The conservative Chicago columnist Robert D. Novak asks the question if Edwards is Labor's Man in'08?.
Edwards is a leading prospect for backing from Andrew Stern's Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and James P. Hoffa's International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the unions that led the breakaway, forming the Change to Win coalition. Stern and Hoffa are wary of early decisions, and there are things about the Edwards operation that their unions do not like. But their interest in him reflects largely unspoken discontent in Democratic ranks over a choice limited to Clinton and Obama.
The column has a number of agendas. The overriding theme is to continue the conservative label of Edwards as a multimillionaire trial attorney kissing up to big "evil" labor.
But his efforts fall far short and in my opinion strengthen the case that Edwards has the best shot to win it all in 2008.
Novak tries to argue that Edwards wife Elizabeth is a negative! But his feeble efforts at spin do nothing to tarnish Edwards' prospects.
But Edwards's sunny aura and commanding presence can transcend the negative impact of anybody at his side.
Expect more attacks from the right as they try to torpedo the candidate they fear the most.