Edwards Positions Himself For 2008 White House Run

[Placebo]

Democrat John Edwards lost the election for the vice presidency this week and will lose his Senate seat in January. But he's hardly going away. He's positioned himself for a full-out presidential run in 2008, a campaign that in a way he's already begun.

Longer range, the North Carolina senator with the good looks, Southern charm, rags-to-riches biography and "tomorrow can be better than today" pitch is in the top rank of candidates expected to compete for the White House in four years.

That's despite his liabilities: He's leaving the Senate after a single term; he has little foreign policy experience; he couldn't deliver his own state or any other in the South for Kerry, despite boasting that "I will beat George Bush in my backyard." But he now has the experience and public exposure of a national campaign.

Democrats say they expect Edwards to be extremely active in the party, speaking at events, raising money and endearing himself to the rank and file. Campaigning for the nomination years early, in effect.

full article may be found here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=229865&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[GOPNotForMe]

1. Don't get me wrong: I like him, but he won't be getting my vote

In the primaries, that is. If he is the nominee, of course I'll support him (again).

[FrenchieCat]

2. He should be concerned about his wife.....

instead of thinking about running.

The ambition is fine.....but why does he think he can win nationally, when his home state didn't even want him to win.

Mr.Edwards....your looks can only take you so far!

It will still be the "War on Terra" in 2008.....stupid.

You still won't be qualified!

[AP]

54. His wife is extremely concerned about America and probably wants him...

...to run again.

[DjTj]

63. Did you read the article?

For now, though, politics is on hold. His wife, Elizabeth, was diagnosed with breast cancer this week just after Democrat John Kerry and running mate Edwards conceded the race to President Bush.

"Together, our family will beat this," Edwards said on Thursday in a statement that made clear her treatment would be the focus of his immediate future.

[RinaJ]

3. Cool

Edwards/Obama 2008!

[dogman]

38. Right, two candidates lacking background.

Obama has enough sense to say he wont be ready and he's already going to be more qualified than Edwards at that point.

[killbotfactory]

4. Lieberman 2, electric boogaloo

It's a free country and it's his money, he can do what he wants.

[bunkerbuster1]

45. heh.

that's all. just heh.

[bleedingheart]

5. with his wife's cancer diagnosis I don't think that he will stray from

her side.
Sorry but they have two small children to think of and Elizabeth will need his support.

[novadem]

6. He wasn't even able to deliver North Carolina

[geek tragedy]

7. Blech.

You added no value to the ticket this time, Johnny. Don't call us, we'll call you.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. He Was Tainted By This Loss...

He'd have been a much stronger candidate had he not run with Kerry...

[tarheel_voter]

8. I want Dean, not Edwards

Please JE, you could've done more for us if you had kept your seat in the Senate. You could've beaten Rep. Burr.

Instead of running for President... Take care of Liz and get to know your little kids.

[Walt Starr]

10. Damaged goods

'Nuff said.

[AuntPatsy]

16. He's clean, no damage goods there....

[Walt Starr]

57. He's a LOSER

Don't believe me? Look at Tuesday's results. Running a loser results in one thing. LOSING!

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.

[disenfranchised]

65. Three things.

1) He wasn't at the top of the ticket. He was selling John Kerry not himself.

2) Reagan lost and came back. It certainly paid off for him.

3) The election results are questionable. I, for one, believe John Kerry and John Edwards were robbed.

[spooky3]

11. Folks, there are NO quotes from Edwards supporting this headline.

Everything in the article is speculation except a general comment from the Weds. concession speech, and his comment about Elizabeth's illness.

It's unfair to bash Edwards who worked his ass off for us, and it's unfair to bash him for doing what this article alleges without providing any evidence whatsoever other than other people's broad speculations.

[tjdee]

13. ICAM. This recent pile-on is ridiculous.

Especially because the first part of the article IS about Edwards and his family dealing with Mrs. Edwards' cancer.

This article is basically what some people think.

I wish I worked for the AP so I could write a story like that.

[GreenArrow]

31. not recent for me

I never liked the guy, and voted for Kerry in spite of him. I'd have preferred Joe Lieberman.

[JI7]

14. agree

Edwards DID work his ass off. Kerry did also. just because the media didn't show it doesn't mean he wasn't doing anything. they showed dick cheney every single time he would attack kerry. but they ignored edwards. even democrats including on du started with the "where the hell is edwards"?. when he was always out there working hard.

[asthmaticeog]

12. "Democrats say they expect Edwards to be extremely active..."

Oh goody, the "some say" tactic, making "news" appear out of nowhere.

[Toucano]

50. Thanks for pointing that out.

So many people don't pay attention.

The left is doomed if it keeps listening to the right for advice.

[AuntPatsy]

15. HE Wil Definately GET my vote, it was not him that conceded, it was

not his fault that he was assigned to standing by the back door..I wanted Edwards from day one, Mrs edwards will be fine, I know many women who have won breast cancer and had very many productive years ahead to enjoy....

He has more than some of you realize...and if he intends to run, I for one will give him my very best...

[RegexReader]

49. Got to support a fighter

and he didn't back down.

RegexReader
¶

[dolstein]

17. You can hardly blame Edwards for not carrying a single Southern state

People vote for the person at the top of the ticket. If a Southerner isn't at the top of the ticket, you can pretty much forget about carrying a Southern state. And, to be perfectly honest, the Democrats probably need two people from the South on the ticket if they want to win down there.

I never bought into argument that Edwards could deliver his home state for Kerry. The Democrats would have had a hard time carrying North Carolina even with Edwards at the top of the ticket (but at least then they'd have an outside chance).

Still, I thought Edwards would be a good choice as VP, for the simple reason that he's a disciplined campaigner and a likable guy. Not to mention the fact that there really wasn't anyone out there who could guarantee a red state. Not Wes Clark. Not Dick Gephardt. Not even Bob Graham (who hasn't really faced any stiff competition in Florida for quite some time).

[Justice]

18. I cannot believe the replies to this post

People really ought to go and take a good long look in the mirror.

It is so easy to criticize. Ask yourself what you did for the Democrats in this election. John Edwards worked his tail off every day and night for us. At the very least you owe him respect.

[halobeam]

19. Agreed the responses are a bit rough here on this....

have you realized that the repubs were actually more afraid of Edwards than Kerry? They dug til their fingernails fell off, for something on him, and got NOTHING. Nothing that matters for darn sure.

He'd be smart to run again, he's also religous which would be another smart thing for him to start discussing. The moderate "religion" which is what most people are and would relate to.

One thing these repubs set themselves up for is to be labeled as "extremists" and the majority of the people know this and don't like it. This is now THEIR weakness.

[Mike L]

21. He is "likable".

That seems to be the most important presidential attribute for our informed electorate.

[sangh0]

23. And he was GREAT in rural areas

Always a weak spot for Dems

So let's diss him too! That's the ticket

[Skwmom]

37. Oh yeah he did a great job in the rural areas. ROFLMAO

[Skwmom]

35. I had so many people who voted for K/E tell me that they liked Edwds less

than Kerry.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

47. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

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

[AP]

73. And I heard so many say they voted for him in the primary and they liked

him alot.

And they were all very smart, sensible people, not prone to nasty hysterics who could form arguments based on facts. Honest.

[Senator Lamb]

24. I really liked Edwards

I and I still do. but how can he run in 08 being a one term senator with litte record, and no job for four years.

[spooky3]

25. Please read the article--there is no evidence he's planning to run

and I'm very sure he's be employed, if he wants to be, in the interim.

[disenfranchised]

66. Reagan had no job for four years.

We know how that played out.

[Leilani]

71. Yes, but Reagan had been Governor of California

for 2 full terms. And he had been involved for politics for years. He made a national speech for Barry Goldwater's 1964 election.

Governors are usually more successful at getting elected than Senators.

[Skwmom]

32. Repubs are so afraid the corporate *hores are already pushing Edwards.

[FrenchieCat]

33. Yep....

Heard the New "meme" the other night. Getting us prepared for 2008. The media whores are working overtime.

They may have been more afraid of Edwards than dean.....But I notice that the same Presstitutes never even mention that Wes Clark was even running. Never heard them say....The PUgs were not afraid of Clark....they just don't mention him at all. Wonder why that is?

[Awsi Dooger]

53. Edwards should have been the nominee this year; too soon to tell for '08

Correct, halobeam, the GOP was more concerned about Edwards this year, and legit. We got buried among white women 55-44%. That was the election, period. All this Diebold searching is wasted crap. Gore basically broke even among white women, losing 49-48%. When you forfeit 10% net among a group that's 41% of the voting block, how are we supposed to win?

The same Republicans who expressed concern Edwards would head the ticket are the ones who were emphasizing over the past month that Kerry was not connecting with white women, particularly married white women. It was not psychology, it was the truth. Kerry's poll numbers went up and down dirctly in regard to his standing with white women. White men never moved, nor African Americans. We knew Bush would get a boost from 2000 among Hispanics. Edwards would have done better via message and optimism with white women, not simply charisma and looks.

[AP]

55. Why doesn't anyone try to argue with this.

A few drive-py eom postings, but none of the critics want to engage with the argument.

[disenfranchised]

68. Let's face it.

DU hammered us Edwards supporters in the primaries. Nothing has changed. It's the same tired old right wing talking points we've defended since January.

Glad to see you're still fighting the good fight AP.

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. I'd vote for Edwards......ELIZABETH EDWARDS

her husband can go sit in the background and look cute.

[zulchzulu]

22. 2008 is a LONG way off

To be honest, Edwards never really did that much for me. I like him, but...

Having only one term under his belt and not much more than his rag-to-riches as a trial lawyer, he doesn't have that thing to make him stand up as an exceptional candidate, imo.

He didn't really deliver the South.

It all depends on who he is running against in the primaries. If it's Edwards v. Hagel, I don't know... Edwards v. Frist, hmm, maybe... Edwards v. Rice... I dunno...

[spooky3]

26. The campaign did NOT send him to the South to campaign

other than FL and occasional fundraising elsewhere.

They had him spend most of his time in the rural midwest.

[MattG]

27. Edwards didn't deliver NC because he has a very slim voting record.

I love the guy, but he didn't show up to that many Senate meetings, so I've heard (and not from the Right Wing Spin machine)

[montana500]

28. I like Edwards alot, but he wont do it in 08

[disenfranchised]

67. That's the spirit.

[LibertyorDeath]

29. First things first

Rove will be running

ES&S
Diebold
& Sequoia Voting Systems.

[FrenchieCat]

34. Maybe what Edwards can do....

is do his lawering on the Black Box Voting Machines! If he can crack that nut, I will consider getting excited about him in 2008.

Come on John Edwards.......get to the bottom of this election...you and the 10,000 attorneys that were line up for just that purpose. It could be your claim to fame.

[Skwmom]

36. Edwards is a personal injury attorney. e/o/m

[atre]

42. A lawyer is a lawyer is a lawyer

Boy. You know nothing about the law, do you? In order to practice law, all you have to do is obtain a degree from an ABA accredited law school and then pass a state bar. You can then go into whatever areas of law you prefer; you can start in one area and then laterally move into another; you can even practice several areas of law at the same time (in fact, the vast majority of lawyers do as much).

Or perhaps that was another of your simple-minded, Republican-talking-point-like potshots. All spite. No substance.

[sangh0]

44. Umm, if you're gonna start out with a stupid and simplistic saying

like "a lawyer is a lawyer is a lawyer", then it's bad form to follow it up by criticizing another's knowledge of the legal profession.

If you are the victim of medical malpractice, I strongly urge you to avoid hiring a divorce atty.

[GreenArrow]

30. fuck dat

go back to your law practice John. Or run for the House.

[Thrill]

39. He would be a terrible candidate.

We cannot win with him. He can't carry his own state

[Leilani]

41. I'm watching C-Span right now

with pollsters doing analysis of election.

Stan Greenberg, respected Dem pollster, said rural voters went for Bush.

He said the rural voters were interested in cultural issues & economic issues.

At the end, the economic people broke for Bush because they didn't hear an economic message from Kerry/Edwards.

I don't know where the meme comes from that Edwards was effective in rural areas...we got killed there.

Also, Bush increased his percentage with Latinos.

Kerry/Edwards did not play to that crowd.

[sampsonblk]

43. He needn't apply

He was as much a hindrance as Kerry. He voted for the war and actively supported it until it became a nuisance during the campaign.

He is part of the problem. I won't vote for him under any circumstances.

[Tweed]

46. NO!

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[bigwillq]

51. I don't think Edwards should run

I would support him if he did become the DEM nominee but like Lieberman in 04, Edwards, imo, will be old news by 2008 and having him run will send off bitter vibes as to what happened in 04.

We will need someone fresher by 2008 someone not assoicated with the 04 election.

At this point, i still don't know who the best candidate will be.

I feel we need to take baby steps and start talking about what we can do tommorrow, next week, next month as to how we can win elections and get the DEM party more respected and accessible as well as to be able to attract people from all backgrounds and viewpoints.

[LiberteToujours]

56. Sorry

I have a lot of respect for him, but I wouldn't support him in another primary. We lost, and now we need new blood.

[catbert836]

58. He's the best candidate there could ever be.

He's got charisma, and he's a populist, and HES FROM THE SOUTH. Let's face it, we need John Edwards.

[Kahuna]

62. What about experience and a record to run on? He doesn't have that.

So..um.. not thanks, Johnny.

[DjTj]

64. Experience and a Record have lost 4 elections in a row

Bush, Dole, Gore, Kerry - each one the more experienced candidate, each one a loser.

[Straight Shooter]

59. Oh, Lord. blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

What's the real message going on in this article? Painting Edwards as a vicious opportunist.

"Democrats say."

Well, some Democrats say bush is the Anti-Christ, don't they? But that doesn't make it truth, and it damn sure doesn't make it worth repeating because it doesn't accomplish a damn thing except to take one's eye off the ball.

Focus. Please. Edwards is not the enemy. The media whores are the enemy. Use their tools against them, don't enable them by lending credence to their self-serving rumors.

[Heidi]

60. Right on.

And thanks for saying it.

[MattG]

61. Bush is the anti-Christ

and "Barr" is satan.

Anybody from NC think Gov. Mike Easley might be a good candidate in 08? He'll carry the south easily with an Andy Griffith endorsement.

[IndianaGreen]

69. Edwards couldn't even carry his own state!

We should not have people on the ticket that cannot even get the EVs of their own state.

[Zhade]

70. Uh, hey, Edwards? You can be Veep NOW if you mention THE FRAUD!

Jesus Christ - is it all about career in the Beltway?

Unless these guys fight the BY NOW OBVIOUS fraud, fuck them, they do not get my vote (after all, Diebold will make sure of that)!

[sangh0]

72. Yeah, and Kerry advisors signed a PNAC letter

that wasn't a PNAC letter.

You cant even get predict the present correctly. I doubt you can predict the future.