What's your opinion of John Edwards?

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I saw him on Wolf Blizter today, and he had the same indirect, around the question answers he gave when being asked if he'd drop out.  There's liitle doubt in my mid this is who Kerry will pick.  

So, since he's got a good chance of being our VP for the next 4 years, what do you think of him?  

[zachman]

He had great rallies and really improved with his success from Iowa. I saw him at an outdoor house party in November with maybe 20-30 people. The weekend between Iowa and the primary he came to a local middle school. The audience was more than twice the size that could be fit into the gym. He is a fiery speaker and that is not because he Bush bashes. The concern for Kerry is that he may be outshadowed by him.

[angus]

fairly good.  but then I like lawyers.  

Edwards is a particularly talented orator, not in the Al Sharpton vein, but then that's not an insult.  He loves to play up than son-of-a-millworker angle.  I think Kerry would do well to choose him as a running mate.  May swing a few votes out in flyover country.  

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

My opinion of Edwards should be clear from my signature and many of the other posts I've made to this board.

I'm not particularly objective...I used to work for his campaign.

[Lunar]

I'd be surprised if Kerry chose Edwards.  Edwards might have an advantage in the barnstorming, but doesn't offer anything regional really.  If Kerry doesn't go for the Hispanics with Richardson, he'll want someone who does two things: 1) Bring regional benefits, paticularly in the Midwest and 2) Makes Kerry look even more qualified for the presidency by radiating moderation and experience.

I like Edwards better than Kerry, don't get me wrong.  I just think their are better people, politically speaking, to be on the bottom of the ticket.  Edwards will stay on Kerry's list as it shortens, but I doubt he'll make it past Bayh.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

I'd be surprised if Kerry chose Edwards.  Edwards might have an advantage in the barnstorming, but doesn't offer anything regional really.  If Kerry doesn't go for the Hispanics with Richardson, he'll want someone who does two things: 1) Bring regional benefits, paticularly in the Midwest and 2) Makes Kerry look even more qualified for the presidency by radiating moderation and experience.

I like Edwards better than Kerry, don't get me wrong.  I just think their are better people, politically speaking, to be on the bottom of the ticket.  Edwards will stay on Kerry's list as it shortens, but I doubt he'll make it past Bayh.

I don't want to see Kerry go with a regional guy.  Make it look like he put some heart into his pick, not his EVs.  Pick Edwards.  

[opebo]

Low-life white trash con-man.  A less intelligent and more venal (if that's possible) version of Clinton.

[MAS117]

althought i like edwards alot, what states can he actually win for kerry? a VP is suppose to fill teh gaps that a the nominee doesnt have, what does edwards do for that?

[nclib]

I voted 'good', though I won't go as far as to say that I'm a fan of his. I wish he would have stayed longer in the Senate before running for President. On the other hand, he has exactly the same amount of time in political office as Bush did in 2000 (6 years).

While Edwards is considerably more conservative than me, I'm disappointed that he's leaving the Senate, because I know he's pretty much the most liberal Senator N.C. will ever have. Or the rest of the South (minus Florida) for that matter.

[Lunar]

I don't want to see Kerry go with a regional guy.  Make it look like he put some heart into his pick, not his EVs.  Pick Edwards.  

There are some guys like Bayh who have the combination of being in convenient political locations combined with a compatible personality.

If you're asking Kerry to not be political in his choice you're asking the wrong fellow.

[ian]

I voted 'good', though I won't go as far as to say that I'm a fan of his. I wish he would have stayed longer in the Senate before running for President. On the other hand, he has exactly the same amount of time in political office as Bush did in 2000 (6 years).

While Edwards is considerably more conservative than me, I'm disappointed that he's leaving the Senate, because I know he's pretty much the most liberal Senator N.C. will ever have. Or the rest of the South (minus Florida) for that matter.

If Edwards got the VP nomination, do you feel from your perspective as a North Carolinian, that Kerry will take your (wholly Republican) state?

[Dave from Michigan]

Low-life white trash con-man.  A less intelligent and more venal (if that's possible) version of Clinton.

exactly

[Lunar]

Ian, Edwards probably couldn't take his own state of North Carolina if he was running at the TOP of the ticket.  It might have placed it in play at best if Edwards were the nominee, a a native vice president means little there.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

Ian, Edwards probably couldn't take his own state of North Carolina if he was running at the TOP of the ticket.  It might have placed it in play at best if Edwards were the nominee, a a native vice president means little there.

Edwards was running well behind Bush in NC (by around 15 points) until the last two months when he did so well in the primaries.  Since then, his popularity in his home state has shot up.  A poll a few days before Super Tuesday showed him beating Bush in NC by 3 or 5 points.  I don't know if that would have held if Edwards was the nominee, but he's probably not quite popular enought to win NC as the bottom of the ticket.

If Edwards got back in the NC Senate race, he would win in a landslide, though.

As a VP candidate, Edwards real strength is with the white independents in the Midwest, whom he did very well among in the primaries.  See the exit polls in IA, WI, and OH for proof.

[Ben.]

Low-life white trash con-man.  A less intelligent and more venal (if that's possible) version of Clinton.

eh?... he's never been implicated in anything untoward... what you don’t seem to like is his slick ability to frame arguments... he has a stable family which he seems to care a great deal about, I don’t understand this deep republican loathing of Edwards... is it because he was a lawyer? If so why? yes he made a lot of money but he did not take a single case that not a legitimate one (quite an achievement)... you berate Dems for "Bush hating" then you give vent to this "Edwards hating" I really don’t get it... then again I didn’t understand the reason that Clinton was so loathed by the GOP (probably because he trashed you guys in two presidential elections)... but at least have a reason for disliking Edwards as you seem to have non, except bitterness bourn of believing he is a "smarmy lawyer" for which there is no evidence...  

On the original point…. Generally I like Edwards (supported him in the primary, after wrestling between him and Clark)… of the potential VPs who to me appear viable selections (Bayh, Warner, Nelson, Graham, Landrieu and Edwards) he appears to me to be the one with the greatest proven ability to appeal to moderates and independents in all regions especially in the industrial states and the Midwest as a whole… he also has a speaking manner and a debating style which voters generally react well to as well, which will be important when he goes up against Cheney (who is for all his flaws a very good debater)… over the past few weeks I have flitted between Nelson and Warner a great deal however both had flawes as VP choices and this lead me back to Edwards… I really believe that Edwards is the best bet for Kerry as his VP, so if Kerry’s polling bares it out (What already seems clear) then Edwards is his best pick for the VP slot IMHO and has the potential to do really well…        

   

[Filuwaúrdjan]

He's a Populist Democrat

The best reason for picking him as a running mate, is that the would help a lot downticket (especially in the NC and SC Senate races).

The other good reason for picking him, is the demographics of most of his voters: white, rural, independents or populist Democrats.
Now a lot of these people don't normally vote...

[Kodratos]

He's a decent guy, but he wouldn't be a good president in my opinion. Not enough experiance. I think he would make an excellent vice-president though.

[MarkDel]

My opinion of John Edwards?

Great candidate, miserable human being.

He's an ambulance chasing, soak the rich, amoral, soul-less individual who presents a wonderful facade of depth behind his personal charisma and good hair.

He's basically an amoral person with no values and no strongly held political beliefs other than that which helps him get elected and insulates him from criticism.

Essentially, John Edwards is a less intelligent version of Bill Clinton, only he had a more successful legal career, and seems to have better control of his genitals than Clinton did.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

My opinion of John Edwards?

Great candidate, miserable human being.

He's an ambulance chasing, soak the rich, amoral, soul-less individual who presents a wonderful facade of depth behind his personal charisma and good hair.

He's basically an amoral person with no values and no strongly held political beliefs other than that which helps him get elected and insulates him from criticism.

Essentially, John Edwards is a less intelligent version of Bill Clinton, only he had a more successful legal career, and seems to have better control of his genitals than Clinton did.

Amoral?  How?  Yea, he looked for people to represent so he could make a living.  Is that really THAT bad?  Gimme a break.  

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Amoral?! He's actually very religious... but has never made a big deal of it in political campaigning.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Amoral?! He's actually very religious... but has never made a big deal of it in political campaigning.

Personally, I don't think being religous is very moral (being looked at as that damn, troublemaker atheist family next to all the good, nice, catholic school boys will do that to you).  Thats the only thing I don't like about the guy, is thats he's religous.  At least it never seems to get in his way of doing his job right.  

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Amoral?! He's actually very religious... but has never made a big deal of it in political campaigning.

Personally, I don't think being religous is very moral (being looked at as that damn, troublemaker atheist family next to all the good, nice, catholic school boys will do that to you).  Thats the only thing I don't like about the guy, is thats he's religous.  At least it never seems to get in his way of doing his job right.  

Edwards' is a Methodist

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

My opinion of John Edwards?

Great candidate, miserable human being.

He's an ambulance chasing, soak the rich, amoral, soul-less individual who presents a wonderful facade of depth behind his personal charisma and good hair.

He's basically an amoral person with no values and no strongly held political beliefs other than that which helps him get elected and insulates him from criticism.

Essentially, John Edwards is a less intelligent version of Bill Clinton, only he had a more successful legal career, and seems to have better control of his genitals than Clinton did.

Amoral?  How?  Yea, he looked for people to represent so he could make a living.  Is that really THAT bad?  Gimme a break.  

Edwards mostly represented children with very serious injuries owing to corporate negligence.

The attack on him that I have heard is the he only represented:
- Children (who were especially sympathetic to juries)
- With SERIOUS injuries (to increase to possibility of a big verdict)
- Against corporations or other deep pockets (to increase the probability that those verdicts would be paid out)
...all with the goal of collecting the biggest attorney's fees possible.

I guess it all depends on whether you have the capacity to believe that a trial lawyer could sincerely be doing if for the sake of public good.  
It seems that some people just believe that all trial lawyers are evil in their heart.  Other people feel that way about corporate executives.  It's unfortunate.

[© tweed]

Edwards is cool

[Kodratos]

Amoral?! He's actually very religious... but has never made a big deal of it in political campaigning.

Personally, I don't think being religous is very moral (being looked at as that damn, troublemaker atheist family next to all the good, nice, catholic school boys will do that to you).  Thats the only thing I don't like about the guy, is thats he's religous.  At least it never seems to get in his way of doing his job right.  

Edwards' is a Methodist

What are you Al?