Some Democrats question Edwards' role in campaign

[Kadie]

Some Democrats question Edwards' role in campaign

By ROB CHRISTENSEN, THE NEWS & OBSERVER OF RALEIGH, N.C

RALEIGH, N.C. (News & Observer) - John Edwards was to have been the spark to light up the Democratic presidential ticket this fall, with his Southern mill-town resume and the speaking skills of a talented trial lawyer.
But as the ticket headed by John Kerry has struggled recently, there has been grumbling in Democratic circles that Edwards should be used more effectively.

Democrats lament that Vice President Dick Cheney has been scoring more political points and that Edwards seems to disappear for periods as he campaigns in small Midwestern towns. Last week, Cheney was on the front page of three major daily newspapers - The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times - twice as often as Edwards.

"He is one of the best advocates in the country, who ought to be unleashed on Bush and be unmerciful on Bush," said Dick Hartpootlian, past chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party. "The Bush campaign, through Cheney, has gotten out a meat ax and are whacking off big chunks of Kerry. We have given John Edwards a penknife to fight back with."

But Kerry strategists say Edwards' upbeat style has been effective with swing voters in such crucial states as Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Hampshire. They do not plan major changes.

more...
http://newsobserver.com/24hour/politics/story/1677078p-9437800c.html

[Roland99]

1. Edwards is out there...blame the media

Heck...he had one of the best jabs yet of the campaign about Cheney's "Ebay Economy"!!

[michigandem2]

5. i know its ignorant..."where is edwards"

ugghh..he is out there...go find him...rediculous

[seabeyond]

2. some democrats, ...............so tired of the some people say b.s.

with you. kerry is out there. occassionally they put what he says out there. would love to see edwards more, but this democrat isnt questioning edwards, i thank him for all his hard work, on the road all the time, giving all he has, not with his family

[MsTryska]

10. Some people say......

that the media is nothing but a republican lapdog, and that the News & Observer is nothing but a fishwrapper.

[Lex]

15. Ha! Tell her what she's won, Don Pardo!

:thumbsup: from a North Carolinian

[MsTryska]

18. *lol* are they really a fishwrapper?

the "some dems say" line was enough to have me convinced.

[HardRain]

3. He was great on Lou Dobbs yesterday . . . .

. . . . really called it -- used "lies" in referring to B/C's rhetoric. He was terrific.

Edwards is all over the place in these battlegrounders -- he is getting fabulous local press and that is what we need right now!

I'm celebrating today because we FINALLY got Air America in Atlanta!

[faithnotgreed]

17. hi hardrain! welcome. i just saw on aar website - they have 32 stations!

now all over the country.... it was very encouraging to see. the first day they were up - march 31st - i think i saw the list of 8 stations

[LTR]

4. That's bullshit

Edwards has been doing the groundwork in rural areas, and has received little national media attention. But he does get into some of the smaller, regional media. This helps. People in small towns watch and read this stuff. I think it's important to get out on the ground and hit some fly-over land. And from what I've seen, Edwards is really connecting.

The markets that the New York Times, LA Times and WaPo serve are already strongly for Kerry.

I do think it's time for Edwards to get into some national stuff, and he is starting to do the talk show circuit (Lou Dobbs, Larry King, etc.). But Edwards is far from a liability.

[VOX]

6. "Some Democrats say," "Democratic insiders say," "a close source says"...

and so on.

Just last night, Edwards did a bang-up job with his appearance on Lou Dobbs.

If Edwards isn't appearing in the media as much as Cheney, it's the media that's running this circus, and they decide what goes.

Liberal media, my a**. :grr:

[IIgnoreNobody]

7. Some Republicans question Bush's honesty.

But will we read about it in any articles bylined by Rob Christensen?

I highly doubt it.

[npincus]

8. all I can say is, "aw shaddup" and

wait until he explodes Cheney's pacemaker on Oct. 8th

[luaneryder]

9. Been seeing this the last week

but can't account for where it began. He's out there, his wife is out there, I don't know when they have time to eat and sleep. What more can they ask of him?

[zulchzulu]

11. Edwards is doing laps around the Swing states

The whiners need to turn off the reality shows and do their homework before THEY WHINE AGAIN.

[Cha]

14. I don't see in the article where the democrats are

named..I think this is one of those hit pieces.

I'm learning to read between the lines.

But you're right..if anyone is whining..they should definetly do their homework instead.

[WI_DEM]

12. those small midwestern towns and cities are important

and blame the major media outlets for not covering him.

[Cha]

13. Is that like .."some people say"?

Edwards is doin' fine..cause you know what?..They're going to win..so what ever you're doing Edwards..I know you're only gearing up for the main event!

[BeyondGeography]

16. It's all cocktail talk until Oct. 5

when Edwards debates Cheney. You can bet we won't see a re-run of Mr. Nice Guy Lieberman's losing 2000 performance. I'm expecting to see the Edwards who was fighting for his life in the Wisconsin primary debate. If so, we're in for a treat.

[librechik]

19. Clue: The media are burying him on the back pages on purpose

He could be stading on Cheney's shoulders during a speech and they would cut him out.

What can the Dems do to increase his face time on tv? I dunno, have him killed by OJ Simpson?