For the Edwards supporters-

[RainDog]

I saw your guy on C-span this weekend and I thought he gave a great stump speech! I was really impressed with his ability to nail Bush on issue after issue.

I've sort of had an (unfair) bias against Edwards because he looks like a cutie pie...not that there's anything wrong with that, but if he'd grow a soul patch, and have some angst, I guess I could relate more. :)

...not that I think he'll do that...

Anyway, I haven't ventured much into this forum since GD split because the headers for threads made me not want to read the attacks.

but wanted to say that hearing Edwards say that he and his supporters were going to shock the world in the primary made me wish he would.

No matter how people bash each others' primary favorites, I have to say that I think we do have a strong slate of candidates, no matter what the media tries to spin.

I hope that, no matter which candidate wins the primary, all of us will fight like hell to get that person elected and to get rid of the scourge of George.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

1. Edwards is great, one of the best

the true populist that was ignored.

[quinnox]

2. I saw him on Cspan

the other day, he was really good. Intelligent and charismatic, I would not be overly surprised to see him start to gather serious support as the primaries get closer.

[ShimokitaJer]

3. I like what I've seen of Edwards on tv

He seems completely genuine, at ease in front of the cameras, and always on top of his points.

It's a shame his campaign never got the momentum it needed

[AP]

13. Not time for past tense.

He could be on track for a winning arc.

It's going to come down to who works the hardest and has the best message.

[citizen snips]

4. Edwards is a good candidate.

I think he jumped into the race to soon with little expirence.

[LandOLincoln]

5. I agree--Edwards is terrific

but he should have waited. I'll be delighted to vote for him in 2012--after President Clark's or President Dean's second term.

[RainDog]

6. I don't think he should have waited

he has to make himself known around the country, and what better way than to enter the primaries?

Even if he may not have all the heat that some other candidates do, if he wants to run in the future, I don't see how a run now does him harm...and in fact would at least give him some more name recognition outside of the south.

I get the feeling that he's also not up there to make enemies among the other candidates....Though he made it clear that he's working to win for his own candidacy.

[AP]

14. I agree. He has the right message for this moment, and he matches up

against Bush perfectly.

[anti-bush]

7. This isn't true, now matter how many times it's repeated

He now has four years experience as a United States Senator working on the Senate Intelligence committee. He also has over twenty years experience fighting against corporations.
Of the other candidates, I would only submit that Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman, and (maybe) Kucinich have more relevant experience.

Edwards has at least as much, if not more applicable experience than Dean, Clark, Braun, and Sharpton.

So please don't continue to spread this lie.

[arewethereyet]

8. for such a brief time in office, he sure does understand things well

and he got on great committees. no small feat for a junior senator.

lets face it, the guy is smart, he knows how to educate himself and down't seem to forget anything.

I don't care if he was only in a month, he's sharper than all the others except Graham and I'll stack him up against even Jerry.

and he's got that winning accent folks. America just loves the accent and that twinkle in the eyes. Scowls and sneers just don't make people happy.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. He's even better in person

More than any other reason for my wanting him to be president is that he really relates to human beings in a positive way. He could truly shepherd our rejoining of the world community and go a long way to salve the wounds caused by the current monarchists.

This would also be truly applicable to the domestic divide: he embodies the puritan work ethic and log cabin conceits that comprise the American character, and his populist approach is bent on making the country work in the mode in which it was intended, so his appeal isn't the typical "you're all wrong" approach of the left.

I wrote him a stump speech and gave it to him when I met him, and I hope he's had a chance to look at it. In that brief moment of a handshake, he was very sincere and confirmed that Elizabeth reads DU avidly.

The speech in L.A. on the 13th was stunning for its ease, candor and raw assured power. He's really got "it", and I hope he gets a chance to shine.

Thanks for the nice post, and for all my fellow Edwards fans, I'll be in spotty touch with the board for the next week or so; I'm moving, so my DSL has to catch up to me, and I'll be out of town for the holidays.

Happy holidays, all!

[chimpymustgo]

17. Purity, I'm so happy you wrote something for Edwards.

Your writing is so pure and powerful. It is thrilling to know that it could be used for such a worthy cause.

Have a stressless move, and and joyful holiday.

[yaledem]

10. C-SPAN and 60 Minutes

I think the one-two punch of those programs yesterday are causing a lot of people to take a second look at Edwards. One thing that is consistent in all the polls is that the vast majority of voters are either undecided or pretty soft in their support. If anyone is going to "shock the world" over the next two months, I believe Edwards is the best positioned to do just that. Positive campaign, articulate and passionate candidate, great message... what more could a dem ask for?

[AP]

15. In the Edwards conference call, they also said that Edwards does really

well in the "have you written any candidates off" category.

Very few people have written him off. One interpreation is that people don't know enough to write him off. However, there have been some pretty intense spinning on him, and this also suggest that NONE of it is really sticking.

[spooky3]

11. Thanks, RainDog, and everyone else for your nice AND honest

posts.

I'll keep hoping for the best for Edwards.

[AP]

12. Not that it's scientific, but after 60 Min's, Edwards web traffic up 860%

Which is interesting.

[arewethereyet]

16. to know him is to love him

and more people now know him and if you don't thin they would like something positive to believe in then I think you're mistaken.

Its a good thing that the negative Dr Dean is where he is. Not enough of a percentage to be unbeatable and the others are rumbling around with no real strength. The people are speaking, they want a standard bearer that they can feel good about exactly like they felt when Clinton ran.

The parallels are stark and exciting !

Go Edwards !