Is it me or does it appear John Edwards hasn't been so much out front

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

in the spotlight as much lately? Maybe it's because all of the anticipation of the VP pick is over? Or maybe there's some strategizing going on behind the scenes. As much as I want the campaign to stay positive, I think we're going have to go into a much more agreesive attack mode pretty soon. Fight fire w/ fire, as I posted in another thread. Thoughts anyone?

[Southsideirish]

1. Isn't the VP candidate supposed to do the attack dog thing so

the presidential candidate can be "above the fray?" I would love to see him in that role. We can't win with a ticket of two "Mr. Goody 2 Shoes"

[Hoping4Change]

2. I believe he had been on vacation.

[barbaraann]

3. It seems to me that John Edwards has all but disappeared.

I have been worrying about it a lot but I don't know anything.

[AngryLizard]

5. What's weird is that the media hasn't said anything yet

about him disappearing. Him being on vacation sounds odd to me - we're in the middle of a campaign and he's taking a vacation? I mean, I know he's got young kids and all, but doesn't that sound weird?

Maybe they're gearing up for a big punch after the RNC.

[barbaraann]

6. Yeah, that too.

Very odd.

[KittyWampus]

11. Excuse Me... But The MEDIA Are The Ones Who Brought Up This Talking Point

Edwards HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING.

IF THE MEDIA CHOOSES NOT TO COVER THAT IS IT HIS FAULT?

And what is doubly odd is that it's the GOP talkingwhores who started asking "where's Edwards" like KErry is hidding him or something.

There are terribly gullible people posting in this thread.

[barbaraann]

12. I haven't heard anyone ask "Where's Edwards?"

And I am a news junkie.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

14. Please do not go into attack mode (well that's how it feels anyway)

by calling us gullible. I'm merely bringing up a talking point.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

13. "Maybe they're gearing up..." is what I've been thinking.

[Gloria]

4. Last night on the News Hour (PBS) Mark Shields said that the

bad job nos. were the type of thing that a strategist would want
a John Edwards on all over the TV. Instead, we see him taking on Cheney about Kerry's Vietnam record.

Shields sort of shook his head over this....why didn't they get Edwards out on TV talking about the economy in light of all his "two Americas" crap?

[ItsMyParty]

7. Scrub--I'm so glad you broght this up

After watching the ugly animal, Cheney, hit Kerry in front of the vet's group with the "sensitive" thing while Bush was interviewing with Larry King and praising Kerry's war record, I thought to myself "we have a problem here". They are playing "good cop/bad cop". Can you imagine Edwards delivering something like Cheney did--it wouldn't be believable because he's the "baby face angel". In this tag team, unfortuantely, it's going to have to be Kerry doing the heavy hitting. AND, in full, full agreement with you, we are moving now into a different phase of this campaign. We WILL NOT win on this "hear my message" stuff. Everyone has, in essence heard it---other's don't care. Bush just kicked off his campaign really in the last week with all the terror alert crap, blowing up Najah (sp??), etc. They are doing the "tough guys protecting America crap" and we don't even want to fire back when attacked. Here's a fact: you cannot go around this country painting a picture of yourself as going to be a "real tough leader, honest, honest" and then not ACT like a tough leader. Put down the damn teapot and the watercress sandwiches, John. The other two are out barroom brawling.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

15. Thanks, ItsMyParty. :)

[emulatorloo]

8. Sharpening his "big trial lawyer" case against Dick Cheney. . .

BTW JE will be in Iowa this weekend, so he is around. . .maybe the media is scared to show him on TV.

[KittyWampus]

9. You Are Mouthing GOP Talking Points-Unintentionally Or Not

Edwards is the VP- why would he be "out front"?

He has been campaigning very hard.

He went back to Kentucky (I think) on train tour after passing through and not stopping to meet crowd the day fbefor. There was just an article about he and Kerry facing hecklers. There was just an article about media covering him getting along with his little kids.

[jean]

10. John Edwards was in MN last night and used the Olympics/medals to hit Bush

Edwards delivers hopeful message in Rosemount
http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4927445.html

Sen. John Edwards delivered the Democratic presidential ticket's message of hope Friday in a pep-rally atmosphere with a slight twist for the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. The vice presidential candidate said he would have a hard time handing out medals to President Bush's administration. "Who would we give the gold medal for jobs? Who would we give the silver medal for health care? I'm not sure that anybody would even qualify," Edwards said in opening his 22-minute speech. In order to be a successful athlete, you've got to have a plan, Edwards said, adding that he believes his running mate, presidential candidate John Kerry, has a plan, the discipline and the vision to lead the country.As Edwards spoke, the crowd often finished his sentences with him, most enthusiastically when he used the campaign's catch phrase, "Hope is on the way."

::snip::

Former Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson, who introduced Edwards, said that some things would change if the Democratic ticket takes office."Finally, after four years, we will have a vice president that we can find. We'll even have a vice president that smiles, a vice president that enjoys campaigning, loves people and will never use language that violates the FCC rules," said Anderson, a silver medalist in the 1956 Olympics.

::snip::

Jake Grassel, state chairman of the College Republicans, had announced that he would stage a Trial Lawyer Olympics outside the event. Grassel abbreviated the plans, but said he will revive them at some point, including events for ambulance chasing, political cash dash and the synchronized flip-flop. "You're either on the side of patients and doctors or you're on the side of trial lawyers," he said.



Edwards' stop was part of a two-week tour called "A Stronger America Begins at Home: The Path to Prosperity." The visit was Edwards' first to Minnesota since he was selected for the Democratic ticket. Kerry hasn't been to town in about a month, while the Bush-Cheney ticket has made several stops. Bush will return Wednesday, the White House announced. He'll participate in a bus tour and an event in Chippewa Falls, Wis. He'll participate in an "Ask President Bush" event in St. Croix County, Wis., and then will speak at a rally at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul at 5:45 p.m. and spend the night.

[spooky3]

16. thanks--heaven knows CNN and the networks couldn't bear to cover

anything that the Democrats said or did. However, I have to keep switching stations if I don't want to hear * or his boys.

[jean]

17. you're welcome - here's a picture

Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, speaks at Rosemount High School during a campaign stop on Friday.

Allen Smith
Published August 14, 2004

[spooky3]

20. great photo--thank you!

[Cha]

22. There he is! Our VP..

[Cha]

21. Dig Dig!

"Former Minnesota Gov. Wendell Anderson, who introduced Edwards, said that some things would change if the Democratic ticket takes office."Finally, after four years, we will have a vice president that we can find. We'll even have a vice president that smiles, a vice president that enjoys campaigning, loves people and will never use language that violates the FCC rules," said Anderson, a silver medalist in the 1956 Olympics."
}(

[sandnsea]

18. Rural American voters

That's Edwards' target. He's out there talking to them and getting local coverage when he does. Jim Rassmann has taken on the Swift Boat Vets and he's the best one to do it. If the very guy who was being shot at in the water isn't believed, then what's the point of sending Edwards into the middle of it? I think people around here go to FR and think all of America is like that. They aren't. The only people who believe this stuff are highly partisan people and they're a small percentage of Americans.

[AP]

19. Edwards has been out every day, it seems. If you're watching CNN you might

not know about it. But if you're in the communities he has been visiting, you will know about it.