John Edwards was easily written off as a Democratic nominee months ago, but he continues to survive.
In Tuesday’s presidential primary, the Optimist endorses John Edwards, democratic senator from North Carolina.
Though Edwards’ chances of winning the nomination lessen every primary, he’s not out of the race yet. His positive campaign and focus on the roots of the Democratic Party-blue-collar workers-make him the only candidate who could beat the popular incumbent president in November. Edwards was a star litigator in his own state and financed his own campaign to beat an incumbent Republican for election to the Senate in 1998. By paying his own way, Edwards avoided lobbyists and special interest groups.
Once in the Senate, he began serving on the Intelligence Committee and quickly learned about foreign relations.
Edwards grew up the son of a textile-mill worker and worked summers to attend North Carolina State University and eventually law school at University of North Carolina.
In his speeches, he speaks of two Americas: one that works hard and the other that reaps the rewards of that work.
This strikes at the heart of traditional Democratic voters the way John Kerry cannot. Kerry’s flip-flopping on both Iraq wars and his conduct and choice of words in interviews are not becoming of a president.
Edwards’ views remain clearer and more sincere than Kerry’s. The senator from Massachusetts doubles back and changes more than any other candidate and his platform is unclear and shaky.
If Edwards had the chance to debate Bush, he would represent the opposite political philosophy of the incumbent. Bush came from a wealthy family, attended Ivy League schools and became a fixture in the Republican Party. Edwards grew up in a blue-collar family, attended state universities and worked hard for his future. He’s the Everyman who sweated his way to the top. He’s exactly what the Democratic Party needs.
Americans could vote with a good conscience about a candidate-not just settle for a man who is the lesser of their two evils.
