John Edwards Will Announce An '08 Run

(CBS/AP)  Former Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards intends to enter the 2008 race for the White House, two Democratic officials said Saturday.

Edwards, who represented North Carolina in the Senate for six years, plans to make the campaign announcement late this month from the New Orleans neighborhood hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina last year and slow to recover from the storm.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they did not want to pre-empt Edwards' announcement.

As Edwards enters the crowded field, the Lower Ninth Ward provides a stark backdrop to highlight his signature issue — that economic inequality means that the country is divided into "two Americas."

Edwards also plans to travel from New Orleans through the four early presidential nominating states — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Among Democrats, Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois are drawing the most attention almost two years before the actual vote.

On Friday night, another prominent Democrat, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, announced that he would not make a run for the White House in 2008.

Edwards, however, is in a strong position as the leading candidate in Iowa. He was a top fundraiser in the race for the nomination in 2004 before he became Democratic Sen. John Kerry's running mate.

Since the Democrats' loss to President Bush, Edwards has worked to build support for a repeat presidential bid.

Edwards' spokesman, David Ginsberg, would not confirm or deny that Edwards planned to announce he would run in 2008.

Ginsberg said Edwards would make an announcement about his future when he is ready.

[olgreyghost]

To use force or the threat of force, particularly deadly force, to steal property from its rightful owner is robbery. Edwards intends to use the force of government, which can be deadly force, to take property from its rightful owners. What does that make him and those who support him?

[pared1]

John has my vote.

[j-whitman]

After what republicans did to our country by giving us Bush,, I'm shocked at any of them commenting on democrats..

[tibu987]

Edwards. Yuck.
The whole group of possible democratic contenders looks pretty bleak at this point.
Possibly Feingold could be their shining star.

[randalds]

Which is exactly how Bush and his minions like Grover Norquist planned it. Privatise everything and have the rich become a true ruling class like it was becoming in the late 19th century. he wants to shrink government by putting all functions of it in the hands of the rich until is small enough to, as he said "drown it in a bathtub". In the end the goal is no government at all, just the wealthy elite running everything.

[rsoxfan1123]

With job gains in pretty much every other state, how did Bush manage to affect only the jobs in North Carolina?

Posted by RonnieHM at 03:16 AM : Dec 17, 2006
The jobs "gained" have not come close to regaining the number held prior to Bush getting in office, and the majority of the jobs have been low income, walmart employee type work. There has been a historic shift in wealth away from the middle class into the hands of the wealthy elite under this administration.

Dennis Kucinich is the only non-corporate choice for the people: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_1523.shtml.

[sjc_1]

I would favor Hillary taking over Harry Reid's job in the Senate and a presidential ticket like Edwards/Obama. Obama needs more experience and can get it as VP. Edwards captures the country with the "two Americas" theme. Obama can motivate many on the campaign trail from Iowa to the White House as a VP candidate.

[grumpas]

Speaking as a former native Southeastern Iowan of 47 years ago! I will have to agree with native Iowan! I like John Edwards! I have nothing against his making a fortune suing doctor's! That's the American way! I will also have to agree with M_Kotyk I don't think Hillary can win (even though I would vote for her, I don't vote Republican anymore) I think she would put another Republican in the White House! This country can not afford another "nut case" Republican! We need to lose the whole party until the country get's straightened out again! They always screw it up!

[native_iowan]

Living in Iowa, I've had the chance to hear the politicians many times as they trek through Southeast Iowa over the years, including John Edwards. Althought I was a very strong John Kerry supporter, the very first time I met John Edward and heard him speak to our local citizens, I was very impressed by this man. I left believing that SOMEDAY this man would be President, though I did not expect it would happen the last election---this was before he became the VP nominee. Since then, I have heard him speak several times, and read several things by him. My respect for this man just grows, and I truly believe, this man WILL be President. For our country's sake, I hope that will happen in 2008, and I will work to make that happen. I told him that the last time he was here . . .