I'd like to counter reports that John Edwards is "not the optimist he was in 2004." On the contrary, I'd say that Edwards is much more of an optimist.
For a Presidential candidate in the United States of America to take an even remotely populist, us-versus-the-soulless-corporations stance, shows a tremendous faith in the American people, and our political system, that may be undeserved.
In 2004, Edwards was a somewhat less inspiring (and less optimistic) candidate because he allowed himself to be coached into a "safe" position. He had been convinced that Americans were not ready to care about the growing lower class, the disappearing middle class, and the road to ruin that we've unwittingly embarked on as a country. The change in Edwards' demeanor probably has quite a bit to do with the fact that he has let most of his former advisors go, and has taken control of his own campaign this time around...
EDIT: Please read the rest of the post before responding to the poll below. (After some comments, I realized that the poll was unclear out of context. It should have read "I'm determined to stick with EDWARDS and prove you wrong.")
In his current campaign, John Edwards knew that he would be shut out by the mainstream media if he dared to point a finger at the real source of our problems, that source being inextricably linked to the media he needs. But Edwards has been optimistic that the American people would be able to resist the celebrity worship of Hillary and Obama and base their votes on the issues, voting in their own long term interests. So far this does not seem to have been the case.
And who else but a relentless optimist could ask Americans to abandon their SUVs in order to cut down on greenhouse emissions and foreign oil consumption? ...Who else but an unflagging optimist could say "It’s time for Americans to be patriotic about something other than war"?
Americans, patriotic about something other than war? I wish that I was as optimistic as John Edwards. I wish I had this sort of faith in the majority of my fellow Americans. Because in the end it's only this kind of attitude shift that will guarantee that our grandchildren don't look back on us with disbelief or even contempt, as they will be much worse off than we are.
Hillary's national poll numbers have me worried that her husband's saxophone has lulled us Democrats into a false sense of well-being. And the number of Americans still committed to voting Republican has got me even more worried about the future of the U.S.
Please, please, please prove my pessimism wrong.
I will still be voting for John Edwards in the California primary on Super Tuesday, despite my waning hopes that the country will collectively wake up and come to its senses. I don't see this as a vote against Obama or even against Hillary, but a vote that says "I'm a grownup and I'm ready to be told the truth. I won't be swayed by media bias. Please send me more candidates like this in the future."
...Because I feel that the optimism of people like John Edwards, and all of you here at DailyKOS, should be encouraged. Thank you for all of your good intentions, and please feel free to call this post unpatriotic if Edwards pulls through. It will be the most gratifying insult I've ever received.