Harsh, but... hard knowledge tempered by history. One out of three Republican women voters voted for John Edwards to represent NC in the US Senate in 1998.
And what everyone now knows about that scrub, after '04, was generally known in that Senate race in the Old North State.
Of course, it didn't help the Republicans that their Senate incumbent was an affable but non-charismatic drunk.
Ah, yes, the silky pony. John McCain would be president for sure if he could have borrowed John Edwards face. Anyone who doubts that is disconnected from the real world.