Edwards got elected because Lauch Faircloth didn't run a good re-election campaign, and it was 1998, a bad year for Republicans. As for liberal northerners politicking down here...let's just say that if Clinton (either one) or Kennedy or any of that crowd had publicly campaigned for Dem. Mike Easley in 2000, he more than likely wouldn't be governor today. They might come down for private fundraisers, but they keep it real quiet and off the front page of the (very cooperative) newspaper, and scurry back north as fast as possible. Or they air ads, or make taped telephone messages in highly selective and targeted markets to fire up their base. But running ads on regional TV and radio, in front of God and everybody? It's the kiss of death. In 2002, Erskine Bowles stayed as far away from his old boss Bill Clinton as possible (in public). In 1998, Jim Hunt didn't get re-elected to his 4th term as governor by doing something so stupid as being seen on TV rubbing shoulders with the Clintons. He knew which side his bread was buttered on; he knew the % by which Clinton lost NC twice.