Edwards Back in the Spotlight Again

By Sarah Wheaton
May 15, 2008, 11:31 pm


John Edwards talked with the wait staff at a midtown Manhattan reception Thursday night. (Photo: Richard Perry/The New York Times)


On his way into an award ceremony in New York City on Thursday, John Edwards took a few questions from reporters about his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama the day before.

Mr. Edwards, the one-time contender for the 2008 Democratic nomination and Senator John Kerry’s running mate in 2004, responded to speculation about a potential role in an Obama administration, saying, “I have no interest in running as vice president.” But asked about serving as attorney general, he responded: “Oh, I don’t have any thoughts about any of that.”
Mr. Edwards was receiving an award in midtown Manhattan from Demos, a liberal policy research center on whose board Mr. Obama once sat. A day earlier, Mr. Edwards was in Michigan, standing next to Mr. Obama, announcing his endorsement.
“I thought it was the right time to do it,” he said about publicly backing Mr. Obama after the West Virginia primary, which Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton had won handily.

He said he had called Mrs. Clinton before endorsing Mr. Obama, but: “We kept missing each other. I tried to speak with her.” He said he has not spoken to Mrs. Clinton since.
The former candidate’s speech on Thursday was familiar to anyone who had heard him speak during his campaign, but there was a poignant moment when he talked about the hotel workers, nurses, security guards and other working-class people who can sometimes be overlooked.

“Every time I see any of these people, I see my father …” he was saying. Mr. Edwards often refers to his father, a former mill worker, but this time his tribute carried unprecedented emotion. He paused for eight seconds before continuing: “…who I walked with. For a long time. Thirty-some-odd years.” He spoke haltingly, his voice coming from deep in his throat, nearly cracking. “He would go in the mill, every day, so that I could be where I am today.”

“I’m like most Americans,” Mr. Edwards told reporters later. “I love my dad and I’m very proud of him, and I’ve watched the struggles that he’s gone through, and he’s been very important in my life.”

Over all, Mr. Edwards seemed like someone glad to be back in the limelight after several months back in private life. He greeted and teased the New York-based reporters who had followed him on the trail and cheerfully took questions on his way in and out of the event. When he was ready to leave, the driver of his sport utility vehicle disappeared, leaving Mr. Edwards locked out and surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

He made little effort to escape. What ensued never would have if Mr. Edwards were still a candidate: silence. Reporters, out of questions, stood in dumbfounded silence, recorders aloft, waiting for someone, anyone, to think of something, anything, to ask. Whether it was more awkward for the reporters or their subject remains unclear.

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I believe that Edward's endorsement of Obama was as a result of tactful behind the scenes discussions between Edwards and the Obama camp....

After the West Virginia primaries it became apparent that Obama is lacking in mass appeal amongst a significant percentage of white working class folks so an effort to harness the participation of Edwards into Obama's campaign might help to beef up Obama's appeal to the white working class......

I also have reasons to believe that Edwards was perhaps promised the VP ticket if Obama becomes the Democratic candidate.....

quote:

Originally posted by Churchill:

I also have reasons to believe that Edwards was perhaps promised the VP ticket if Obama becomes the Democratic candidate.....

That is a strong poiblilty.

If he does not get the nod as the VP-Candidate, most likely, he might feature in a senior cabinet role, should Obama win the election in November.

I really don't trust Edwards. The man look like a con man lawyer, but he may bring in votes.

Indeed, it appears that his presence/association now with the Obama campaign would bring in votes/support from other areas.

Edwards denies being Obama's running mate

www.chinaview.cn 2008-05-17 00:53:39

WASHINGTON, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards denied the speculations on Friday that he would be Barack Obama's running partner.

"No," Edwards said in an interview with NBC's Today show. "Won't happen ... It's just not something I am interested in."

But the former North Carolina Senator did not rule out the possibility to take a role in an Obama's administration should he elected president in November.

"I don't really want to get involved in that speculation," he said. "Right now we have to focus on getting Barack Obama elected to President of the United States, then we'll worry about those things."

But he said that Obama had told him, "I want you on my team. I want to help you both in the campaign and with the work we want to do when I'm the president."

Edwards was named Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004.In his second bid for the White House in 2008, he dropped out of the presidential race in January after failing to win any early primaries.

Eight of the 19 delegates Edwards gained in the race have pledged their support to Obama since he endorsed the Illinois Senator to become the first African American president in the country.

Edwards denied his endorsement, which came a day after Obama's rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton, overwhelmingly won the West Virginia primary, had been deliberately timed to take the wind out of her victory.

"It was the right time to do it. I made the decision that the public should know at this point what my view is," he said.

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