The Phoenix

Edwards Gains Iowa Endorsement But What's Equally Important is the Reason He Got It

    "Iowans for Sensible Priorities" -- a group that claims it can send almost 10,000 adherents to the caucuses -- has endorsed John Edwards.
    A quote from the ABC dispatch:

    "There's a rhetoric gap with Obama," executive director Peggy Huppert told ABC News. "He told me personally: 'Trust me. Ideologically, I'm with you.' But people have told him to be afraid of being pushed too far to the left. He doesn't bring up [cuts in Pentagon spending] on his own. He doesn't incorporate it into his speeches. He skirts around it. He talks around the edges. He never gets to the heart of it in strong, bold language."

    This is why, as we've noted before, rhetoric counts. It's also why it's way too soon to write off Edwards, even if the press tends to do so.

Published Nov 09 2007, 02:35 PM by Importer

LorenzoJennifer said:

Iowans For Sensible Priorities and John Edwards have a common desire to re-direct the debate and federal spending toward domestic issues. This year, the Democrats seem to be concentrating on foreign affairs while the Republicans focus on domestic matters. Role reversal. The Dems have historically been the "mommy party" while the GOP preferred foreign relations. Edwards has re-invented his "two Americas" rhetoric from 2004 - that is, those that got and them that don't. The Iowans For Sensible Priorities endorsement fits well with Edwards's increasing labor union endorsements.

Edwards is a "been there, done that" candidate, having run as a presidential primary contender in '04 and then as Kerry's VP. He knows what needs to be done and how to do it. Can he, though? Probably his last shot as he served one term as US Senator and has been out of the public eye since leaving public office in January 2005. He has nothing to lose.

Bill Clinton, in 1992, was often reminded "it's the economy, stupid" as being the guide to victory. History repeating itself, perhaps?

November 11, 2007 9:21 PM