Richardson, Edwards look upwardly mobile

Richardson, Edwards look upwardly mobile
By Wayne Woodlief--Boston Herald Columnist
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
----
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is on the rise from the second tier in the Democratic presidential race and former Sen. John Edwards is closing in on Barack Obama as front-runner Hillary Clinton’s strongest challenger.

That’s how I saw it in Monday’s dramatic new-age debate, televised by CNN with questions from ordinary citizens on YouTube. It’s an exciting format, with some questions offbeat and clever, others heartbreaking and poignant. And it brought out the best in Richardson, recovering nicely from his dismal showing a couple of months ago on “Meet the Press.”

The governor, who wants to be the first Hispanic president, appeared strong, empathetic and decisive as he addressed issues from the Iraq war and genocide in Darfur to No Child Left Behind.

(...)

Richardson doesn’t mince words. Asked whether No Child Left Behind (though many have been, in a badly run, underfunded effort) should be revised or scrapped, he quickly replied, “Scrap it!” It was badly conceived, he said, especially in its insistence on penalties for underperforming schools. “If a school isn’t doing well, we should help it,” he said.

Clinton also had one of her best nights. She was warm, humorous and thoughtful.

After an exchange with Edwards over who is more supportive of women’s issues, Clinton closed the discussion with this bon mot: “Isn’t it terrific” to hear candidates arguing over who’d be better for women. “Isn’t that a nice change for everybody to hear?” Amen, sister.
(...)
In sum, it was a step back for Obama, exposing the two-year senator to an appearance of inexperience in world affairs, and boosting Clinton and Edwards.

Answering another question, Edwards also said he rolled out his detailed universal health insurance plan well before Obama put out his - which, Edwards noted, “is not universal because it doesn’t mandate coverage.”

Look out, Obama, this guy may be closer than he appears in your rear-view.

I like this format. It puts real faces onto abstract issues, like the cancer victim who removed her wig to show the effects of chemotherapy and to ask for better coverage or the two brothers spoonfeeding their Alzheimer’s-stricken dad. Or the imaginative fellow who asked if the candidates would work for the minimum wage ($5.85 an hour) instead of the usual presidential salary of $400,000 a year.

Clinton, Edwards and Obama (all very well off) said they would. Which would make for an even more connective symbolic act than Mitt Romney - who’s still uncertain whether the minimum wage should be raised again - promising to work for free. Any megamillionare can do that.
----
Read the rest here.

Seriously, I always like the most qualified, or best resume, candidate, and then they inevitably fail to get the nomination

I really like the experience in foreign policy that Richardson brings to the table, seems like everything he's done in New Mexico has turned out well.
Edwards (who I voted for in the last primary) has a great thing going with his anti-poverty platform.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Edwards\Richardson or Richardson\Edwards ticket...they would win, I'm sure of it.