Edwards coming up LIVE on C-SPAN 9:30 pm EST.

[chimpymustgo]

Town hall meeting. The room is packed.

It's at a school - on the wall: display a good attitude. Perfect for John Edwards.

[maddezmom]

1. watching

they just mentioned it'll probably be starting in 20-30 minutes. :)

[chimpymustgo]

2. "Our time now!" Edwards is in the building!

This is his new slogan, from the Des Moines Register endorsement: "his time is now".

This is quite lovely and uplifting.

[chimpymustgo]

4. You're looking at Number One!

Congressional Quarterly just ranked Senators from 1 to 100 on how often they voted against President Bush*. 100 being the most voting WITH him.

You're looking at NUMBER 1!!!

John Edwards voted against * MORE THAN ANY OTHER SENATOR!

That's why CMB looked so ridiculous sucking up to Dean at the debate last night. She had the NOIVE to trot out the CQ rankings AGAINST Edwards.

NOT!

Edwards ALMOST lost his temper.

[AP]

3. Sometimes he looks young, sometimes he looks older.

He looks young tonight.

[chimpymustgo]

6. Everybody else looks EXHAUSTED. Edwards - fresh as the truth.

nt

[spooky3]

8. what does that man eat for breakfast?

how does he do it???

[anti-bush]

30. He is in great shape

He jogs 5 miles every day. He has been doing it every day of the campaign too.

[DjTj]

60. ...but he's got 50-year-old eyes...

...when he needed to borrow glasses to read the newspaper that was great. He's just so comfortable with these crowds.

[One Taste]

5. Wow!

Alot more charismatic than my first impression of him! I'm now wavering between Clark and Edwards.

[AP]

7. We're going to do it together.

Edwards started saying this about 9 days ago, and it's really really effective, and smart and it gets to the point of what he's all about and what Bush isn't about.

[AP]

9. People sitting on the floor in the aisles. Nice crowd.

Good turnout.

[chimpymustgo]

11. Full of SPECIFICS. Helping middle class families.

Cracking down on credit card lenders, predatory lenders. Helping people buy a house.

Now he's on the "Iowans are very blunt..."

Hitting GWB for never going out listening to people. "He has no idea what's going on in the real world."

[AP]

10. credit card companies are fleecing the American public.

We have to make changes.

[chimpymustgo]

12. "You stole my punch line!" Big laugh.

I LOVE the way he laughs - easily, readily.

Imagine getting to look at and listen to this guy every single day. What a joy.

[AP]

13. I beat em and beat em and beat em.

I thought being a trial lawyer was supposed to be a liability. He got a lot of smiles from telling people what he did as a lawyer.

[spooky3]

16. he's done a good job of learning as he goes along

how to turn what is spun as a liability to an asset or at least a neutral.

[chimpymustgo]

17. the politics of hope, the politics of what is possible.

I am about to cry with hope...

But not in a cult-like way, you understand.

[spooky3]

14. I love the ABB sign to his right.

Maybe a DUer is there!

[AP]

23. If I were there, I'd slap an Edwards For President sticker on it.

:)

[One Taste]

15. "If you're looking for the best candidate to

snipe at other democrats, I'm not your guy."

:D

[spooky3]

18. that theme is playing well to the crowd, isn't it, ptm216?

[spooky3]

20. great, Q & A time!

[chimpymustgo]

21. It is my HONOR to be here with you.

taking questions now.

[One Taste]

22. Definitely

It's nice to see someone really running a positive campaign after reading all the threads in GD2004!

[AP]

19. ptm, did you just change your avatar to Edwards?

[One Taste]

24. Haha somebody noticed.

Yes I did. I have a feeling Edwards may have won me over tonight.:)

[spooky3]

25. LOL, he borrowed someone's reading glasses!

[chimpymustgo]

26. Puts on the READING GLASSES to quote from the Register endorsement!

Showing his AGE. Now

Talking about the environment.

[spooky3]

27. very good move, given how many over 40s are in the crowd!

And can relate.

I'll bet they will get to those caucuses.

[anti-bush]

38. It was an honest moment

I love seeing the genuine moments like that. That and the big laugh are what make him seem more real to me than the others.

[chimpymustgo]

28. You spend a summer night unloading trucks in NC...

you will STUDY the next day! College for everyone.

I am in utter, complete awe.
And hope.

But not in a cult-like way, you understand.

[dolstein]

29. Forget Howard Dean, John Edwards is the REAL DEAL

Edwards has won be over tonight. This is a guy who can connect with a room of ordinary, middle class Americans like no other Democrat since Bill Clinton. He's genuine. He's likable. And as one of the people at the town hall meeting was overheard saying, he's damn good looking. And on top of all that, he's from the South, a region in which the party desperately needs to be competitive.

[chimpymustgo]

32. Dolstein - hey HEY! Edwards is in the ZONE.

It is so GREAT to see others seeing what some of us have glimpsed for a long time. He's getting better and better. I think he can do it.

There is so much hope and optimism with this guy. I like that feeling.

[AP]

42. You're the reason I'm running.

Edwards tells that farmer that he's the reason he's running. I think that guy was the one with the wife who's working the second job to help with the farm. He said he just put his one son through medical school and the other's a chaplin. Edwards is running for president so that working class parents can give their children a better life. I think that guy was crying when he walked away.

[goodhue]

31. great laugh

As always Edwards exudes warmth and charisma and is solid on the issues. Not quite the progressive vision but why more moderate democrats support Dean, Clark or Kerry over Edwards is beyond me. Edwards is electability personified. Plus he talks up antitrust like he knows what he is talking about.

[spooky3]

41. well put

[Zech Marquis]

33. glad I saw this thread

watching it now...yeah all of the mudslinging and fighting between Dean and the others hasn't been helpful, but Edwards, what nice manners, class, and a goodness to honest TRUTH to him! He's talking about the prescription drugs fiasco, very good response.

[OBXNCarolina]

34. He's The Real Deal!

Good jab at the war profiteering.

[spooky3]

40. yes. He had no weak moments.

[ramapo]

35. I'd love to vote for him

I'd be happy to vote for this guy. I like Clark too. And Dean.

Edwards is great tonight.

[chimpymustgo]

36. He's got a MOVEMENT to CHANGE AMERICA. With a smile on his face.

Love him.

I was born in a small town.

[spooky3]

39. they all seem to like him too. Big applause on his farm & lobbyist

answers. A woman said his visit was the most exciting birthday she'd had in a long time.

[spooky3]

37. "what's your name, darlin'?" to a 7 year old who asked him

whether he'd have a female VP. I was surprised that he didn't say he has to be the nominee first. Instead he said there were many qualified women and they were on his list.

[chimpymustgo]

44. You gotta believe...

but you know that.

Happy birthday, to some lucky lady. Bless your heart. So Southern.

Is it just me? I am freaking out with joy at this guy.

Okay, I'm going to bed. Soon.

[spooky3]

45. night, chimpymg--our guy was a 10 tonight.

[chimpymustgo]

48. thank you. But I can't turn this off till it's over.

This is such a turning point in his campaign.

It will hurt at 6:30 am tomorrow. But this feels mighty nice tonight.

[bearfartinthewoods]

43. did you hear that woman say she was switching from dean??

all it takes is for people to listen with an open mind!!

[spooky3]

46. "I'd made up my mind but I think you've changed it--to you"

[bearfartinthewoods]

47. and another one!!

[AP]

49. He just introduced himself to a kid ... 'hi, I'm john."

[spooky3]

50. women of all ages there love him

He's the perfect hubby & father image. Smart, nice, sweet but tough, Clinton without the randiness.

[AP]

51. Lots of little girls asking for autographs.

[chimpymustgo]

54. Edwards has left the building. Rock star. Leader.

it does not get any better than this.

[AP]

55. And now wade sanders is on...

...and I love John Kerry, and I'm proud of what he did, and Wade seems like a totally decent guy. But, Edwards is just the best.

[OBXNCarolina]

52. President Edwards

Music to my ears!

[AP]

53. What's that chant?

"Start term now"?

[chimpymustgo]

56. "Our time now" - from the Des Moines Register endorsement:

"his time is now".

[Dr Fate]

57. These nice, large crowds at all DEM candidate functions are telling...

...anyone else noticed this?

There seems to be a lot more people at these things, no matter which DEM, than I'm used to seeing...

[DjTj]

59. ...people know how important this election is...

...We HAVE to defeat Bush this time and people want to make the right choice.

[cally]

58. I like Edwards, a lot

He did great tonight. He reminded me of the first time I saw him speak and work a crowd. He is terrific! Supposedly, he's second choice of many of the the other candidate's supporters. Maybe he will pull an upset in Iowa or at least a strong finish. I hope he does well.

[AP]

61. kick for hope and optimism

and true talent.

[ochazuke]

62. Surging!

That's what seems to be happening with the Edwards campaign, and it couldn't be better timed.