Dems say Edwards' visit to Utah a sign of change

[JohnLocke]

Dems say Edwards' visit a sign of change
The candidate's SLC fundraiser, netting him $100K, could indicate GOP grip on Utah not as powerful
By Glen Warchol--Salt Lake Tribune
Saturday, June 2, 2007
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Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards did the closest thing to an old-fashioned campaign whistle-stop Friday: He met with supporters for about two hours at what used to be Salt Lake City's Union Pacific station.

But the campaign nostalgia ended there. This is, after all, the high-tech age of campaigning and Edwards, who jetted in and out of Salt Lake City International Airport, was really making what amounted to an ATM withdrawal.
(...)
"I want to provide the same kind of opportunities I've had in my life to millions of Americans who deserve them," said Edwards, who made his fortune as a personal-injury attorney. "I come from nothing, and I've been lucky enough to be successful. And those chances ought to be available to everyone."

Addressing the major issue of the campaign, he said Iraqis need to take "responsibility for their own country."

"There is no military solution. Even President Bush sees that," Edwards said. "The only difference of opinion is how we shift that responsibility to them. It ought to be done in an orderly way and a responsible way. But at the end of the day, the Iraqis are going to have to take responsibility for their own country."

Of the candidates, Edwards was the first to offer a plan for universal health care. The annual $90 billion to $120 billion proposal would require all children be covered. Americans who don't have insurance through their employers could choose from private plans or a government plan similar to Medicare.

"We have a dysfunctional health care system," he said. "People are terrified of losing their health care. People are locked into their jobs." The nation, he said, needs to develop an efficient system "to bring down costs and cover people who are not covered."

Later, Utah Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Holland said Edwards' brief stop is another indication that once-dependably Republican Utah is starting to matter again to all presidential candidates.

"They are recognizing this is a great place to stop in," Holland said. "When we told Edwards' people the fundraiser would be to the tune of a little over $100,000, I think we surprised them."
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Read the rest here.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

1. Way to go John! n/t

[More Than A Feeling]

2. Don't places like California and New York complain about being

used as ATMs? It's refreshing that Utah is thrilled.

[waiting for hope]

3. I think Utah may be turning a

softer shade of red....Has Edwards met with Rocky?

K&R!

[stevedeshazer]

4. Howard Dean was right

Surprise, surprise. There are progressive Democrats in Utah.

And in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada, Arizona, Alaska. Places you woundn't expect, if you listen to 'conventional' wisdom.

There are progressive Democrats in Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, both Carolinas, Florida, Tennessee, and for sure in Louisiana.

There are progressive Democrats EVERYWHERE who have been ignored by the Rahm Emanuels and the Steny Hoyers and the Donna Braziles and all the other Beltway Insiders.

They are waiting to take over from their respective fossilized Democratic Party organizers and revitalize the Democratic Party.

Want change? Go to meetings. Help organize. Run for something.

Edwards is absolutely right to go there. The Beltway Dems are so out of touch it's pathetic.

[JohnLocke]

5. Kick (nt).