N.H. voters puzzled by Edwards' campaign

[Freddie Stubbs]

'I thought he was going to make a bigger splash'

CONCORD, N.H. - George Garos, a salesman at Pitchfork Records in Concord, can locate the latest Jewel CD as easily as a used Doobie Brothers album.

He's just as familiar with politics in this one-area-code state, and adroitly summed up the head-scratching going on over Sen. John Edwards' presidential bid.

"I thought he was going to make a bigger splash here than he did," said Garos, 52. "There was that New Yorker piece about a year ago."

It was 14 months ago, to be exact. The article, headlined "This Season's Democratic Rising Star," was part of a procession of fawning publicity that lasted months.

more: http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/6254624.htm

[tjdee]

1. If this article is correct, he may be a genius.

Spending the first half of the year fundraising so you can run a serious campaign in the second half sounds pretty smart to me. Both his quotes and his NH campaign manager are right on--they're running a long term campaign here.

His campaign is just revving up now. That publicity because of the New Yorker article has, really, nothing to do with him. He's operating on his own timetable.

On a side note, I can't believe Kerry is 'oversaturating' NH--I don't think that's necessary for him....

[Abigale Applewhite]

2. Ambitious and Successfull ;

Edward, is ambitious intelligent an susscessful, he has to be to have pulled himself up by the bootstraps...Only the top 5 to 10 percent of the brightest students in North Carolina are admitted to the University of North Carolina....

[tjdee]

5. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

And, I agree. He also seems to be a good person.

[AP]

7. Edwards got his BA from NC State. He transferred after 1 yr at Clemson

He started at Clemson hoping to get a football scholarship. (Whereas Bush was a cheerleader at Yale, Edwards was actully good enough at football to get recruited to play college football.) When he didn't make the team, and didn't get the scholarship, he had to transfer to a college which he could afford.

He did well enough to get accepted at Duke and UNC for law school. Once again, with money being a factor, he had to go to the state school for law school.

Whereas Bush was a C student, Edwards was always an A student.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. But it may be too late by then

Many activist are already becoming committed to other candidates. It's almost like falling in love. Your candidate can do no wrong. And you wouldn't leave them even if someone better came along.

[tjdee]

4. Everyone doesn't love Dean/Kerry.

They may like them well enough, but not be in that 'love' state.
Or, they may still be looking for something 'better'.

I can agree with you to a point though.

[chimpymustgo]

6. Edwards is putting his "visibile" primary is high gear.

He's laid all the groundwork for the "invisible" primary - the money, the staff, the endorsements. He's going go catch fire in August, and hit the fall as the "hot" candidate.

[Abigale Applewhite]

10. Edwards catching fire

I think you are right, he will gain later, especially if some one faulters along the way.

[AP]

8. Edwards is racking up endorsements and has as much money as

anyone else. It's hard to say that he isn't doing the exact right thing up to this point.

It is not uncommon for the conservative press to take a strength (ie, the way Edwards has conducted his campaign so far) and try to spin it as a weakness.

[displacedyankeedem]

9. I'd pay lots of money to see Edwards debate Bush

Imagine the debate between Edwards, a highly successful trial lawyer, and Bush, an unsuccessful moron. The debate will be highly entertaining to say the least.

[JI7]

11. maye he is waiting

maybe he is waiting. it's still early. and there are still some who are considering whether to run. i don't think most will care much for the campaigns during the summer. so it is probably a good idea to wait until fall starts to really start up the campaigns.