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Politics : WHO IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (4807)	9/16/2003 2:30:38 PM
From: Tadsamillionaire	Respond to of 10965

Edwards Formally Announces for President 1 hour, 27 minutes ago By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer ROBBINS, N.C. - Democrat John Edwards, the Southern moderate dogged by complaints that he's short on political experience, formally launched his candidacy for the presidency Tuesday, vowing to "be a champion for regular people every day." The North Carolina senator, who made millions as a trial attorney before entering politics five years ago, highlighted his blue collar roots by staging his announcement at the Robbins, N.C., textile mill where his father worked for 36 years. A young John Edwards once had a job there, mopping beneath looms in the weave room. Edwards used the speech to assail President Bush (news - web sites)'s record, offer his own biography and address some of the criticism he has faced as a first-term senator. "I haven't spent most of my life in politics, but I've spent enough time in Washington to know how much we need to change it," Edwards told the crowd. The next stop on the official kickoff was Columbia, S.C., a must-win state in Edwards' strategy to reach the White House. Rather than try to take a win in Iowa and New Hampshire against more seasoned rivals, Edwards was looking for his candidacy to take off with a win in South Carolina. He was banking that voters in the state would be attracted to a fresh-faced moderate with Carolina roots. "George Bush's guiding principle is a twisted reflection of the American bargain: Instead of 'opportunity for all, special privileges for none,' he's given us 'opportunity for all the special interests,'" Edwards said. In some ways, Edwards is a presidential candidate in the mold of Bill Clinton (news - web sites) — a youthful centrist with Southern charm. But having run for office just once before and served only a single term in the Senate, he doesn't have the resume or the experience of his leading rivals in the race for the Democratic nomination. Nine candidates have announced, with a 10th — Wesley Clark — telling advisers he would enter the Democratic primary. In most state and national polls, Edwards draws single-digit support and ranks behind rivals with less funding and organization, such as Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun, despite working for the nomination for more than a year. He was the leading fund-raiser in the Democratic field early this year, but has lost that advantage to insurgent candidate Howard Dean (news - web sites), the former Vermont governor. "This is where I learned that the simple promise of America is the enduring greatness of America — a better life for all who work for it," Edwards said. "And so this is where — today — to make opportunity the birthright of every American, I declare myself a candidate for president of the United States." Edwards joked about his second-tier standing in an appearance Monday night on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show." "I don't know if you've seen the polls, but I think it will be news to some people that I will be running for president," he said. His campaign also used humor to counter the "Breck girl" label given to him by Republican foes who say his qualifications don't go beyond good looks by passing out mini-bottles of the shampoo with stickers attached commemorating his announcement. Edwards' career as a trial attorney is seen by some as a liability to his candidacy. But Edwards says it is evidence of his fight for average Americans and is completing work on an autobiography called "Four Trials" that highlights his legal work. Edwards says if elected, he would push to make the first year of college free for any student willing to work. He wants a law that would require health insurance for every child, in contrast to rivals who are pushing for nearly universal health care with a higher price tag. Edwards says he wouldn't repeal all of President Bush's tax cuts, as some other Democratic candidates have proposed. He would keep the child tax credit, relief for married couples and allow other tax cuts targeted at middle-income families while repealing those for more affluent. "The price of opportunity or security can't be higher taxes for the middle class," he said in his announcement. Edwards supported Bush's war against Iraq (news - web sites), but has taken on the president in the politics of economics and social class. He charges that Bush cares only for the wealthy and is shifting the tax burden to those who work for a living. "People won't pay any taxes at all when they make money from selling stocks, when they get big dividends every year, or when they inherit a massive estate," he said. "But if you work at a restaurant earning the minimum wage — you'll pay more." story.news.yahoo.com

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (4807)	9/16/2003 4:00:36 PM
From: American Spirit	Respond to of 10965

Clark knocks Graham back as the #1 VP pick and knocks Dean back as the outsider choice. He also may be the southerner of choice which knocks out Edwards. Strangely, Kerry's support has never been based on his military experience. That just never gained traction. It's been frustrating that few people even know he has a Silver Star, because Kerry has always been reluctant to talk abuot it, though he did so a few weeks ago for sure. Now that Clark is in, maybe military experience WILL get more attention. The media will write "The other Silver Star Winner in the race", etc. That will help Kerry. Kerry's #1 problem has been knocking Dean off his pedestal. Clark does that for him. I predict Dean is a goner now, back to second tier and contributions will dry up. Bottomline, Clark helps Kerry in the long-run. And no, Super Delegates do not automatically fall into line. They are highly controlled by the powers in the party. It is their insurance policy against the wrong type of outsider getting the nod. They hold the trump card. Clark remember, wasn't even a Democrat until two weeks ago. He has a long way to go before anyone at the DNC will throw their support behind him. Clark is a good thing becuse most of all he hurts Bush.