Edwards in Duluth: "Elvis Presley was in the house...It was electrifying"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Dem prospects jockey to run at Kerry's side

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=676&e=2&u=/usatoday/20040617/ts_usatoday/demprospectsjockeytorunatkerrysside

Edwards, 51, a trial lawyer who raked in money from former colleagues in his primary campaign, introduced Kerry to many of his Florida donors a couple of months ago and opened for him at fundraisers near Miami. Poolside at a fancy hotel, addressing young professionals, he called Kerry "smart, strong, a person of great integrity and character."


Kerry didn't hear the kind words because behind the scenes, he and his wife were reuniting after several days apart. But when he strode onstage, he and Edwards shared a big hug. "What a gathering of charm, talent and brains," Kerry said. "And I'm just talking about John Edwards and me."


Edwards' schedule from April through June is diverse: Ohio, Minnesota and Iowa as well as Florida, Texas and Louisiana in his native South; party fundraisers as well as a jobs roundtable and an address to liberal clergy. He is often requested, and he often evokes rapturous responses.


"Elvis Presley was in the house," Mike Erlandson, chairman of the Minnesota party, said after Edwards' speech May 22 to more than 3,000 state convention delegates in Duluth. "It was electrifying. People were trying to touch him, get autographs, get a picture."

[no name no slogan]

1. I was there, at the convention

It was a good speech. He did a good job of hitting the issues and revving up the crowd.

However, the best speech of the entire convention had to be that of Sen Mark Dayton. He came out with a hard-hitting denunciation of BushCo and their policies, and even introduced a plan to get troops out of Iraq within six months. He was on fire!

[JI7]

2. Mark Dayton has become one of my favorite Senators

i really like him. i would be happy with him as vp also.

[no name no slogan]

13. Here's a good link to part of Dayton's speech

www.progressivecaucus.net/message. It's a Flash presentation that the MN Progressive Caucus has been using in our campaign to convince the DNC to take a stronger anti-war stance.

It's really amazing how Dayton has really come into his own since Wellstone's death. I've been following him since he first ran for US Senate in the early 80s, all the way through his stint as State Auditor, and now as a US Senator. I didn't support him in the primary (he skipped the party endorsement), but he's really done a good job for us here. He's definately a keeper-- especially considering who he replaced!

[goodhue]

18. Link doesn't seem to work

I think because of the period.
Here it is without period: http://www.progressivecaucus.net/message/
It is well worth watching!

[wjsander]

3. I'm just afraid...

If Kerry goes with a "Non-Edwards", the media will be questioning his pick all the way up to Nov 2nd. :-(

[robbedvoter]

8. While if ge gives the media what they want, they'll love him like they

loved Gore for picking Joementum. :eyes:

[bushwakker]

10. Gore tried to please the media w/ Lieberman

look what that got him. Fuck Russert, Matthews, Woodruff and the rest of the DC crew. Make your pick. Don't look back. Give 'em hell and fight to the end.

[wjsander]

12. Except Lieberman wasn't the weak link, Al Gore was.

Sucks, don't it? :-(

[AP]

15. Gore tried to please media by arguing for deregulation of telecoms.

He tried to please the insurance and accounting industries by picking Lieberman.

[Scoopie]

4. OK... that's libelous

How dare anyone compare that pompus attorney to such a man as Elvis.

Geez - have the media no shame?!

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

5. Well, this is one time where the media is not to blame...it was this man:

...Mike Erlandson. See above...

:evilgrin:

[no name no slogan]

14. Erlandson's a hack

he works in the local office of Rep. Marty Sabo, and he's in my state Senate District (a local boy). Although he's stepping down as party chair this year, he'll probably turn up somewhere, running for something or working for somebody.

IMHO he was a real ass at the convention. In all the press releases, there was not one mention of the progressive voting bloc, who were at least 35% of the delegates on the floor.

We had the best floor organization and were the most organized, so our minority pretty powerful. We made a difference on many things that occured on that convention floor-- DNC delegates, the platform, party officers, etc. -- yet we received absolutely no mention in the official press release.
:eyes:

[AP]

16. If Edwards were runnig for prez vs Pres., would you vote for Elvis?

[robbedvoter]

6. That was slick of Kerry (and went over the heads of most)

"What a gathering of charm, talent and brains," Kerry said. "And I'm just talking about John Edwards and me."

[TheDonkey]

9. It was a very good joke

Kerry has a good sense of humor. Does shrub even make jokes (like on purpose and not the shit coming out of his mouth usually).

[mzmolly]

7. Minnesotans would LOVE Edwards. You could put a Kerry/Edwards ticket

firmly in the Blue column should they run together.

[goodhue]

11. Edwards was certainly well-received

But Erlandson is being a tad hyperbolic here. Dayton was equally well-received when he declared: "They Say Bring Them On, We Say Bring Them Home!"

Certainly many in the DFL expect and promote a Kerry-Edwards ticket, and there will some disappointment if it does not materialize.

[chimpymustgo]

17. You raise a good point about disappointment if Edwards is not chosen.

He is overwhelmingly favored by Dems. Oh well. Lieberman was a disappointment, too.

Still hoping. The man can fire up a crowd.