Edwards Says Dean's Attacks May Backfire (AP Dem stories not in US?)

[papau]

As we have all noticed - the US Media is refusing to allow the Dem primary to interfer with the time allottted to praising Bush - so we must go to the EU to find an AP story on Edwards.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3620322,00.html

Edwards Says Dean's Attacks May Backfire

Tuesday January 13, 2004 7:01 PM
By MIKE GLOVER Associated Press Writer

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - John Edwards, claiming momentum a week before the first test of Democratic presidential candidates, warned Tuesday that fresh criticism aimed at him by rival Howard Dean could backfire.

"What people are hungering for here in Iowa is a positive, uplifting campaign of hope, which is what my campaign is about," Edwards said as he prepared to visit a retirement community to tout his plan for expanded health care coverage. <snip>

"If the people of Iowa want somebody who has been in politics for 20 years and knows how to engage in sniping against other candidates, they've got other choices," Edwards said."That's not me."

The level of criticism rose as the campaign for the Democratic nomination neared the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 19 and New Hampshire primary on Jan. 27. Edwards said he will stay above the bickering, contending voters are looking for a positive vision. The latest attacks from Dean are not a surprise, he said, because he senses momentum as voters begin to focus on the race. <snip>

Illingworth said she was leaning toward Edwards, who had impressed her with his positive approach."He's turned my head in these debates," she said. "He's the one guy focused on the right guy: Bush."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. Dean the career politician (since 1983) calls Edwards an 'insider'

That's rich.

Although Dean named no one that time, the reference to Edwards was clear. However, Edwards, elected in 1998, has spent five years in the Senate.

Edwards, campaigning in Storm Lake, Iowa, responded by saying that if caucus participants want a candidate "who has been in politics for nearly two decades and is good at sniping at other Democrats, they have other choices, that's not me." Dean got his start in politics in Vermont in 1983.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/01/13/politics0935EST0501.DTL

[maddezmom]

2. Edwards has been above most of the bickering

he could be a big surprise in Iowa.