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Edwards announces
The lamestream media are predictably dismissive of today's announcement of a Presidential bid by John Edwards (or so it seems to me), perhaps because they've already decided that Hillary and Obama are the only games in town. My private theory to explain this is simple: journos are lazy, and 'Is the country ready for a black/female President?' stories are so simple they practically write themselves. Hence, they have more time to spend on expense reports and cocktail party chit-chat.
The real news, of course, is that Hillary labors under the widespread perception that she can't win/stands for nothing/will say whatever you want to hear/polarizes (one which I share), and that sheer politeness is all that is keeping the subterranean chatter about Obama's thin résumé quiet, for the moment.
By a simple process of elimination, that leaves Edwards as the guy to beat. Clark never quite caught on with the rank and file (for reasons which elude many), Kerry had his chance (and has that unfortunate foot-in-mouth problem), Gore seems sincere about not running, Vilsack is in fourth place in his native Iowa, and Mark Warner, ah, Mark Warner. Biden and Dodd are lovely Senators; Richardson may be laboring under too-high expectations.
What's really exciting about this candidacy, for liberal bloggers at least, is this: Edwards seems open to engaging with the Progressive blogosphere and the netroots, with a diary on DailyKos, an announcement video on YouTube, a blog-friendly content section on his web-site, a dedicated blog overview on his site, and his own blog. At a time when the netroots have demonstrated their ability to identify and effectively assist candidates – Jon Tester, Jim Webb, and so on – that's a smart strategy,
I've said it before, and it bears restating: there are still over fourteen months to go before the first ballots are cast. What we're seeing now is positioning for the dollar primary. As an aside, none of this would be taken quite so seriously if Dubya were anything other than a complete failure; but it is what is.
On the web: John Edwards for President
Not just the dollar primary
Link TextEzra Klein wrote something fairly astute about the Edwards announcement today:
One great result of the 2006 races is I think Edwards, at least, understands that you don't have to win with dollars alone. Obama seems to be playing the media primary, Hillary is sucking up the dollars, but Edwards is trying to build a grassroots machine.
Edwards
I was completely unimpressed with Edwards in 2004. His convention speech left me bored. He seemed artificial.
But...
I have become far more receptive to him. First off, I have never been one of those "write off the South" progressives and I do think a candidate from N Carolina is a good idea. Second, he fits into the category of "young and attractive" men who seem to be best suited to win the White House for the Democrats (think about Kennedy and Clinton...even Carter had some of that "young, boyish charm.") Finally, his focus on poverty is one that has a very wide appeal, is extremely necessary and it fits the message that Hank Sheinkopf (formerly a member of President Clinton’s re-election media team and, ironically a Hillary supporter) thinks Democrats need to make to win. Edwards more than any other candidate seems to be delivering Sheikopf's suggested message.
So I am leaning more Edwards almost despite myself.