Three Things That Concern Me About Edwards

[clar]

Note: This is the third in a series delineating my concerns about candidates that I believe have a chance of getting the nomination.
Originally, I wasn't going to include Edwards because of his lack of traction, but he's an appealing candidate, so....

In the immortal words of R. Dangerfield, (or close) "Why can't this guy get any respect?"

1. Edwards has had difficulty getting traction. Don't know why. He's got money, he's telegenic, his policies have been well received by the pundits, and he's not a lightweight. I'm increasingly convinced that this just wasn't his time to shine.

2. His relative lack of political experience. He's only 4+ years into his first Senate term, and he has no political experience beyond this. Sure, Shrub's experience was less impressive, but he had the full weight of the repub machine behind him.

3. Well, I can't come up with a third. I think if Edwards got the nom he'd do well against bushco, trial lawyer and breck girl slams aren't enough.

[quispquake]

1. I think he'd make a great VP...

...and I think that's his tactic by not running for the Senate again...

[piece sine]

2. trial lawyer and breck girl slams...

have sunk this guy! He's tied with Carol and Al and the bottom of the pack. If a southern Veep is required, Wes Clark will be there.

[renie408]

3. Yeah

Because it is a lot worse to be a trial lawyer and good looking than to be a Republican, never to have been elected, to miss debates and to have no real plan. Yeah, I see that logic.

[clar]

4. Renie,

I really like your candidate. Can you tell me what you think he can do to gain more traction?

[renie408]

6. Kill Dean?

I dunno.

I have this really scary feeling that his campaign is a little too naive or something. I think they think that him just being the best guy out there is enough. The ideas they give you for promoting Edwards just don't seem as innovative or aggressive as some of the stuff that I hear coming out of Dean's campaign. I do know from reading in various places that they have a plan for him to peak in early January, but my sense of urgency is increasing. Last night I was pretty freaked out. I have decided to relax a little bit and trust that they do know what they are doing, but its hard.

[DemDogs]

9. His ideas are aggressive. He is steady.

I think it is easy to confuse to aggressive style with aggressive ideas. Aggressive style will not win in November, and all our candidates need to remember that. People need to feel that we have a steady hand on the wheel, and that is what Edwards portrays every day.
He is appealing to working people with his ideas, the kind of Democrats who are not attending rallies. I was impressed that he had two or three thousand people in his hometown on a Tuesday morning.
I think it is a good thing that he won't set himself on fire to get attention. And it is a great thing that he has real and positive ideas.

And I consider it a good thing that you couldn't think of three things bad about him.

[renie408]

12. You are right

I think I got a little wigged out with Clark jumping into things and the way the polls have been going. I need to keep reminding myself that it is early days yet.

[renie408]

7. Kill Dean?

I dunno.

I have this really scary feeling that his campaign is a little too naive or something. I think they think that him just being the best guy out there is enough. The ideas they give you for promoting Edwards just don't seem as innovative or aggressive as some of the stuff that I hear coming out of Dean's campaign. I do know from reading in various places that they have a plan for him to peak in early January, but my sense of urgency is increasing. Last night I was pretty freaked out. I have decided to relax a little bit and trust that they do know what they are doing, but its hard.

[mbali]

8. Sticks and Stones

If the worst thing that that Edwards' opponents can say about him is that he was a successful lawyer and is easy on the eyes, they've got more serious problems than they realize.

As for Edwards, he's just going right on about his business, intelligently and squarely talking about his programs and platform and slowly but surely gathering support. And, apparently, he's not the least bit worried about the silly namecalling - at his official announcement the other day, his staff handed out bottles of Breck shampoo (with John Edwards for President labels) to the press corps.

[renie408]

5. I can sure as hell live with that

Sorry, my 'enter' button keeps sticking.

[DrFunkenstein]

10. I've Heard That Edwards Seems Too "Sunny"

I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I guess Dems are looking for someone they see as hard-nosed. Consider how Edwards has busted his ass defending the little peoples, I'm not sure why that doesn't apply to him.

Personally, my main reservation is these statistics:

According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Senator Edwards voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 63 percent of the Senators.

According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2002, Senator Edwards voted more liberal on social policy issues than 56 percent of the Senators.

Edwards will never be my first choice with Kerry in the field, but although he is a centrist (in NC that's a necessity) he seems like the real deal. I wouldn't have a problem at all with backing him if Kerry wasn't around. And I certainly wouldn't have a problem with him as a VP if he doesn't catch on.

[carolinayellowdog]

11. His accent bothers me

and I've probably defended Southerners against various accusations as much as anyone who has ever posted here. I love Southern accents, rural NC accents in particular. But Edwards lays it on so thick he sounds like Gomer and Goober's cousin from the sticks. Makes me cringe, and I can only imagine that people who generally dislike Southern accents would be even more turned off.

[renie408]

13. Weird

Both my husband and I were saying that we didn't notice his accent much and that was at his announcement in Robbins. Maybe its because I live two hours from there and here, EVERYBODY talks like that.

[renie408]

14. Sunny, too cute, his accent...

You realize that the only real objection that is coming across here is that he is inexperienced, right?? I don't like how red Dean gets when he is really going at it, but that wouldn't stop me from voting for him. And Kerry looks like Lurch, but I still think he is good candidate. Kucinich?? 'nuff said. There are some people who have a problem with the IWR and Patriot Act votes, but I don't think those are insurmountable with the majority of voters.

This is actually the most encouraging thread on Edwards that I have read in a long time. If the worst somebody can come up with is that he has great hair...I mean, come on!!



edit: fix typo

[sandnsea]

17. Lurch! Aw come on

Check out this new TV ad.

http://69.20.29.209/news/releases/pr_2003_0909.html

And look at him with these kids.

http://gallery.johnkerry.com/gallery/baltimorechildren

He's alot more charismatic than people give him credit for.

[mbali]

19. Jeez

Isn't it interesting that people complain about career politicians, but when someone comes along who hasn't spent his life in politics, he gets criticized for a lack of experience?

[renie408]

20. Bitch bitch bitch

That's all they ever do. It's like two weeks ago when everybody was complaining about Edwards not making a definitive decision on whether or not he wanted to keep his Senate seat or not. Then he chose and everybody started bitching about him abandoning his seat and acting like he had single handedly upset the balance in the Senate.

Seriously, I think that Edwards has already started laying the groundwork for answering this comment and it is a non-issue against Bush.

[sandnsea]

15. He needs a few tough policy speeches

Tough and decisive. And because I decided the other day that he's going to run this campaign like a trial, I'm thinking that we're going to see the first one some time in October. Another one around Veteran's Day. And another one the first of the year. November & December will be a huge pump on family, safety and his Neighborhood Watch support. He's been playing juries for years and I think he really has to know that America is just one big jury. I haven't given up on him at all, I think there is going to be a whole lot more to see from John Edwards.

[renie408]

16. Your keyboard to his campaign's ears

[DrFunkenstein]

18. Has Edwards Done Oprah?

That's one of the biggest juries out there, and I think Johnny would do very well.

[renie408]

21. Are you being funny again?

[mbali]

22. Been there, done that

Edwards has done a number of tough and comprehensive policy speeches during the past year and a half:

Crime and Rehabilitation, July 16, 2002 http://edwards.senate.gov/press/crime_speech.html

Foreign Policy, October 7, 2002 http://edwards.senate.gov/issues/mil/csis_edwards.html

Economy, November 12, 2002
http://edwards.senate.gov/speeches/2002/fortune_11-12.html

Education, November 21, 2002
http://edwards.senate.gov/speeches/2002/educ_11-21.html

Homeland Security, December 12, 2002
http://edwards.senate.gov/speeches/2002/homeland_12-18.html

Civil Rights, January 20, 2003
http://edwards.senate.gov/speeches/2003/MLK_01-20.html

Strong Families, March 12, 2003
http://edwards.senate.gov/speeches/2003/families_0312.html

Rural America, May 21, 2003
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=103

Rewarding Work, June 17, 2003
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=125

Corporate Responsibility, July 7, 2003
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=138

Health Care, July 28, 2003
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=171

[sandnsea]

23. Needs more

This isn't enough. It just repeats what others have already said. He needs something that brings more insight and his own views to the debate. He has to display a deep knowledge of international relations, with no missteps. If he could do that, people would trust him more. He's fine on Homeland Security, but he has to step it up on international terrorism and relations. If he's visited foreign leaders, he needs to highlight it. I think he has and I would guess we'll be seeing more on that. Unless he's hoping upon hope Iraq will be somewhat resolved in a few months. Then he's the favorite on domestic issues and picks up the vote because other candidates don't have time to shift. Just my 2 cents.

[DemDogs]

24. Edwards has new and different ideas

You need to actually read these speeches. He does not follow other's ideas. In fact, it is the other way around. Examples: Kerry followed him on community service, work for college, and saving middle class tax cuts. He was first on a half dozen homeland security issues. He says smaller schools, not just smaller classes, which is right but no one else is saying it. He has a whole work and family program no one else has, even now. Dean has embraced some of the rural agenda that he was first on. He was sure first on after-school care -- he started one before he was in the Senate. He makes capital gains progressive which no one else does. And he has met with foreign leaders in the current hot spots and elsewhere.

Read the speeches. He'll win you over. The press treats him seriously even before he has really taken off because they see what renie sees: the complete candidate, particularly in his ideas.

[mbali]

25. He needs more?

Are you serious? Have you actually read these addresses?

Sen. Edwards has given more major policy addresses than any of the other candidates, as far as I can tell. He's been doing them in serious venues - the Brookings Institute, Georgetown University, Center for Strategic and International Studies, etc.

And these aren't mere repeats of what others have said. He's set out some very innovative proposals that no one else has come up with - College for Everyone, mandatory health insurance for all children, a rural agenda, and a Domestic Security agency, among other things.

Edwards has been talking and talking and talking about the issues you raise. Unfortunately, he doesn't control the media, so his message hasn't gotten as much attention as it should. But he's doing the right thing - he's plugging away, laying serious groundwork and when the race starts to shake out and more people are watching him, they'll see that he's got plenty of there there.

[renie408]

26. He's fighting the good fight

and that is not as entertaining as "Dean responds to Kerry's Attacks" Or "Kerry Responds to Dean's Response to His Attacks".

[mbali]

27. :-)

That's funny.

[renie408]

28. I wish it were

When I look at all the detailed plans that Edwards has out there, the total package of his plan, his persona and (as corny as it may sound)just what a good man he is and I see the way the media just blows him off...I don't think its that funny. I am usually not one to go in for elaborate conspiracy theories, but I swear I am starting to think that maybe they are ignoring him BECAUSE he is the best man for the job.

[sandnsea]

32. foreign policy

Major foreign policy speeches. That was the main point of my original post. That he will eventually have to focus on that more and his speeches will have to show more than the one foreign policy speech did. That's what I was meaning.

[surfermaw]

29. I am with you Sandy...Edwards knows exactly what he is doing.

Again..he knows exactly what he is doing...As the days grow long,Edwards will come on strong...He is of the South, we are from birth taught to walk softly and carry big sticks.... (Talk soft..and be able to back up what you say.

[clar]

30. I hope you're right

Again, Edwards is not the candidate I've chosen to support, but I really want to see him do well. It disturbs me that such a substantive candidate is getting such short shrift. Although I disagree with you about Edwards knowing exactly what he's doing as far campaign strategey is concerned, (no candidate wants to languish at the bottom of the polls) I do think that things are going to look up for Edwards. I'd bet that within a month he's creeping up in the polls in NH and IA. Hey, Kos just ranked him number 4 in this week's cattle call.

[kang]

31. I found this very helpful on Edwards

I too was very puzzled why his campaign wasnt kicking butt earlier this year. I think he's a good candidate.

Here's a back-and-forth debate on TNR about what's possibly going on with Edwards' campaign (I've posted it once before and this will be the last time). I thought it was helpful.

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=debate&s=frankerutazengerle091603