John Edwards
John Edwards (born June 10 1953) is an American lawyer and politician. He is currently a Democratic candidate for the 2008 election. Edwards, a wealthy trial lawyer famous for winning lawsuits against drug companies and other large corporations, served a term as Senator for North Carolina (1998-2004). He achieved national prominence running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and was the vice presidential candidate, running with senator John Kerry for the 2004 election. He is married to Elizabeth Edwards, née Anania, whose inoperable cancer is a common topic of discussion.
As a candidate in 2004 Edwards had a mild, "bring-us-together" style. However he changed style radically in 2007-8. Anita Dunn, a Democratic strategist, said Edwards is running "a very different kind of campaign this time, with a very different moral compass." Having voted to support Bush on the Iraq war, he reversed course, apologized for his vote, and moved to left. [1] He is running as a more unabashed liberal this time."[2] In 2004 he defended his support for the Iraq war, prescribed a gradual approach to health care reform and told Iowa caucusgoers not to expect him to criticize his fellow Democrats running for president. Now, Edwards calls his Iraq vote a mistake, embraces universal health care and regularly attacks his opponent Senator Hillary Clinton.[3] Asked about his changing style Edwards himself said, "Some of what is being characterized in that way is the result of me being strong and clear about where I stand and not being soft and muddy."[4]
In the 2008 campaign he is crusading against the power elite; he unleashed a populist attack on big oil, big drug companies, big insurance companies and corporate lobbyists in Washington. He denounced them as "powerful insiders" that have "rigged the system" against the ordinary working people, leaving them poorer and degrading the environment while blocking access to affordable health care. "I’ve been fighting these people all my entire life," said Edwards. "I fought them in the courtroom, and I’ve beat them and beat them. We’ve got to stop being mealy-mouthed and careful. We’ve got to get rid of the robber barons. We need to have some guts....It makes me angry. I feel outrage. I won’t let them get away with it." [5] He led in the Iowa polls in spring 2007, then slipped behind Clinton, then behind Obama. His response was to escalate the confrontational rhetoric, saying, ""Corporate greed is killing the middle class, robbing you of your jobs and robbing your children of their future.""[6]
His campaigning style is controversial, with some Democrats worried that his anger will alienate voters, as did Howard Dean in 2004.
“There’s a fine line between passion and anger,” said David P. Redlawsk, an associate professor of political science at the University of Iowa and director of the university’s political poll. “It’s too early to tell which side of the line he is straddling. If he seems to be purely angry all the time, it will fail. People are not interested in a guy who is always angry.”[7]
In January 2008 Edwards was defeated by 9 points by Barack Obama in the in Iowa caucuses, but came in just ahead of Hillary Clinton and vowed to fight on in the New Hampshire Primary on Jan. 8.
For a daily update on the polls see [3]
see 2008 United States presidential election
notes
- ↑ Dan Balz, "New John Edwards Sells Less Biography, More Liberal Issues," Washington Post March 11, 2007
- ↑ USA TODAY at [1]
- ↑ Thomas Beaumont, "The evolution of John Edwards," at Des Moines Register Nov. 20, 2007
- ↑ Quoted by Washington Post
- ↑ Leslie Wayne, "In a Must-Win State, Edwards Takes a Harsher Tone," New York Times Aug 19, 2007
- ↑ Rachel Gallegos, "Edwards: Industry won't solve health care crisis," in Iowa City Press-Citizen December 23, 2007; poll data from [2]
- ↑ Leslie Wayne, "In a Must-Win State, Edwards Takes a Harsher Tone," New York Times Aug 19, 2007