At 6:00-ish John Edwards will be bringing his message of Economic Fairness to a packed crowd in Conway New Hampshire. We are on the opposite side of the state from Dartmouth College where the debate was held last night. This is an area blessed with the natural beauty of the White Mountains but income disparity is becoming more severe. After Edwards' superb debate performance last night there is heightened anticipation of this message which Edwards knows inside and out. We're being treated to a little bluegrass music from Ralph Stanley and former Congressman Ben "Cooter" Jones.
Cooter says it's not about resurgence in Edwards' campaign, it's that the more people listen to him, the stronger he gets. He said Edwards has a grasp of the issues that rivals Bill Clinton's. What is unique about John Edwards as a human being is that "he hasn't gotten above his raisin'".
Cooter, was a two-term Representative from Georgia, before losing his seat to Newt Gingrich. He later had the opportunity to kick-off the ethics investigation which put ol' Newt back on the bench. His final comment to me before taking the stage was "the one way the Democrats can lose this election is to nominate Hillary Clinton." That's Cooter, speaking for Cooter. Another observation from Cooter is that the future of the free world depends on the decision of New Hampshire voters. We don't let it go to our heads but we feel the weight on our shoulders. And we don't forget it was 6,000 Nader votes in 2000 that gave NH's 4 electoral votes and the power to ruin the world to George W. Bush.
He did mention that 80% of NH voters have not made up their minds. A local political savant, who is solidly in the Hillary camp commented that "unless Senator Clinton comes up here and makes a contest of this, John Edwards could have this part of NH wrapped up."
Mudcat Saunders just requested "Fields on Fire" and the place is jumpin'. They've been turning people away for about half an hour.