John Edwards at the Philadelphia meetup on 4/21/06.

[drm604]

I was fortunate enough to meet Edwards and hear him speak at a small meetup in Philly last Friday, 04/21/06. In another thread, a couple of people asked that I post about it. One of the organizers (and a good friend of mine) did a nice writeup here:

http://blog.oneamericacommittee.com/story/2006/4/22/13422/4627

He did a better job then I'd ever do so you can read about it there. I took some of the pictures on that page. There's none of me there but I know that at least one was taken of Edwards and I together. I think they haven't been developed yet (I will be quite upset if it doesn't turn out!). This was an exciting opportunity for me because not too many people get to meet someone like Edwards up close and personal like that. A lot of it's kind of a blur in my memory but I will try to answer any questions you might have about it.

[AmericanDream]

1. Great

That is a very detailed account of the event, plus the pictures rock. Hopefully we'll get to see your pic with Edwards too... soon :)

[drm604]

11. I just saw my picture with Edwards.

Bill said he's going to be putting it up on that page soon. I don't think that it's the most flattering picture of me, but it's most likely the only one I'll ever have of me and Edwards. I'll just let you guess which picture is of me!

[drm604]

14. My picture is up on that page now. n/t

[AmericanDream]

17. Wayne DFA representation

Would that be you with edwards under that caption? :) If yes - great smiles, both of ya!

[drm604]

20. I'll never say!

:)

[begley]

2. Why is nobody talking about Edwards for the nomination?

He's smart, good looking, energetic, passionate, and he came on very strong toward the end of the primaries in 04. Edwards would have clocked Bush's ass in ways that Kerry could not have. Yet all the talk turned to Hillary as the
front-runner and now back to Kerry.

I don't get it.

[AmericanDream]

3. People are - online community is not representative of primary voters

Yes, people here at DU and DailyKos are not too high on Edwards, but in every national or statewide poll, where Gore is excluded, Edwards is running second among democrats. He is ahead of Kerry and way ahead of Clark or Feingold, who have disproportional representation here and all over the web.

As we learned with dean, the primary voters are not all online activists... in fact, most of them aren't. So, really, just the fact that he isn't talked about much here doesn't amount to anything. I think Edwards will be a huge player in 08.

Check out this survey to see his favorability across the board:

http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=275

[begley]

16. I am heartened by your answer

Thank you

[snowbear]

4. Craig Crawford (MSNBC) said on Friday's Hardball that Edwards was......

..... the darkhorse candidate that's in his opinion was going to knock Hillary off the map and right out into the ozone.



He said that while Hillary is sitting comfortably with her 20 million dollar nestegg, that Edward's is making tremendous headway -- but that no one in the media is paying attention at this point.

Crawford was filling in for "Rusty" (what's her face in the "Hardball Hotshots"?.. I can't think of her name right off.. )

After Crawford gave his glowing review of Edwards and his prediction of how he's going to creep up on us while the media is focused on Hillary, I thought of the hardcore Edwards supporters here and had to smile for them (Catchawave, etc, etc, etc...)

http://www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1075776066736_2004/02/03/john_edwards,0.jpg

Only time will tell.. but as far as no one talking about him -- there is at least one guy talking about him! Craig Crawford of MSNBC.

[AmericanDream]

5. Chuck Todd has him at number 2 too

In his hotline/NJ rankings for 2008, Todd has him at number 2 behind Hillary. And, in the Iowa rankings, they have him at number one. Same with the ABC invisible primary rankings... he is at number 2, only behind Hillary. Chris Matthews also told Imus a couple of weeks ago that "I think Edwards is going to be the big star in 2008." Not that I care much about what tweety says... but still ;)

You are right... only time will tell... and the quality of the policy ideas all the guys in the field put forth.

[blue neen]

6. I caught that on Friday, too.

Edwards' positive attitude is sorely needed by the American public. People have been demoralized by everything the Bush administration has done to destroy our lives.

Edwards could give us hope.

[brentspeak]

9. Edwards has been one of the few Democrats

who's actually remembered the bread-and-butter issues that are supposed to be the hallmark of the Democratic party: fair trade, not unfettered free trade; the need to get a nationwide movement going to revitalize this country's domestic manufacturing power; doing something about the national debt.

[blue neen]

10. The work he has been doing to help unions is impressive.

We need someone out there advocating for the working man and woman.

[brentspeak]

7. Hillary would do better to use some of that dough for a Senate relelection

And give the rest to needy Democratic candidates. A poll taken last week revealed that Hillary Clinton has an even lower national approval rating than Bush. But she would have no problem winning another Senate term.

[1932]

13. I think an HRC candidacy is vitally important for the person who beats her

in the primary.

Early favorites, no matter how good a candidate, need to appear to have come from behind -- or at least to have achieved something.

A candidate who starts high will inevitably have a slip-up. If the candidate is in first place when that happens, they will be tainted with the appearance of being on a downward slide. A candidate in second place can have a slip without being doomed to failure. A candidate who comes from behind in the primary will have the appearance of being on a roll.

That's why HRC is important in 2008. Let the media talk her up. It's going to make the better candidate who gets the nomination look like a giant killer in the primaries, which will be a huge boost in the general election.

[begley]

15. very good analysis

I hadn't thought of these things, but they make perfect sense

[Catchawave]

19. Hi larissa !

I saw Craig's comments too :hi: I've been a huge fan of the Edwards mystique since 2003, there is just something so inspiring about his message, which seems to reach the heart and soul of our citizens :loveya:

[ultraist]

22. Great post, Larissa

For more on what Edwards has been up to lately:

http://blog.oneamericacommittee.com/story/2006/4/24/21114/6387

[politicasista]

8. Because it's too early and he is focused on 06 like we all should be n/t

[drm604]

12. I don't really know the answer to that.

So everything I'm about to say is completely ignorant speculation by a guy who probably shouldn't be speculating.

Someone did ask him about running and he stated that he hadn't decided yet, but he sure seemed to be in campaign mode to me. After all, people in Philly don't have any say about his Senate seat so why come here?

Of course it's entirely possible that he really hasn't decided yet, he may be waiting to see how things go with his wife. He did say that she's finished treatment and is doing very well.

[drm604]

18. Kicking for the morning crowd.

:kick:

[benny05]

21. K & R

I have posted this thread on the one you mentioned from OAC blog.

:kick:

[ultraist]

23. This is a great example of grassroots in action

Building the party from the ground up.

Great work, Philly grassrooters.

:applause:

:kick:

[anitar1]

24. I like Edwards and would vote for him. n/t