Edwards.. running 3rd....Hardest working candidate scores well on MTV political forum.

DURHAM, New Hampshire — There was no "boxers or briefs?" moment, but a relaxed John Edwards seemed to win over an attentive University of New Hampshire crowd Thursday afternoon (September 27) during the first MTV/MySpace Presidential Dialogue by doing something many professors might want to try: talking to the students, not at them.



Dressed casually in faded jeans, a blue oxford shirt with no tie and a sports coat (which he doffed mid-show), Edwards had ready answers to questions about everything from universal health care and global warming to the genocide in Darfur, the war in Iraq and the lack of funding for music education in schools. He offered specifics on each question without overwhelming the crowd with a blizzard of figures and vague political-speak.

Along the way, he took a few swipes at what he characterized as the Bush administration's failed policy in the so-called "global war on terror" and vowed that as president he'd immediately begin bringing troops home. He also pointedly mentioned the "similarities" between his plan for universal health care and the one recently unveiled by fellow Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton.

With questions from the audience, as well as online users who were instant-messaging tough queries in real time, Edwards made a point of personalizing his answers on topics ranging from the perceived Eurocentric bias in the school curriculum (he said he's seen it in the texts taught to his own children in public school) to how he would support all forms of stem-cell research, the latter in answer to a legally blind student who said he could benefit from more research on the matter.

"As a parent, you want your children exposed to diversity. You want them exposed to a range of diverse scholars and diverse textbooks and diverse academic work so that they have the kind of perspective on the world that is represented by that kind of diversity," Edwards said, focusing his gaze on the student intently as he argued for more voices from black, Asian, Muslim and Latin American scholars.

But then he did something a bit unexpected in answering the day's first question: He admitted that as president he wouldn't necessarily have much power to affect change on that particular issue, even if he could offer financial incentives to get the job done. It was the kind of candidness that students applauded as they hurried out after the event on their way to classes and tests — including a number who said they were Republicans coming in and were impressed with the former senator's ideas (see "John Edwards: Why He Wants To Be Your Next President").

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Thompson in personal campaign commitment energies.

If it's my company, I'm hiring Edwards' work ethic and not Thompson's.

commitment, and values he brings to the table as well.

I can not imagine what it is like to be a front and center candidate never getting a respite from the 365 24/7 intense scrutiny.

Edwards kind of reminds me of a NFL running back.....making first down gains, by blasting through the line, 5 and 6 yards at a time..

Touchdown Edwards !!!!!!

school.

"5 and 6 yards at a time" is right.

Slipping over to baseball, Branch Rickey said that luck is the residue of design. Edwards' work ethic on this campaign (and it seems to be deeply shared by all his workers and staff) positions him for the lucky break.

When the man talks, he sounds like he means what he says.

a legal matter (lawsuit).

Edwards didn't win all of the cases he did, without amassing a strong staff and surrounding himself with good thinkers and researchers.

This is an important dynamic that can not be stressed enough as far as I am concerned. His ability to "chip away" the arguments of the other side, has become apparent. How that translates to the voters who haven't checked into the campaign yet....will remain to be seen.

He has proven ability and a natural leadership that has been missing at the top for too many years.

When I think of the Democrats who have won the WH since Kennedy, what is the commonality?

Johnson, Carter and Clinton.......??