Edwards event on CSPAN right now.

[AP]

Will it be something new? Will it be the the speech he has been giving for the last 6 or 7 days?

There's a big crowd. There's a HUGE crowd.


Black man on stage for the first time in IA or NH talking to the audience.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

1. Go Edwards!

Edwards is one of us - I would vote him.

[Ruti]

2. Me, too.

He also has my favorite of the wives.

I think Clark/Edwards would beat Bush fairly easily!

[chimpymustgo]

3. He's in the building. Place is PACKED.

Woo hoo.

[AP]

4. They have a camera in the hall where Edwards is waiting. The hall is

packed. The auditorium is packed. I think Edwards just peeked in and was surprised by the crowd.'

[AP]

5. Durkin endorses Edwards.

Just announced.

[chimpymustgo]

6. I heard that on Washington Journal this morning, but couldn't find a link.

Isn't that great!

[chimpymustgo]

7. ROCK star! Chanting. The Vibe. Gollee.

This is damn impressive.

[AP]

8. Introduces Cate, Elizabeth and Glen Close on the stage.

[chimpymustgo]

9. Elizabeth, Cate, and Glenn Close. Hundreds who couldn't get in.

Speech now. 2 Americas.

[AP]

10. Two Americas...poverty

It last weeks speech, with the new poverty talk, which he started at the debate.

"It doesn't have to that way. We can do something together about this. In a country of our wealth and prosperity ... for people to live in poverty, it's wrong."


These are things I've been saying over dinner tables since 2000, before I ever heard of John Edwards.

[chimpymustgo]

12. Our children the first generation to grow up not divided by race.

Build a world, and an image of America where we are looked up to. That makes America safer.

[spooky3]

11. How often is JE on 2 channels at once?? I watched him on Wolf.

He was excellent and I have to give kudos to Wolf too. He asked only substantive questions and did not interrupt JE.

Now switching to CSpan.

[Lex]

13. Got CSPN on now!

Wow! It's a packed venue!

He looks both relaxed and enthusiastic at the same time. I like that.

[spooky3]

14. you guys all know about the advance person's trick, don't you?

Always schedule a venue smaller than the expected turnout so it looks overflowing.

This goes back at least as far as the Nixon days.

But even still, it's great to see big numbers and people of all ages.

[Lex]

17. Yeah, that must be it

riiiiiight.

[spooky3]

27. I'm not criticizing--it's just one of the legit. options

because perceptions are important. We did it in 1972.

[Lex]

31. I guess it's the largest venue

in that town, according what another poster said.

[AP]

21. This is the biggest venue in town -- it's a high school gym.

[spooky3]

22. that's great!

[Lex]

15. A sick or hungry child

never got anything out of an early childhood program.

We have to address that first.

Yes, John, you're right!

[chimpymustgo]

16. Been thinking about those warm summer nights in NC lately.

Tells the story of how he worked his way through college. One job was unloading tractor trailer trucks. "Let me tell you, you spend a summer night unloading trucks - you WILL get up in the morning and study!"

It's a great line. I smile every time. Like the new allusion to the NH chill.

[chimpymustgo]

20. Just glad you're having as much fun as I am.

All this while giving a litany of proposals, i.e. college for everyone.

[AP]

18. Middle class aren't just NOT getting wealthier. They're going into MORE

debt.

This part of the speech is so KICK ASS true, I really can't believe it.

Listening to him talk is like listening to myself think circa 2000-2004.

[Lex]

25. He said If you are middle class

your parents are more likely to file for bankruptcy than for divorce.

Ouch.

[beaconess]

19. He's rocking the house!

Civil rights
poverty
Predatory Lending

He is SO good!

[AP]

23. Don't tell the state lobbyists donating to his campaign...he wants to take

away their jobs.

Actually, interesting comment: yesterday somebody tried to suggest a lobbyist donated to his campaign, and that was bad. We shined a light on her, and it turns out that she lobbies on behalf of poor familes in the state house.

[beaconess]

26. :-)

[beaconess]

24. Do any of the other candidates manage to so skillfully weave policy

talk into their rah rah pep talks this way?

[spooky3]

28. he's brilliant, so gifted, so good on every level.

[AP]

29. Appeal to minds via mind and heart? I don't think so.

[beaconess]

30. I beat 'em. And I beat 'em again. And I beat 'em AGAIN!

[spooky3]

32. they are eating out of his hand. Listening to every word.

[chimpymustgo]

33. You give me a shot at George Bush and I will give you the White House.

I am SO ready for this FIGHT!

[spooky3]

34. this crowd is responding even more strongly than his Iowa crowds.

[chimpymustgo]

35. On their FEET! Questions, now.

Sit down.

Gotta go talk to the hundreds of other people in the other room.

[spooky3]

36. Q&A time, he shines with these.

[maddezmom]

37. He rocked the house (or should I say gym) :)

and taking some Q&A's that weren't planned. Smart move. :)

[DjTj]

38. Tort reform...

...it's the tough issue for Edwards...

[beaconess]

39. And he always knocks it out the park

[DjTj]

40. I'd like to see him answer this more...

...and get better with it. He has a good answer that responds to the question, but it's not up to stump speech/talking point level. By the general election, he'll need to be able to spin it into a positive issue by perhaps talking about one of his cases.

[beaconess]

41. It's a very complex that's hard to boil down to a sound bite

But you're right - he needs to work on answering it in simpler terms.

He probably doesn't get the question that much out on the campaign trail so he hasn't honed it down yet.

[spooky3]

42. it's actually a strength--so he should be able to do it.

This is the article about malpractice that "turned me on" to him. It's just brilliant.

"Let's Keep Doctors in Business"

http://www.dodgeglobe.com/stories/052203/opi_0522030031.shtml

[chimpymustgo]

47. Keeps his composure with a "heckler type". Answers, then smiles.

some gusy asks him whether he supported tort reform when he was suing doctors in NC.

Edwards said yes, and ran his practice that way.

OMG. Look at the OTHER room. Okay bring the voting machines in now!

[AP]

54. That was great. He made it sound like the guy was giving him a compliment.

[beaconess]

43. How many politicians can call women Sweetheart and Darlin' and not sound

like a lech?

[spooky3]

45. doesn't he usually use that with children?

[spooky3]

48. "as we've seen with these crowds, we need overflow rooms..."

"...we'll try to get the picture up for the overflow room" said by Cspan guy.

so maybe they will come back?

[spooky3]

49. he's back on now in the overflow room

[mvd]

44. I was watching some of it

Edwards is very charming - he has the comfort level of Clinton without the baggage.

[spooky3]

46. yes, and he's every bit as smart

[chimpymustgo]

53. No to kids going to bed hungry. No to people working full time

and living in poverty.

I know this may not get me any votes, but it's the RIGHT thing. 35 million people in poverty. Say no.

[AP]

50. Check out the crowd in the over-flow room!

[spooky3]

52. it's absolutely packed!!! He must be enjoying this so much.

[DjTj]

55. Wow!

...I wish he really could grab those people and get them to the polls...

[spooky3]

51. If he had had even 10% of the coverage * has gotten

gotten earlier, he'd be the front runner.

[chimpymustgo]

56. Oh, what might have been. What still might be.

It's just impossible to watch and listen to this guy and not love it.

[beaconess]

57. Better now than never!

I'll take it. :-)

[citizen snips]

58. Huge crowd!

That is the biggest crowd he has had yet.

[spooky3]

59. Cspan caller (senior) is raving about his ability to listen.

[spooky3]

60. Another caller saying formerly undecided, now an Edwards supporter.

She's "thrilled to be in NH this week."

I think people will get themselves out to the polls, just as they came out in big numbers to the Iowa caucuses. They are excited.

[spooky3]

61. Another caller concerned about trade deficit. He's supporting Edwards.

Thinks JE's "Real Solutions for America" addresses it as well as anyone has.

[chimpymustgo]

62. More JRE - press availability.

What's causing surge?

Positive campaign.

[Zech Marquis]

63. wow, what a HUGE turnout there!

the place looked packed. wall to wall! The rethugs should be very, VERY afraid of this! :evilgrin:

[chimpymustgo]

64. "I'm closing the deal with the voters now"

Just like in Iowa.

[DjTj]

65. kid reporters...

...I've never seen a candidate so comfortable with kids!

[spooky3]

66. callers now--all the incoherent ones are Bush supporters.

Surprise, surprise.

[AP]

67. And all the rest (like 90%) are pro-Edwards.

[chimpymustgo]

68. Ex Dean supporter. Thinks Edwards more electable than gov from

Vermont. Great speaker.

[chimpymustgo]

69. Now the MOB scene at the bowling alley last night.

Have mercy!

[AP]

70. YEAAAAARRGGGHHH

[chimpymustgo]

71. I can't tear myself away from the TV!

And I so need to run some errands before the SNOW hits!

Man, he is great to watch.

[spooky3]

73. I know, I have a million things to get done too!

[spooky3]

72. LOL! Everyone, please reward yahoo for the first Edwards piece

I've seen linked to their home page:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=5&u=/ap/20040125/ap_on_el_pr/edwards_8

Rate this story a 5!!!! (even though it could be better :-))

[chimpymustgo]

81. Thanks for the heads-up - Everybody vote the Yahoo story 5!!

nt

[spooky3]

74. the fire marshalls closed people out, per CSpan!

[zulchzulu]

75. The VP speaks!

Edwards will make a great VP.

[spooky3]

76. yes, and an even better President!

[AP]

77. At this rate, he'll be his own VP, cause he's going to be P too.

[DjTj]

79. I'm afraid he won't get the chance...

...without Edwards at the top of the ticket, it will be harder for the Dems to win, but we don't need to worry about that since he will win the nomination!

[Lex]

80. Where did the VP speak?

I saw our next Prez speak!! Edwards!

[jenk]

78. wow, there was like 1200 people there!

go john!