Edwards' gentle approach may pay off in Iowa

[Judi Lynn]

Edwards' gentle approach may pay off in Iowa
By BILL LAMBRECHT
Post-Dispatch
01/13/2004


DES MOINES, Iowa - In the late-stage warfare of Iowa caucus politics, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina is capitalizing on keeping his knife sheathed - and telling all who'll listen he's running a positive campaign for the presidency.

The tactic may be paying off, judging by an uptick of support for the one-term senator and the response from Iowans who say they appreciate his gentler style.

Polls have shown improvement for Edwards, and he's begun drawing the boisterous crowds and media attention that eluded him during much of his campaign.

"Edwards Gaining Ground" proclaimed a headline in Tuesday's edition of the Des Moines Register, which endorsed Edwards on Sunday.
(snip/...)

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/Election+2004/42D9E4FA613455BE86256E1B001FB260?OpenDocument&Headline=Edwards

[Blue Gardener]

1. Things have gotten pretty nasty in this state

I'm liking Edwards more every day.

[chimpymustgo]

2. I love the optimism Edwards embodies, for the party and the country.

He's just amazing. I like him, and I like his campaign.

[MercutioATC]

3. Dean's my #1, but Edwards is my #2...

I really do like what he says. I think he has great potential as a President.

[woo me with science]

4. yep

i like him too.

i don't see him shooting himself in the foot. he is not angry, but hopeful, which i think plays much better in a general election.

[elsiesummers]

5. Yes he has momentum -

He won't have to retool his message for the General Election one bit.

I like all the candidates, though he's my favorite - so I'm glad he's not knocking them.

[AP]

7. Now, who's hot who not

Tell me who rock who sell out the campaign stops
You tell me who flopped who copped the blue drop
Who message got robbed who's mostly gowing down
Who rolls up the shirt sleeves, the same ol pimp.
Edwards, you know ain't nuttin change but his haircut
Can't stop till he's president
Guarantee 70 million votes pullin all the love
You don't believe in Robbins World Senator
Double up, we don't play around it's a bet lay it down
Voters didn't know him two-thousand - bet they know him now
He's the young tarheel lawyer with the Goldie sound
Can't no MD gov hold him down,
Bubba schooled him to the game, now he know his duty
Stay humble stay low blow like Hootie
True presidents don't give away the booty like Cheney
And then ya yell there go Edwards, there go your cutie

I know what they want from me
It's like the more momentum we come across
The more voters we see

[Larkspur]

6. Edwards is not the frontrunner whose campaign is revitalizing Democracy

so he's not getting the buck shots that Dean is and as far as him not campaigning dirty, his attack on Dean over the Confederate flag thing shows that he cares more about style than substance. He knew what Dean was getting at and Edwards politicized it for his own profit. It was only after our fundraising success, which attacks like Edwards spurred on, that he decided that he couldn't hurt Dean financially, so unlike the others, Edwards at least has learned that attacks against Dean, help Dean.

[AP]

8. That's your opinoin. I care deeply about politics and I find Edwards VERY

energizing.

The confederate flag issue, to me (and I care deeply about race) was about substance over symbols.

Edwards isn't not attacking Dean because of money. It's because most of his time is spent making the case for him being the best candidates. There's so much address on that front, there's no time to talk about Dean.

[progressivebydesign]

9. Dean my #1, too.. but I like Edwards.. a lot!

Edwards has really been ignored by the media. I like him.. I think he'd have a shot if the media played fair. They pick their darlings for a month or so, then delight in tearing down the darling they created. Edwards has just simply been ignored... If he got the nomination, I'd volunteer for him.

[Cheswick2.0]

10. unless Edwards comes in 1st or 2nd in Iowa and/or NH

I think he is finished.