? your opinion about the belief that Kerry/Edwards don't like each other?

[Bombtrack]

It seems to be reported as fact by many yet I've never seen any good evidence to support it. Did Kerry just make up the "I love John Edwards" quote at one of the debates. It's very strange.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

1. Politicians don't give a damn about each other.

It's "will you help me get what I want," not "would I sleep with you."

Well, except maybe with Bill... ;-)

[blm]

2. Kerry and Edwards have a good relationship. Don't believe the discord

spreaders.

[H2O Man]

3. Politics can be strange.

The person who is your friend today may oppose you tomorrow. Hence, there tends to be more building of alliences than true friendships. This brings up the only serious question: does Kerry respect Edwards enough to try to form an allience on a national ticket? This measure of respect is more in terms of will Edwards be able to move into a national position .... actually, in a position to become president. Or, does Kerry feel that Edwards would be better suited as Attorney General? And what does Edwards want?

[displacedtexan]

4. Yes, they like each other. Always have.

Am I still in Kansas, Toto?
Bill Clinton has to get bashed in a thread about JK and JE liking each other?

[lancdem]

5. I don't think Lefty Pragmatist meant that as a bash

IMO he (or she?) was having a little fun. :)

[Lefty Pragmatist]

20. Pretty much.

The point is that the whole friend vs. enemy thing is spun out either by media (to create interest) or campaigns (to send messages). It doesn't really mean squat. After all, Clinton thinks Dole's a hoot, but that didn't stop him from beating him like a slightly addled stepchild.

[Darkamber]

6. That rumor has been spread by the press

I've not heard anything beyond rumors from the press that is spread from Howard Fineman I believe. He mentions it in just about every article he writes about them.

I would agree that they come from different backgrounds and most likely wouldn't spend time together beyond work that needs to be done in the Senate. Edwards claims he got to know Kerry during Iowa and what they went through then with them both at the lower end of the pack.

In the end, I think Kerry will pick who will best for the ticket and personality will not have anything to do with it. Or at least, that is what I hope.

Also, Kerry has Edwards out on the road doing fundraisers for him and speaking for him. It will be interesting to see the big gala in FL coming up with Edwards and Kerry together there with the other big names. Just to see how they interact with each other.

[DjTj]

7. Do these guys look like they don't like each other?

[JI7]

11. where is that other one ?

that seems to show they REALLY like each other. but assuming they don't like each other. they still have great chemistry together.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. Not necessarily a problem

Often the choice of VP is a pragmatic rather than a personal decision.

LBJ and JFK didn't particularly like each other, and neither did Bush Sr. and Reagan.

That being said, I see no evidence of discord between them.

[GreenArrow]

9. Kerry is threatened/put off

by Edwards' overweening personal ambition.Just my 2 cents.

[Kerry Edwards 2004]

13. Edwards Ambition - Kerry's Ambition

Well I hope Kerry isn't put off by Edwards ambition because Kerry has that same ambition. I think that Kerry respects Edwards but I don't think they are major buds. Kerry strikes me as the kind of guy that doesn't make "friends" quickly. I don't think he dislikes Edwards. I think that it just used by some in the media who are too lazy to find out. I also think that some of that "I don't like Edwards" talk probably came from the heat of the primaries. Most candidates don't particularly "like" who is trying to beat them. I don't think that Kerry would allow his ego to keep Edwards off the ticket. Hell, look at all the credit he will get by selecting him when Edwards wins the presidency in 2012!

[JI7]

15. yes, it came when kerry and edwards were the major candidates left

so the media just need to start something.and you know how lazy they are in covering actual issues. so rather than discuss any differences in issues they may have had, they just report things like "they don't like each other".

and they couldn't become great friends in the senate because they don't work together in any committees, but they did spend a lot of time together during debates and other events where they were together during the primary.

[JI7]

10. it was started by the media when they had nothing else to report

[chimpymustgo]

12. Kerry and Edwards would chat before and after each of the debates

during the primaries.

And don't forget, Kerry INVITED reporters and cameras in to take pictures of him watching Edwards' concession speech in Ohio. He made some very complimentary comments that night about JRE and his speech.

This is truly another media creation.

And I have read that their wives really dig each other.

[JI7]

14. he wanted Edwards to look like a winner

and remember, this was when kerry pretty much became the nominee, even though it wasn't official. it wasn't like he needed edwards endorsement to help gain supporters and to compete against others in the primary as was the case with others who dropped out earlier. edwards would have supported him anyways since he was the nominee. but he made an effort to show how much he likes edwards and how much of a winner he is even though he didn't win the nomination. that moment said a lot to me about their relationship.

[Bombtrack]

16. Thanks for everyone's input

.

[fujiyama]

17. Both are ambitious men

with big egos (hey ya gotta have an ego to be a politician!).

So, while there is that inherant competition, there is no evidence to suggest there is some sort of animosity between them.

I think Kerry respects Edwards, and likewise.

[Adelante]

18. I have no reason to think so

The press just keeps reporting it in the same way they report all sorts of nonsense they don't bother backing up. They should put up or shut up, but they never do.

[LandOLincoln]

19. I remember the incident that started the rumors. It was during the

last debate--when it was down to Kerry, Edwards, Kooch, and Sharpton, and they were all sitting around a table.

Edwards was to Kerry's right, IIRC, and at one point put his hand on Kerry's arm in a gesture that seemed almost supplicating, not to mention womanish. Now, mind you, like Kerry I'm perceived as one o' them cold, standoffish Northerners (and also like Kerry, I'm anything but--& btw I've met the man and seen him work a rope line, so I know whereof I speak). I just mean that another Southerner might have a totally different take on Edwards' gesture.

In any case, Kerry not only didn't respond in kind, the expression on his face made me think he was struggling to keep from pulling his arm away. He really looked disgusted.

The "Kerry Hates Edwards" rumors started almost immediately, and it was (at most) two days later that the Kerry campaign went into full damage-control mode, assuring the world that Kerry & Edwards were good, good buds and Theresa and Elizabeth were especially close.

So--the truth of the situation? Who the fuck knows? But it definitely wasn't something the media made up out of whole cloth.

[JayS]

21. "He really looked disgusted"

I remember this. It was my first real look at Kerry. Needless to say I was not impressed.

[JI7]

22. that's not true

i remember that and it was because they were trying to get kerry to answer the question about vp and on that issue he has always kept silent and didn't want to say anything about it.edwards himself said he liked kerry as his vp . but kerry did not respond in return. mostly because kerry was more likely to win the nomination and what he said would matter much more than edwards who probably wasn't going to win.

at that same debate kerry had his arm around edwards often before and after the debate started as was the case at other events.

and the rumors started before that debate at a time when it came down to edwards and kerry being the only major candidates left. they kept trying to make something out of kerry refusing to say anything about making edwards vp.

[patricia92243]

23. Kenedy and Johnson couldn' stand each other - but they WON !!

[surfermaw]

24. Where were you during the debates

They looked like american apple pie and ice cream, father and son..they compliment each other and it is Kerry and Edwards that Bush team dreads most.With a little help from the General.

[TexasSissy]

25. Quote from Kerry during Dem candidate phase

Kerry was picked up by a microphone during the Dem. candidate phase saying something like, "The guy can't even win his own home state." Speaking of Edwards.

So Kerry may or may not like Edwards personally, but he apparently doesn't think much of Edwards' ability to rake in votes or support. And I gather from the news during that time that it was true that Edwards could not have won the nomination in his home state; he's unpopular in N.C.

I like Edwards and would vote for him for Prez in a second. I think he'd be an asset as V.P. on the ticket. But your question is about any facts supporting what Kerry thinks of him.