Today's Washington Post ran an article from political correspondant Dana Milbank entitled "Who Will Rule Potomac Man?" It's a riff on his upcoming book Homo Politicus: The Strange and Scary Tribes That Run Our Government. Milbank breaks down the candidates into anthropological roles -- Obama the Shaman, Clinton the Avenger, Romney the Storyteller, McCain the Heretic.
John Edwards is the Berserker, the fiercest of all Viking warriors.
In medieval Iceland, the fiercest of all Viking warriors were known as the berserkers. They prepared themselves for battle by donning animal skins, drinking the blood of bears and wolves, biting their shields and howling. Reaching a frenzy, they fought without regard for their own survival and managed to ignore the pain of even severe wounds until the battle ended. Occasionally, the berserker would kill members of his own tribe, but this was regarded as an acceptable price to pay for such combat prowess.
In a Washingtonian landscape where no one seems to be leading and absolutely no one wants to fight, Edwards' tenacity and his willingness to fight for every American and not the corporate interests that have dominated the government for the past seven years is a refreshing change.
In 2004 other candidates dropped out of the Presidential race when it was manifestly obvious that John Kerry would be the Democratic nominee. Edwards didn't. He stayed in the fight, and his tenacity helped to shape the debate. It's that kind of fight and tenacity that are missing from Washington today.
Will the sound of Edwards' horn sound out from Iowa and New Hampshire? Will others flock to his banner?
We can hope.
America needs a Viking berserker.