Why I think John Edwards is the strongest Presidential candiate for the Democrats in November:
- He's a moderate who can appeal to independent voters and Reagan Democrats, making Democrats competitive in the upper South and more importantly win swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio. Republicans will have lots of money but Edwards will force them to spread it around in an effort to hold states they won in 2000.
- He's clearly the best speaker and the warmest personality in the race, which will help to deflect the usual Republican B.S. about Democrats. Likability is more important than policy in politics, as Bush's own history shows. Let's nominate someone more likable than Bush who supports even more sensible policies than he does!
- Edwards isn't just a pretty face, however. He's a successful trial lawyer who knows how to make devastating points in a way that convinces juries to vote for his side in a case, for example. Gentle persuasion is more effective than self-righteous finger pointing in politics.
- Edwards isn't making the decision to go to war in Iraq the issue in the race, and he's right not to as it plays right into Bush's hands by allowing him to insinuate that his opponent doesn't support our troops. Iraq is going to be an issue of course, but it will work best for the Democrats if they calmly make points about how Bush's claims and promises he made before the war haven't panned out, thus casting a shadow of misleadership on Bush's certain bread-and-butter issue, the War on Terrorism.
- Edwards is best positioned to make the economy an issue that works again for the Democrats. Like Bill Clinton, he can point to his working-class roots and make a credible claim the he understands working people's concerns. Given the job losses that have occured in manufacturing (especially in close states like Wisconsin) during Bush's term in office, these voters are hurting and will vote for someone who cares about them.
- Character. John Edwards has it, while George W. Bush just pretends to have it. People who see both men on a stage together on their TV sets will see that instinctively. Edwards is a dedicated self-made man, while Bush is the child of privledge. We all know which type of man appeals more to Americans.
- Edwards is genuinely nice. While some may think this is a rap on him because they feel he isn't angry enough about what Bush has done, they forget that it allows Edwards to be angry about the things that matter most without being labelled as a hothead. And we surely know what happens to candidates who are perceived to be "angry" by now.
- Edwards offers a message of hope and optimism to the American people, as opposed to Bush's own fearmongering (especially in his awful State of the Union speech) about how we are threatened on all sides. Both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton won two terms as President because they appealed to the voters hopes instead of playing on their fears.
- He's not a life-long politician, which is a virtue and not a defect as far as most Americans are concerned. Much ado has been made about just who is and who isn't a Washington "insider", but Edwards had a long career as a trial lawyer prior to his election to the U.S. Senate in North Carolina. He's no political novice, but he's not in lobbyist's pockets either.
- I'll let John himself have the last word here, in a fine speech he gave to the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco from his campaign's website. Enjoy!
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=436
