hasn't stayed in one party more than a term ever since...Sam Nunn? left it. So chances are, yeah, he might have lost his seat, and I heard that almost every day at DU. It's a hell of a lot harder seat to fight for than Kerry's or Kucinich's, or Gephardt's, or even Graham's. All the people who were bitching about how he "couldn't even" hold on to his senate seat, well there you go. Now North Carolina has plenty time to find someone else to run for the seat.

[JI7]

30. agree

before people were complaining about him being "indecisive" or not serious about the senate seat and kept pushing for him to make a decision to either run for senate or president RIGHT NOW. and now that he does say he will focus on presidential run leaving senate seat open early on with lots of time for democrats to make their decision there are people complaining about him leaving it. and also, why can't he run for president ? bill clinton was about the same place as him , maybe with even less su pport at this time. the guy hasn't even announced yet. and edwards is a VERY good choice for vp by any of the candidates.

[DemPopulist]

35. Sam Ervin, I think you mean

I agree with all the rest of it :)

[RobertFrancisK]

28. Yeah that was a terrible idea on his part

His career is basically finished now. It's a shame, he had potential.

[piece sine]

31. what gives?

This doesn't improve his chances for the White House..yuo can almost the collective sigh of indifference. The Freepers call him the "Breck Girl." But other than that, the don't give him the time of day. Either does the media. He'll make a ton of money back in private practice -- he comes off as a good lawyer. Trial lawyers are not often either party's first-pick for AG. He's thru. Kaput!

[tsipple]

29. Erskine Bowles to Be Swept In...

...With the Democratic wave of 2004.

[JCMach1]

39. Exactly, Bowles will be a great Senator

too

:)

[Starpass]

32. Kind of shocking--C-Span Hot Line said he was expected to drop out

the first drop out because of his Senate seat and not doing that well. Kind of a dumb call on his part.

[John_H]

33. Dems will likely keep this seat.

Plenty of good candidates.

[Gloria]

34. Didn't Bowles lose to Dole already?

please correct me if I'm wrong.

[ButterflyBlood]

36. yes

but he did very well against her considering how popular she is in the state and will now be facing a far more conservative challenger (a supposed Jesse Helms clone), so he's got a better chance in 2004.

[AP]

37. And will gain a great president.

[Name removed]

41. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

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[Bridget Burke]

43. Which trail?

Appalachian Trail?

Mark Trail?

Treasure Trail?

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[IndianaGreen]

46. It is spelled "TRIAL" not "trail" - Happy trails to you, until we meet...

Hooked on phonics?

[JNelson6563]

48. like the kind you would hire

if your kid died because of the incompetence of another.

Or maybe, you'd hire him, if you wanted to sue someone for using the term "fair and balanced"....?

hahahaha

Julie

[CMT]

44. Edwards will no doubt be in the cabinet

I honestly don't think he will be the nominee. He won't have the senate seat to fall back on and it is doubtful that he will be the VP choice. But chances are that he will be selected for a cabinet post if he wants one.

[blm]

49. I think Erskine Bowles can keep the seat.

I think he won against Dole, but the votes were rigged. I doubr they'll get away with it again.

Edwards just may end up as Attorney General, and he likely knows it, by now.