Edwards tests enthusiam on rival's turf

[surfermaw]

Posted on Sat, Jun. 26, 2004



I M A G E S


Edwards





Veepstakes hit Iowa stage

Edwards gets ovations in rival's home state

MARK JOHNSON

Staff Writer


DES MOINES, Iowa - Auditions for vice president went into full swing Friday night when U.S. Sen. John Edwards shared the stage with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a chief rival to become John Kerry's running mate.

Edwards' keynote speech to an Iowa Democratic Party dinner tested the affection of some Iowa Democrats. While they feel loyalty for their governor, Edwards is the one they gave a surprising second-place finish in the state's important presidential caucus in January.

"There's not going to be a catfight, I don't think," said Richard Reese, a trucking dispatcher from Iowa City and early an Edwards supporter who showed up to hear him speak.

The parade of one veepstakes contender in the back yard of another only fueled the parlor game buzz, even though Edwards and Vilsack consistently refuse to talk about their chances for the vice presidential job.

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/politics/9017540.htm

[DS1]

1. Pick Edwards dammit. I think there's a big enough element

that wouldn't vote for anyone called 'Vilsack'. Yeah, it's shallow, but I know someone who voted for Bush because she thought he was cuter than Gore.

[Frances]

2. I will vote for Kerry no matter whom he picks

But I hope that it's Edwards.

I think a lot of people will be disappointed if it's not.

I think that Dems and some independents want to feel safe again. And they think that if Kerry wins 8 years, they want to be positioned to have a very strong candidate to take his place. And they think that Edwards is young enough, charismatic enough, smart enough, and Dem enough to be that man.

I just can't see Gephardt winning a presidential election on his own 8 years from now.