Sources say Edwards likely to run for president

Durham Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) ^ | December 17, 2002 | The Associated Press

[Constitution Day]

Sources say Edwards likely to run for president

The Associated Press
December 17, 2002   9:33 am

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Close friends and advisers say U.S. Sen. John Edwards will almost certainly run for president in 2004, The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday.

Eight close associates said they expect Edwards, D-N.C., to join the race. He is expected to take the first formal step soon by announcing an exploratory committee, supporters said.

"My belief is that John will pursue the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party and pursue the presidency," said David Kirby, Edwards' best friend and former law partner.

Speculation about Edwards grew after former vice president and 2000 Democratic nominee Al Gore announced Sunday he won't run. Gore explained his decision in Raleigh on Tuesday. Several former Gore supporters said his decision opens a door for Edwards.

"A lot of the folks I've gotten to know nationally through the Gore network will find John a really attractive candidate," said Tommy Hendrickson, a Raleigh businessman and former Gore fund-raiser. "There's a network of folks who are active in national campaigns who've been watching John as he's moved through his process, and I think they're anxious to see what he does."

Jeanette Hyde of Raleigh, a longtime Gore supporter who President Bill Clinton named ambassador to the eastern Caribbean, agreed.

"There's an opportunity for him," she said. "I think the Democratic Party needs a Southerner on the ticket. And we need a real moderate. And John Edwards is a real moderate. His record in the U.S. Senate has been perfect."

Edwards, 49, has publicly flirted with a presidential run for two years, almost since he made Gore's short list for a running mate. Edwards lost out to Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., another likely presidential contender.

Edwards, who had never run for public office before he was elected in 1998, has made multiple trips to New Hampshire and Iowa and courted prominent party donors. He has made policy speeches on education and the economy and Wednesday is scheduled to address national security issues in a speech in Washington.

Friends and advisers caution that Edwards has made no final decision and say he has struggled with whether to put himself and his family on a two-year-long treadmill.

"What's pushing him toward it is he wants to do it. He really wants to do it," one adviser said. "What pushes him away is he has the self-knowledge to ask, `Am I really ready to do this?'"

Spokesman Mike Briggs said: "He hasn't decided what he's going to do about running for president or Senate or whatever."

Edwards could run for the presidency and re-election to the Senate at the same time.

North Carolina Republicans have started attacking Edwards as a liberal out of step with most voters and as an ambitious politician more concerned about his political future than his constituents.

Edwards would be the first serious presidential candidate from North Carolina since Terry Sanford ran in 1972 and 1976.

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[Constitution Day]

Click for *Edwards Watch articles

[Constitution Day]

Indexing bump...

[Constitution Day]

NC ping!

Please FRmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[wimpycat]

Prediction: He will run in 2004, get walloped by bigger names and will run again in 2008, depending on how respectable showing he makes for himself in 2004. He may end up as the Democratic nominee's running mate in 2004 or 2008.

[GraniteStateConservative]

If Richard Burr hasn't started raising money for his open-seat Senate bid, he's a moron.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Prediction: Whatever he does, running for re-election won't be on the list.

[LibertyGirl77]

"Edwards would be the first serious presidential candidate from North Carolina since Terry Sanford ran in 1972 and 1976."

Whether this means the author doesn't consider Liddy Dole a REAL North Carolinian, or whether it means the author didn't consider Ms. Dole a serious Presidential candidate in 2000, that's a nice, gratuitous slam on the new Senator from North Carolina. Ha, ha. (I don't like her.)

[Piquaboy]

This is just what the Dems need. Another slimeball pretty boy ambulance chasing lawyer running for president.

[Dan from Michigan]

If the polls can be believed, Edwards has as good or better a shot winning the presidency than re-election for the senate.

[Constitution Day]

I definitely think he'll be beaten like a rented mule in '04.
However, 2008 is a long way away, politically. Practically eons!

[Constitution Day]

(I don't like her.)

Nor do many of us here in NC.
I voted for Jim Snyder in the primary but for her in the general election.

There was NO way I was going to vote for a former Klintonista (Irksome Bowels).

[Constitution Day]

Agreed.

[warchild9]

Having him run and be crushed by W is the best way to get rid of him.

[warchild9]

Having him run and be crushed by W is the best way to get rid of him.

[JohnnyZ]

I believe Burr already has half a million left over from his reelection and is doubtless raising money as we speak, ostensibly for his 2004 reelection (ha!). The guy hasn't even said he's exploring a senate bid so it's kind of hard to make a push for senate $$ already.

[warchild9]

Ow! Double post! My apologies!

[billbears]

That's the only thing he's been going for all along. He wants to be the running mate this time. Lieberman/Edwards? Or possibly Kerry/Edwards?

[Mo1]

And John Edwards is a real moderate. His record in the U.S. Senate has been perfect."

Yea right ... Get real ..

[billbears]

Hey now, don't kick on Giddy!!! Giddy's my heroine. She's just slightly to the right of 'Ambulance' Edwards

[JohnnyZ]

Oh, and I do happen to like Senator Dole -- she's a solid conservative, ran on social security reform, etc -- didn't you read the Dole Plan? Remember, "it's free". She wasn't a resident of NC at the time of her pitiful prez run, so that's probably why she's not mentioned.

[Constitution Day]

Another slimeball pretty boy ambulance chasing lawyer running for president.

That is EXACTLY what Blinky Edwards is.

That reminds me, Henchster... could you post that cool ambulance chaser gif I saw you use recently?

[Constitution Day]

That's probably true, Dan.
He ran as a moderate, you know.

Despite the article's quote that he is a "real moderate", he most certainly is not, and the people of this state are beginning to realize it.

[Howlin]

Prediction: North Carolina is NOT going to like a "candidate" who runs for two offices at the same time.

I hope he enjoys the Senate these last two years.

He cannot possibly run for a national office AND run a campaign for Senate.

[goosie]

Well since Jeanette Hyde says he is a real moderate, I think we have been seriously misjudging him. Why can't we just all get along?

[kinghorse]

Bought and paid for by Trial Lawyer Lobby. I hope the Dems rally around a trial lawyer. Especially with health care skyrocketing. Gonna privative barrister? And take those fat fees from your lawyer buddies?

hahaha. hohohohoho.

[Howlin]

"Edwards would be the first serious presidential candidate from North Carolina since Terry Sanford ran in 1972 and 1976."

OMG...........what a dolt this guy is! Serious? He can't be series!

[kinghorse]

Don't get too excited. Hillary's warming up the band. We hate her because she's mean and nasty and can put the fear of him into the republicans.

[theFIRMbss]

>Sources say Edwards likely to run for president

>"As part of his commitment to North Carolina, Senator Edwards has been to all 100 counties in the state, from Murphy (where he went to a college) to Manteo (where he honored Andy Griffith)."

----------------------------------------

Wow. All the way from
Murphy to Manteo. And
the guy met Matlock!

"A product of North
Carolina public schools" --
Maybe he scared Gore...

[Henchster]

Here ya go...

[Constitution Day]

Awesome! Thanks.

[Cicero]

"What's pushing him toward it is he wants to do it. He really wants to do it," one adviser said. "What pushes him away is he has the self-knowledge to ask, `Am I really ready to do this?'"

Translation: "What's pushing him is that he wants POWER. He wants to git into thet there Whitehouse, and kick back like billyboy."

[wbill]

I'll jump up and say "Me too".

Jim Snyder is a rare breed.....an honest lawyer. My mom interviewed for a job with him about 10 years ago. He told her that he wanted to hire her, but had to give the job to someone else because he thought she'd leave at the first opportunity. He was right - the commute was 40 miles one way. Mom said that he was a real straight shooter. That was good enough for me.

I held my nose and voted for Dole in the election. Bowles is a dishonest slimeball.

[AlwaysLurking]

Richard Burr is raising money...last I saw he had 1.3 mill in the account!

[TC Rider]

Sources say Edwards likely to run for president

Sun likely to shine tomorrow, somewhere.

[Henchster]

And here's one JUST for Blinky:

Hillary must be at the wheel/gas pedal of that thing!

[Hatteras]

Well, Duhhhhh... We've been saying that since his senate run.

But beware, he's Bill Clinton with a little polish.

[Overtaxed]

That's polish? :)

[Constitution Day]

LOL!! I love it, thanks!

[GraniteStateConservative]

The risk to his WH bid of losing his senate re-election is too high to even risk it. He won't run in 2004.

[Lee'sGhost]

Amazing!!!!! Edwards has close friends.

[Hatteras]

Well, when I mean "polish", I mean you probably won't find him sneaking out the back windows of motels with his pants in his hands...

[Lee'sGhost]

I've been saying for two years now: Clinton/Edwards. Did you know that BJ Jr. calls Klintoon on a regualar basis seeking advice? They are birds of a feather.

[isthisnickcool]

[VMI70]

And you thought Klintoon was a lightweight?? This guy is the Hindenburg.

[alancarp]

...and greener than Jimmy Carter.

[alancarp]

Elizabeth Dole wasn't registered to vote in North Carolina while she ran for President -- she was registered with Bob in Kansas. When running for the Senate, she bought her mother's home in Salisbury to establish residency, and moved her voting registration at that time. So yeah, technically, she wasn't a tarheel then.

[Carolinamom]

Edwards reportedly is in frequent touch via phone w/X42.

Ted Kennedy, once favoring Edwards, has now for JFK.

Edwards has a verrrrrrry thin resume: lawyer, 1 term senator.

Edwards is probably going for either name recognition or a possible dem VP slot on the ballot.

[areafiftyone]

He definately get walloped. He has a zero approval rating even in his home state. He is wasting his time with this one. Even Sharpton's approval rating is above Edwards. Kerry and Sharpton will step all over Edwards. This is going to be fun to watch. Can't wait.

[areafiftyone]

Edwards reportedly is in frequent touch via phone w/X42.

That is a Big NO NO!!! HEH HEH Clinton's approval rating and power has dropped dramatically and even the Democreeps are keeping their distance from him since the 2002 elections. But that's okay cause that will only assure Edward's loss.

[Jhensy]

Not so sure...Hollywood is now the MAJOR player and cash provider for the Dems, and they are only interested in image and gloss, i.e.,"Who looks the most like our JFK/'West Wing' fantasy?"

This was a big reason Clinton/Gore got as far as they did. Kerry comes close, but his 'rugged good looks' is missing the 'good looks' part. Gephardt and Daschle....no. Lieberman....ahem. ..NO. Dean...no.

So only Edwards fits the bill. He will be given every chance to prove he's not a lightweight, and then given more chances, all because of his looks.

And actually, I wonder if Evan Bayh has been getting some West Coast phone calls lately...