The Economist
The patrician and the populist
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Mr Edwards brings both regional and personal balance to Mr Kerry’s ticket. He is a southerner, while Mr Kerry comes from Massachusetts. This will not swing the region Mr Kerry’s way, as Lyndon Johnson did for John Kennedy in 1960—the modern south is heavily Republican territory. But it could give the Democratic ticket a boost in the few competitive southern states, including Florida and Arkansas...
Most crucial of all, perhaps, will be the personality boost that Mr Edwards could give the Kerry campaign... The backlash against Mr Edwards from deep-pocketed businesses may be sharp: the head of the National Association of Manufacturers told the New York Times that business is more frightened of trial lawyers than terrorists, China or high energy prices.
The southern charmer’s pitch in his presidential run was to end the system of “two Americas”, one for the rich and one for everyone else. Mr Kerry took up that very theme in announcing his decision to pick Mr Edwards on Tuesday, declaring his goal to make “one America for all Americans”. America is not one yet: it is still bitterly divided between Republicans and Democrats, and polls have Messrs Kerry and Bush running neck-and-neck. It remains to be seen whether Mr Edwards’s sunny demeanour is enough to help Mr Kerry pull away from the incumbent.
July 07 2004
Edwards makes it to the top
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As the pundits keep telling us, a vice presidential pick can drag down a ticket but almost never boosts it. Although not a surprising choice, Edwards is a fine pick; still, it's hard to see how he would be able to break that pattern and help Kerry substantially.
July 07, 2004
Just who is John Edwards?
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Edwards is known for his personal charm, sunny demeanor and polite personal speaking style, for steering clear of negative mudslinging in his own campaign for president and for his fondness for noting his humble beginnings as the son of factory workers.
What might cause the Kerry/Edwards ticket the most difficulty, however, is Edwards' strong protectionist opinion on trade and government involvement in business decisions.
July 08, 2004
A strong VP candidate who is soft on trade
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John Edwards is a good choice. He is tested in political combat. He is his party's most skillful and empathetic speaker.
As a senator, Edwards is qualified but still fresh. Clearly, he would not be a co-president but the more traditional president-in-training.
Critics charge that in choosing Edwards, Kerry has played it safe. So he has, and that may be the right thing... Reagan played it safe and chose the party's runner-up, which is what Kerry has now done.
July 08, 2004
Mr. Kerry's Choice
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If Mr. Edwards can help humanize and energize Mr. Kerry as a campaigner, if his notion of uniting the "two Americas" can help Mr. Kerry sharpen his campaign theme without veering into class warfare, then Mr. Kerry will have made a wise choice indeed.
July 07, 2004
