Democratic U.S. Sen. John Edwards did both Republicans and Democrats a favor Sunday.
His announcement that he would not seek re-election makes it easier for Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem. Rep. Burr, whose candidacy has been blessed by the White House and anointed with millions of dollars in early campaign contributions, will find it easier to run for a senatorial vacancy than against an incumbent -- even one obviously bent on running for president.
Sen. Edwards' decision also does a minor favor of sorts for freshman Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C. It means that she will become the state's senior senator after just two years in office.
And Sen. Edwards' announcement also frees his Democratic colleagues -- belatedly but surely -- to enter the race and start raising money. Among those who have expressed an interest are Charlotte businessman and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, the 2002 Democratic nominee for the seat that Jesse Helms once held and which Sen. Dole now occupies; former N.C. House Speaker Dan Blue of Raleigh, who also ran in 2002; and State Treasurer Richard Moore of Raleigh.
None of the three Democrats was likely to run for the Senate seat as long as Sen. Edwards remained silent on whether he might run again -- a situation that had many Democrats grumbling. They feared that Sen. Edwards' refusal to say which office he would seek -- and which he would not -- might cost the Democrats a seat which has turned over every election since Sen. Sam Ervin retired in 1974.
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