Edwards Plays His Roots Card in Bid to Win South Carolina

[Nutmegger]

RIDGELAND, S.C., Oct. 11 — At a dinner held recently by county Democrats here, the master of ceremonies introduced John Edwards, the guest speaker, as the “native son” of South Carolina.

“I do understand what is happening in your state,” Mr. Edwards said when he took the microphone to sustained applause and faced hundreds of people at the dinner, which was held in a school auditorium. “I understand it because I have lived it. I don’t have to read it in a book. Nobody has to explain it to me. I don’t have to see it on television. I have lived it. I have seen every single problem and every single challenge that you face here in South Carolina.”

Mr. Edwards’s victory in this state’s 2004 Democratic primary gave him a much-needed boost that kept his presidential campaign alive. But this time, polls suggest that Mr. Edwards faces an uphill battle here against his two main opponents, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who have set up formidable ground operations in this early primary state.

Now, as Mr. Edwards’s campaign struggles against two better-financed candidates, he is hoping to replicate his 2004 victory by capitalizing on his roots in the state. Though born in South Carolina, Mr. Edwards, the son of a mill worker, was raised in North Carolina and went on to be a senator from there.

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/us/politics/17edwards.html?ref=us

[SaveElmer]

1. He might want to concentrate on his home state first...

The Civitas Institute's monthly DecisionMaker poll showed Clinton widening her lead in the Democratic presidential primary in North Carolina.

The New York senator had 31 percent, followed by a tie at 18 percent between Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former senator John Edwards. Nineteen percent were not sure.

Among Republicans, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee ceded the top spot to the former mayor of New York City. Giuliani led with 21 percent, followed by Thompson at 19 percent and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 16 percent.

Twenty four percent were not sure.

The poll of 800 likely voters was taken by Tel Opinion Research between Oct. 9 through 14. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percent.