so why did Edwards not run for re-election as senator? HE is AWESOME

and I hope the next president of the USA


but why did he end his senate stint?

I've been a fan of his since he first ran for President before he was pushed into the VP slot for Kerry.

I lived in NC. The general consensus was that, at best, he'd have a tough time. At worst, he'd have no chance. Many in NC were upset that he was using his Senate seat to launch a Presidential campaign bid. Don't shoot the messenger (me) but that was the prevailing thought at the time.

Polling indicated that Edwards would have won.

The right wing noise machine stayed on Edwards just like they did on Bill Clinton. But Edwards had support to win. I never heard a legitimate pollster pronounce Edwards as having no chance or even being behind by a large margin.

Former Clinton Official Erskine Bowles was expected to be a shoe-in if Edwards did not run. Of course that race was very tight, and Bowles ended up losing.

It is simply false that Edwards did not run because he did not think he would win.

If Bowles had not been set to run I think Edwards likely would have run for reelection rather than give up the seat to a Repub.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_Bowles

Bowles was Chief of Staff to the Clinton White House 1997-1998.

In 2004, Bowles campaigned again for the Senate, seeking to fill the seat being vacated by fellow Democrat John Edwards. He faced Republican Richard Burr and Libertarian Tom Bailey in a hotly contested race. The final month of the Senate campaign saw both Bowles's and Burr's campaigns turn strongly negative, with Burr's campaign attacking Bowles's associations with the Clinton administration, while Bowles's campaign attacked Burr on his support of trade legislation and special interest donations. Both campaigns spent a great deal of money, making it one of the most expensive statewide races in North Carolina history.

Despite an early lead in the polls after the primaries, as well as fellow Democrat Mike Easley running for a second term as governor at the top of the state party ticket, Bowles was defeated in the 2004 race as well. President Bush's comfortable electoral victory in North Carolina likely helped Burr considerably.

because Edwards knew he would lose.

You only give up a sure senate spot if you know you're going to lose.

Bob Dole resigned in 1996 to run for President and did not run for reelection to the Senate.

Dick Gephardt did not run for reelection in 2004 in order to run for President.

You can go back further but there are a number of Senators/Congressmen who ran for President rather than run for reelection.

spend years and years in Washington.

Edwards didn't even spend a full term.

Edwards served from 1998 - 2004. That my friend is 6yrs, and a FULL TERM.

At least take the time to look up the facts before you expose yourself.

And the fact that Edwards did not 'spend years and years in Washington' is what is known as an advantage when you are going to run as an outsider who will shake things up in Washington.

Or did you think the people would trust a politician who 'spent years and years in Washington' to make the major changes Edwards is proposing?

people said Dole and Gephardt chose not to run for re-election. I said that's because they'd already spent their lives in office and running for president was going to be their way of getting out - either on top or out all together.

If Edwards thought he could win, he would have filed the paperwork to keep his name on the ballot. There would be no reason for him not to, the process is simple enough. Plus he's young enough that he could try again, and still do good work on behalf of the people of North Carolina as a senator.

But he didn't. He decided to give up his seat and turn it over to the GOP by leaving it with no incumbant.

You are just repeating a well-worn Republican concocted mantra regarding Edwards.

I live in Raleigh, NC (Capital of North Carolina and home to the State Republican Party Headquarters and State Democratic Party Headquarters). I can point you to the location where this whole argument was 'dreamed up' and spread like fertilizer.

There were very few if any Democratic leaders who did not expect (Former CHief of Staff to President Clinton 1997-1998) Erskine Bowles to win that Senate race. Bowles was super wealthy, polled very hight, and Burr was not expected to upset the Democratic Nominee. The Bush Presidential election had a lot to do with a high Repub turnout and a very close win by Burr in the most expensive Senate race in North Carolina history.

If Edwards had thought that the seat would go to a Republican I am sure he would have filed for reelection. However, I think he did the honorable thing making his intentions known to run for President and giving the seat over to a Democrat who could serve out the term if elected.

You make it sound like he abandoned the Senate seat to the GOP for personal gain. Nothing could be further from the truth.

But go ahead and tell us the source of your information that refutes this....

just that he chose not to file to keep his seat because he knew he couldn't keep it if he ran.

Lieberman knew he could, so he did.

The fact that Bowles was polling well is immaterial. If Edwards thought he could win, *I believe* he would have tried to keep his seat.

I don't.

but I never said I'm going by anything other than my own personal opinion.

Even Fox News Poll acknowledged that Edwards would have won reelection against Burr (which is saying a lot). Those of us on the ground in N.C. knew better, but is was such a wonderfully effective inaccurate representation designed to blunt Edwards' Presidential ambitions that it was spread far and wide through MSM controlled outlets.


"Political pundit Larry Sabato opined at the time that Edwards chose not to run for reelection because of the substantial risk of losing his seat in a state where he was polling somewhat poorly. A Fox News poll on the day of the election, however, showed that Edwards would have defeated Burr by a 53 percent — 47 percent margin."

http://jedwards.us/john-edwards-bio/

He accomplished very little in his time there and probably wouldn't have been able to be reelected.

Do you have proof to back up your 'hit and run' false allegation?

He had his eye on the presidency, using the senate as a stepping stone.

Almost right out of the Senate gate, it became clear that his constituents were not happy w/him. He would not reply to emails, letters or phone calls.

After I moved from N.C. I was happy to find out that the Dem senator from the state I moved to actually answered emails. And he attends townhall meetings in my small town.

You may 'believe' you are right, but there is no evidence to back up your beliefs that 'his constituents were not happy with him' and that there was a pattern established that 'he would not reply to emails, letters or phone calls.'

I visited his office and staff in both Washington D.C. and Raleigh N.C. and found them to be very responsive. I also wrote letters and got responses back from them.

Maybe you expected John Edwards to pick up the phone and call you --but that does not happen on a regular basis in any Senator's office. Their staff responds on his behalf.

Of course it is possible you didn't get the response you liked, and now you continue to trash him because of that.

time running for president, and I live in NC.

I'm glad he didn't run, even though I don't like our current senators. I think he has learned and grown a lot more by getting into the Poverty Center at UNC.
He really found his issue and his heart. He was a pretty ho-hum senator - very moderate, if not conservative. I think he had to be to win in this red state.

I'm hoping Dole and Burr will be ousted when they come up for re-election. People are moving here from all over and that may help turn NC bluer next time around.


:-)

... She never appears in North Carolina, never does anything for North Carolinians, and yet those same folks who were bent out of shape claiming Edwards did not spend enough time in NC and helping NC citizens are eerily silent?

Hmmmm ... do you think that the meme against Edwards might have been a well coordinated media campaign against him by Repubs?

in the media here. Who knows?

He was impatient for change and didn't want to learn the "old boy" system and didn't feel ultimately that's where he could be more effective.

Seems it was a local show though, not a national one.

edit: It's been some time ago. It wasn't a recent statement.

He is a man of integrity

I have followed Edwards' career for over 20 years, and it just does not sound like something Edwards would ever put into words.

Although I agree with the sentiment --he can definitely be more effective in higher office.

I find that odd considering no one had ever heard of him before his first senate term. :shrug: He was a lawyer dedicated to getting quietly wealthy.

It's not pundit speak, it's what I remember from a few years back, which is most certainly a paraphrase of whatever he did say at the time.

But hey, YMMV.

nt

He wouldn't have been able to win reelection.

It is just like whack-a-mole with all these supposed Democrats repeating the Repub lies over and over again against a Democrat.

Do you think for a moment that Fox News would do anything other than try to destroy Edwards?

Educate yourself and quit repeating this lie.

"A Fox News poll on the day of the election, however, showed that Edwards would have defeated Burr by a 53 percent — 47 percent margin."

http://jedwards.us/john-edwards-bio/

It was not Edwards decision to make as VP --but he tried to convince the Kerry strategists to compete in NC, but they refused.

It was remarkably close given there was no Kerry/Edwards advertising and presence in NC.

Just not a valid criticism that Edwards could not carry his own state.

Right in their faces... it won't matter. Their like zombies... OMG... they just keep coming and comeing...only John Edwards can stop them... and he will. When he is President.