John Edwards Makes His Case

(CBS)  In Hillary Clinton's corner, the most dominant Democratic politician of his generation. In Barack Obama's corner, the most dominant media figure of her generation.

It's just one more explanation for why the Democratic nomination is so often seen as a two-person race.

But at least in Iowa, the numbers tell a different story, CBS News senior political correspondent Jeff Greenfield reports. It's a virtual three-way dead heat.

"Well, you can't count Edwards out," said Ann Selzer, who directs the Des Moines Register poll.

She points to former vice presidential nominee John Edwards' strong second place showing four years ago.

"He's been through this before and he knows what it is to surge at the end," she said.

So what is John Edwards doing? As he did for years ago, he's crisscrossing the state of Iowa arguing that he is the most electable Democrat based on who he is, where he's from, and what he's for.

Part of the argument is geographic.

"I'm the one candidate on our side who's actually won in a red state and grew up in small town rural American," Edwards said in Iowa. "And I might add, you know, as a practical matter, the last two Democrats who were elected president of the United States, they talked like this."

But he also links that working-class background to his core political argument: a frankly populist attack on corporate wealth and power.

"The power in government, in our country, has become concentrated in the few, affects every single thing that's happening," he said.

It's the theme of a new ad linking his campaign to his wife's life-threatening illness:

"And Elizabeth and I decided we're not going to quietly go away," he says in an ad. "Instead we're going to go out and fight for what it is we believe in."

Edwards end game is simple: find the Iowa Democrats who want change, convince them that change requires a fighter and not Obama's intention to be a healer.

And hope for a win here that turns a two way fight into a three-way
fight everywhere.

[rowdytexan2]

lol, I also find it rather impossible to believe that a man that lives in a $6.5 million dollar mansion is the best advocate for the poor and needy.

And the few plans that he finally came up with after he quit HIllary bashing with every breath, have not just wow''d the pants off me either.

Just because HE believes he is the best advocate for the American people does not make it so.

[sgtrds]

Edwards/Clark ''08. Unstoppable.

[mattcbsmatt]

Candidates Reveal Their Biggest Mistakes

Candidates Reveal they think illegal immigration is legal?
Even though there is a hint in the phrase illegal immigration. : )

He thinks illegal immigration is legal?
Which presidential candidate can answer this very difficult question? Is illegal immigration, illegal?

[infidel_us]

Hugo Chavez has endorsed Edwards. Does anyone really need to know any more than that? I mean anyone besides Danny Glover, Sean Penn, and Harry Belafonte?

[tacyr1242]

Sumner Redstone has contributed to Hillary''s campaign and to Edward''s. So, guess who''s going to get airtime and, as a result, get nominated.

[dianeboise08]

Stop it with all the John Edwards bashing. Could we just maybe possibly look at all the candidates with an open mind.

Or, if we don''t happen to like a person or disagree with their views, must we continue with the unnecessary bashing of any candidate you do not believe in-for crying out loud already - grow up and talk civilly!!

[prinzowhales]

I''m from North Carolina and have never had a satisfactory communication with his office...from communications regarding the fraudulent case for war against Iraq to those arguing against the expansion of Big Pharma''s FDA'' authority over supplements and herbals.

Still, compared with Hillary, Obama and the rest of the mainstream, he is the pick of the pack.

Dennis Kucinich stands head and shoulders above all of the Democrats. He has actually done real yeoman''s service for the people of Cleveland by keeping their public utility out of the clutches of the banksters. He voted against the war.

I''m voting for Ron Paul...but I respect Dennis Kucinich--and Mike Gravel. They all have one thing in common--they haven''t sold out to the Estabishment--and, because of this the Establishment''s mainstream media is not giving them the media exposure that the banker-supported candidates are getting...not surprisingly, all three were left off Katie Couric''s ten question love fest.

[beachroses]

I have been telling the people who work for John Edwards *for years* to take me off his mailing list and they refuse. The last time, I told them if they didn''t stop, I was going to take action as is my right. I just got something else from them this morning!! Are you kidding or what??? That is not only inconsiderate of me, my time and my space, it is AGAINST THE LAW. He doesn''t care about anyone or what''s legal, he is so greedy for power and money and that Presidential seat he''s been running for since day 1 of entering office as our Senator in NC, nothing would stop him. He rarely showed up for work then, either. I''m reporting him to the police.

[lisainmilo]

"Go John Go
I hope he is still in by the time we get to vote in may. "

Posted by jsilver2th

I agree! I want a change of direction in this country and I believe he will fight to give us that.
John Edwards 2008

[nc_mom]

When we evaluate people for jobs, we consider experiences and references. Regrettably, this North Carolinian who once voted for Edwards can%u2019t give him a good reference.

Edwards has no experience putting ideas into action. He never held any kind of office, even PTA, before his single win (against a guy Forbes dubbed %u201Csenator for sale%u201D). He abandoned his senatorial duties to campaign for himself. His constituent services were terrible%u2014to the point of embarrassing other Democratic office-holders who sent constituents to him for help. After losing, Edwards started a think tank that had no measurable impact on our state.

More importantly, Edwards has never carried a single issue through all the politics of this state, let alone Congress.

Then there%u2019s the hypocrisy. Unlike other wealthy people, Edwards chose to make his commitment to the poor his central issue. Why, then, didn%u2019t he choose to build a modest 1.5 million mansion instead of a 6.5 million, and put that $5 million into nonprofits that help the poor, and amount that could keep many nonprofits going 50 years. What percent of his income does he give to charity? Studies show lower-income people give a greater percentage of their income; if Edwards is truly committed to the poor, he%u2019d be giving the same percentage as lower-income folks%u2014and telling us about it.

In conclusion, Edwards doesn%u2019t have the experience or true commitment to be president.