Edwards Turns On The Charm to Build Kerry Base (WP)

[VolcanoJen]

Just another veep-lust article. Enjoy the downplaying of the role of the vice presidency, while the media continues to essentially ignore our de facto president, Dick Cheney. It's just kind of interesting. :D

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8456-2004Jun26.html

DES MOINES, June 26 -- As Sen. John Edwards campaigns nationwide for John F. Kerry -- and for the second spot on his presidential ticket -- the North Carolinian's main strength is also his biggest handicap, a paradox at center stage of Kerry's narrowing search for a running mate.

Of all the surrogate candidates and vice presidential hopefuls, none can touch Edwards's ability to electrify crowds and charm voters out of their socks. But Democratic big shots and small-county chairmen alike say there is no question that the charismatic senator still covets the presidency -- in 2008, 2012 or whenever the next opportunity arises.

Among the biggest decisions Kerry faces is whether Edwards could check his ego and ambitions for four or eight years and play the loyal, subservient and rarely glamorous role of vice president, whose greatest concern is supposed to be the president's best interests. Purely in terms of campaigning this fall, the Massachusetts senator also must consider whether Edwards's sizzle would make his own more prosaic style seem unacceptably wooden by comparison.

This weekend in this mecca of presidential politics, Edwards's star qualities were in full glory, delighting hundreds of Iowa Democratic convention-goers but surely prompting mixed feelings inside the Kerry camp. In speeches Friday night and Saturday morning, Edwards ripped the Bush administration and repeatedly brought the delegates to their feet, whooping, cheering and later mobbing him for photos and autographs as the party convention tried to resume its business.

<snip>

Edwards fans hope there was no omen in a Los Angeles debate three days before the New York encounter. Asked to contemplate running together, Edwards said cheerily, "An Edwards-Kerry ticket would be powerful."

Kerry thanked him "for the consideration." But he made no mention of a Kerry-Edwards ticket.

[stevedeshazer]

1. What a pantload

This looks like another thinly-veiled attempt to make Kerry look weak, in this case by either picking or NOT picking Edwards as his running mate.

Kerry picks him: Edwards becomes his rival in 2008 - 2012.

Kerry DOESN'T pick him: Edwards continues to be his rival.

:wtf:

[JI7]

2. the vp part means nothing. Edwards knew Kerry pretty much had the

nomination by then. so for him to say he would like kerry for his vp didn't really mean much. in fact he said many times before he wanted kerry as his vp. it was a safe good answer for him since most knew kerry and because of his relationship with kerry.

but kerry was actually going to be the presumed nominee and even if he was considering edwards, it wouldn't be good to say who you will make vp at that time. one has to consider many factors in picking the vp.

so i wouldn't look much into kerry not saying anything about vp. it's the same thing he did when he is asked about anyone else for vp. he wont say anything about it.

[billybob537]

3. All of this is engineered to keep interest up

any denial or confirmation is meaningless, they're just playing the game. Don't be surprised if it's Edwards.

[olddem43]

4. All of this is true -

Many think Edwards has always been running for VP anyway. Besides, NC is a fairly large EV state and possible to turn for the Dem ticket.