Guess what?  Poverty affects some of us more than the rest of us.

John Edwards in South Carolina

"Race plays an enormous role in the economic conditions of Americans," said Edwards. "We can pretend it's not true but decade after decade of slavery followed by decade after decade of segregation, followed by decade after decade of discrimination has an impact. It has an effect."

As many as 300 voters (about 20 percent of whom were African-American) listened inside the Penn Center - one of the first schools in America for freed black slaves - as Edwards listed off the statistics proving the disadvantages faced by African-Americans in the U.S.

"The average net worth of black families is about $8,000; white families is about $80,000," said Edwards with one of his more sobering statistics. "Let me tell you, we're not moving in the right direction."

We all know Obama supporters would not be urging Edwards supporters to abandon Edwards if Obama won tonight.  So, in a moment of weakness, some of them tell us that we need to abandon our candidate.  Well, I got news for you.  I am sticking with Edwards through the convention!

One poll which has been largely ignored by the press is getting some attention.  With all eyes on NH, national polls have not been getting any attention.  Edwards is gaining, Clinton is falling, and Obama is flat.

Rasmussen Daily Tracking

1/6/08
Clinton 36% (-7)
Obama 25% (+1)
Edwards 23% (+9)

12/29/07
Clinton 43%
Obama 24%
Edwards 14%

Merry Christmas!!!

A new poll showing that John Edwards leads in Iowa 30% to Clinton's 26% to Obama's 24% came out today.

Iowa Poll

John Edwards has leapfrogged over his rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and leads the Democratic field in Iowa, according to the latest InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion poll. In the Republican caucus race, Mike Huckabee continues to hold a narrow lead over Mitt Romney.

The race among the three top Democrats is extremely close, with the potential for any of them to finish first – or third.

Edwards leads with 30 percent in a poll of Democratic voters who said they intend to participate in the Jan. 3 presidential caucuses, followed by Clinton with 26 percent and Obama with 24 percent. When the sample was narrowed to the most likely caucus-goers, based on several questions, Obama leads Edwards by less than a percentage point with 27 percent, with Clinton in third place at 24 percent.

I am one of those people who is struggling to make it right now.  Don't get me wrong, we can pay the mortgage and pay for the essentials, but we want to have a baby soon.  Right now, that isn't financially possible.  I know there are a lot of other young people like us out there.  I donated what little I could through ActBlue to John Edwards because I have faith in his ability to change the rigged system into One America.

The problem is that I simply cannot afford to give any more.  Therefore, I have come to the decision to sell my computer to give John Edwards' campaign a meager amount.  I don't really need it.  My wife has one and I can just use hers.  I don't have time to play video games anymore anyway.

So in honor of the netroots, ActBlue, public financing, and John Edwards, will you join me in contributing to his campaign?

https://johnedwards.com/...

Fortunately, my computer money will be doubled through his website.

New Video of the Main Street Express

Today's NY Times:

The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about its secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.

John Edwards, having learned of the destruction of CIA tapes made during "harsh" interrogations, released this statement:

Torture is morally wrong, it is illegal, it is ineffective, it endangers our own troops and citizens, and it plays into the hands of our enemies.  My administration will uphold and protect the law rather than trampling over it.

The fighting going on between the Clinton and Obama campaigns is getting hot.  With John Edwards running a very positive campaign in Iowa, you would think he was the front runner... wait a minute... maybe he is.

Real Clear Politics

"some top campaign rivals still think Edwards would win Iowa, were the caucuses held today"

This would explain the extreme nature of the fighting between Obama and Clinton.  They are battling for second place.  Or much more accurately, they are battling to not be third, which would be a major blow to either campaign.  Not that they wouldn't love to finish first, but that doesn't seem to be their strategy.

The Fix

WINNERS

John Edwards: In the debates to date, Edwards has wavered between two personas: effective critic and angry outsider. At times Edwards' strident critique against "the establishment" sizzles with populist brio. But, it can also occasionally come across as cranky and complaining -- not exactly the two leading traits that people want in a president. In today's debate, Edwards took on the effective critic persona. He sought to politely highlight what he called real divides between himself and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) on Iran, and largely kept his focus on the mistakes made by the Bush Administration. Edwards was also able to hold his own when the debate turned to China -- demonstrating that he does indeed have some heft on foreign policy.

(Also Joe Biden and Chris Dodd)
...

Some of you may remember that I am a rural voter who has written several diaries about rural issues and the presidential race.  Today, I read something one of the top contenders for the Democratic nomination for President said, that I found disturbing.  In this case, it was Obama's expresion of "surprise" when a rural Iowa man wearing a "seedhat" and overalls asked him about Burma and not "corn."

Edwards released this statement today:

"I saw that Senator Clinton gave a speech that talked about change versus status quo, and I agree that that’s what this election will be about. But I believe if you defend the system in Washington as Senator Clinton does, you’re for the status quo. If you want to continue the occupation in Iraq, you’re for the status quo. If you’re not willing to stand up to Bush and Cheney on Iran, then you’re for the status quo.

"We need change very badly. When I’m president, I will shake things up and end the corruption in Washington and say no to donations from federal lobbyists. I will end the U.S. occupation of Iraq.  We need a leader with the strength to stand up and refuse to go along with the Bush Administration's aggressions against Iran. And as much as Senator Clinton attempts to blur the lines with this talk of change, I believe at the end of the day the American people understand the fundamental differences between the system she has chosen to defend and the change I will bring to America."