John Edwards as a Vice Presidential Running Mate
An Obama-Edwards or Clinton-Edwards Ticket Would Be Difficult to Beat
John Edwards as a vice-presidential candidate would bring with it almost instant name recognition (two presidential nomination campaigns and half of the unsuccessful Kerry-Edwards ticket in 2004). Name recognition counts considerably and brings with it psychological familiarity (a type of security) that a relative unknown or a lesser known candidate might present.
Edwards has the advantage of being known for his anti-poverty issues and does not have that stigma of animosity that has grown between many black voters and the Clintons (admittedly, this would make him better suited to being Obama's running mate, but would no doubt help considerably with black voters if Clinton were to get the nomination). He appeals to the common man through his blue-collar, working class roots and his rags-to-riches story (his father was a mill worker).
Edwards would also bring to the ticket strong union support. He was endorsed by many states' Service Employees International Unions, the United Mine Workers, the United Steel Workers, the Transport Workers Union of America, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and others.
Senator Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, is also a plus. Name recognition again is a salient factor. And Elizabeth Edwards is well-liked, seen as a fighter (she is battling cancer), and would go a long way in securing the middle-aged female vote (the nation's largest voting bloc).
He's a successful lawyer. Many have suggested Edwards be appointed the next United States Attorney General regardless of who wins. It might not be a bad idea having someone familiar with the law of the land for a change in the vice-presidential office.
His charisma and boyish good looks also lend themselves well to the electorate. Although superficial, they extend the former senator a certain likeability that might be all that is needed to sway voters who are evenly undecided and need that little push in one direction or the other.
The former senator might be the only thing that can save the Democratic Party was imploding at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, especially with all the heavy-handed rhetoric and mudslinging that seems to be going on between the Obama and Clinton camps of late. A recent poll of voting defections by the two camps to vote Republican if the opposing Democratic candidate won the presidential nomination bodes ill for the November election. John Edwards may just be the guy who can keep those likely defectors from straying. It has also been suggested by a few polls that Edwards might have been the only candidate who could actually beat John McCain in a presidential election.
It must also be remembered that John Edwards was running a distant third in delegates but pulled out of the presidential race before contest on Super Tuesday, which may or may not have seen him do well enough to have placed him within striking distance of the two frontrunners. We will never know. But the fact that millions of people are already willing to vote for him adds millions who are also willing to vote for Obama or Clinton. And in the political arena, it's the numbers that count...
Sources:
Mike, "Edwards Wins Endorsements Of iowa SEIU And Nine Other Major State SEIU Councils," 4President.org
"If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers go for McCain," Gallup.com
Published by Saul Relative
WVU graduate, with degrees in History, English, Secondary Education, Computer Programming, and Psychology (and nearly a degree in Political Science). Originally from West Virginia, with stints in Virginia,... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentTo whom do you refer, Non-partisan?
Ever heard of speculation, Ello, Ello? And for the most part, I don't believe most of the words coming out of any politician's mouth. Most politicians are also opportunists. Show me one that isn't. These things are expected. Still, I'll take Edwards over most of the candidates running. And you apparently have no idea what the word "sociopath" truly means...
Wow, quite a slugfest going on in here! I just want to say I think you have presented very good points, and I wondered about Edwards myself. The only thing that would worry me is whether he might be considered a "has-been" because of all the unsuccessful campaigns. He's been keeping an extremely low profile lately, but I hope that means he is spending his time helping his wife deal with her illness
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR HILLARY OR OBAMA TO MAKE JOHN THEIR VICE PRESIDENTAL NOMINEE, JOHN CAN DO HIS TIME AS VICE PRESIDENT THEN WIN THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2012 OR 2016, HE WILL BE PRESIDENT SOMEDAY AND ELIZABETH WILL MAKE AN AWESOME FIRST LADY. I AM A TRUE EDWARDS DEMOCRAT AND WILL SHOUT IT FROM EVERY MOUNTAIN TOP AND I WILL ONLY VOTE FOR THE TICKET THAT INCLUDES JOHN EDWARDS.
IF THE DNC DOESNT GET THIS ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR UNDER CONTROL FROM HILLARY AND OBAMA ACTING LIKE LITTLE KIDS OVER , HE SAID , SHE SAID, THEN I PERSONALLY WILL TELL THE DNC TO KISS MY VOTE GOODBYE AND I KNOW MILLIONS OTHERS FEEL THE SAME WAY. JOHN EDWARDS CAN HELP WIN THE WHITE HOUSE, SO PUT HIM ON THE TICKET
FIRST , I HAVE TO SAY WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT IS TOO HEAR SUCH WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE SUCH A HARD WORKING MAN AS JOHN EDWARDS IS, ( non-partisan writes that he is an idiot, and Ello,Ello uses words like slimebag) I THINK ITS PEOPLE LIKE THAT THAT SHOULD'NT BE ALLOWED TO BREED. JOHN EDWARDS IS A MAN WHO CAME FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND PUT HIMSELF THROUGH COLLEGE AND HAS WORKED HIS WAY TO WHERE HE IS TODAY, A SUCCESSFULL TRIAL LAWYER WITH THE GUTS AND DETERMINATION TO TRY AND MAKE A DIFFERRENCE FOR THE COMMON MAN. JERK-OFFS LIKE ELLO-ELLO AND NON-PARTISAN ARE JUST JEALOUS THAT HE HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL AND THEY FEEL THAT TO PICK THEMSELVES UP, THEY HAVE TO CUT OTHERS DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL, WELL ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW OF WHAT YOU SPEAK OF, AND THESE TWO DO NOT KNOW THE KIND OF MAN JOHN EDWARDS IS. IF YOU KNEW HIM LIKE WE DO, THEN YOU WOULD BE GRATEFULL TO KNOW THAT A MAN OF THIS CALLIBER CARES ENOUGH TO TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERANCE. I THINK IT WOULD BE V
John Edwards is as passionate about poverty as Al Gore is passionate about the planet. Have analyzed his handwriting, speeches, etc., and find Edwards to be sincere and upright. Have dug up articles where fellow lawyers and presiding judges in North Carolina found him to be very principled and also very selective about cases--even hiring doctors and nurses to review the medical aspects of cases. Think Edwards would make an excellent VP because he is a very hard-working, but think he might not be too happy as VP if he saw too many K-Streeters hanging around getting their way. What impresses me about him is his optimism and communication skills. Rural people and working-class people identify with him. Republicans fear him because he will steal their base.
You're an idiot...
John Edwards is an opportunist who is still calculating what is best for..... John Edwards !!! That is why he got kicked out of the race so quickly - as he was the only one who did not believe he was a phony. He has said very clearly he doesnt want to be VP... so either you havent read recent reports, or you just accept that politicians should tell us bold face lies - which is it ? I wouldnt be suprised if wants to hold his breath until the convention, and hope division between between BO and HC gives him another window to win the nomination. I think he is a sociopath, have you ever seen him smiling as he talks about suffering and poverty - slimebag.