Edwards-Obama in 2008

I know many people are resentful of John Edwards for losing this time, but for next time, the most important quality is charisma. John Kerry didn't have it. Edwards does. He also has a message people can connect to, and he's from down South, which should help us take at least one of the Carolinas, Virginia and possibly Florida. Remember, all the Democratic Presidents since 1963 have been from the South.
As for Obama, he can only add to whatever ticket he's on. He, like Edwards, has charisma, and he can help bring back minorities who vote Republican, like Cubans, other Hispanics, and blacks who (for whatever reason) voted for *.

People are blaming him more than the TOP of the ticket, because that makes sense.
:eyes:

It really depends on what he does for the next four years.

People just couldn't connect with Kerry, and its certainly not HIS fault, but all the same, Edwards deserves another chance.

depending on what he accomplishes in the next 4 years, but we need to stop pulling promising young senators out of the Senate -- for example, Edwards alienated some people in NC by not being their senator for a full term

North or South Carolina? He should run if there is.

Although, I live in South Carolina (Cleveland transplant) no way we pick up any southern states with Obama. Sad, but true.

He knows he will not have enough background by then. Unfortunately that is something Edwards did not realize this time and Obama will have more of a resume by then than Edwards did now.

but he is identified with this ticket for better of worse. He also only has a single term in the senate under his belt. He comes off as a tad too ambitious. And he didn't help in North Carolina or any other southern state--nearly every southern state the 2004 Democratic ticket was outperformed by the 2000 Democratic ticket.

Having said this, Edwards does pocess great charm, likability and political skill and if he runs he would be formidible. I would certainly support him over Hillary Clinton for the nomination. He has a very attractive family and his wife is great--matter of fact I was much more impressed with Elizabeth than I was with any of the candidates. I think she would one day be a very attractive candidate for Governor or Senate in NC.

I took a couple days off from DU to come back and read this...how silly! Hell, I thought the Edwards/Cheney debate really displayed the differences between the Democratic ticket and the current administration. Hope and intelligence vs greed and arrogance.

My hope for the 2008 candidate is that s/he isn't overly managed by advisers. Both Gore and Kerry were advised to death and it seems like Gore regrets that now. The Newsweek article said that Kerry wanted to go after the swift boat attack ads but was advised not to.

I'm just trying to figure out how these advisers manage to strip the confidence away from highly intelligent, highly successful politicians. Kerry trusted his instincts and survived a war. He trusted his conscience and confronted our government about that war. He managed to serve in American politics for 20 years. He converses with an honest, intellectual equal on a daily basis by choice because he married her. Why did he need to be advised in this way? I didn't support Kerry in the primary, but even I am able to see how strong of a candidate he was...had he trusted his gut more. Besides, if you can't win an election by being the kind of leader you naturally are, is it worth it in the end?

on edit: Regarding Obama, I love him. I listen to him and I always want to hear more. Politicians like him don't come around too often and he has the opportunity to do a lot for our party. Throwing him into the WH race in 2008 would, in my opinion, be a waste. I want to see him kick ass in the Senate for a while, speak on behalf of the party a lot, and become a real strong influence before campaigning for the big one...and when he does, I don't want him as VP. I want my bumper sticker to say "Obama/..."

It's not his fault that he's a Southerner.

if you are unable to win any states down there...