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Friday, July 5, 2002 5:47AM EDT
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Posted on 07/05/2002 6:45:31 AM PDT by jern
Friday, July 5, 2002 5:47AM EDT
Edwards takes annual walk on the beach
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By JOHN WAGNER, Washington Correspondent
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH - After recent swings through Iowa and New Hampshire, U.S. Sen. John Edwards politicked back home Thursday, continuing an annual tradition of shaking hands with sunbathers and posing for impromptu pictures with families enjoying a holiday weekend at the beach.
Though heckled by one man for spending too much time outside the state, the North Carolina Democrat was warmly received by most beachgoers, whose reactions ranged from polite wishes of good luck to outright pledges of support if Edwards seeks the presidency in 2004.
Many were skeptical, however, that Edwards could beat President Bush, and some suggested that even carrying North Carolina would be a challenge.
"If we have to lose a senator to get a president, then I'm for you," said Mary Anne Mills of Wilmington, an IBM retiree. Her comments echoed others Edwards encountered on his two-hour beach walk, which ended with about 100 people coming to the back patio of a local resort for cookies and lemonade.
Edwards, wearing a lime green polo shirt and khaki shorts, was accompanied on the late-morning outing by a CNN camera crew and about a dozen other journalists and aides. Two three-wheel police buggies flanked the entourage, and many on the beach stood up and gawked at the spectacle as it rolled by.
Though aggressively positioning himself for a presidential bid, Edwards insists that he has no firm plans for 2004, when his Senate seat is also up for re-election.
Although the senator was at Wrightsville Beach to mingle with his Tar Heel constituents, he may also have bolstered his standing with a family in Iowa, the first state to hold a presidential caucus.
Among the first to have his picture snapped with Edwards was Dick Snyder of Wilmington, who spent the day at the beach with two grandchildren. The family of one of the children lives in Iowa.
"We hope to send the picture home to Iowa right away," Snyder said. "We think the world of John Edwards."
The reception was less friendly from Clyde Gentry, 77, a retiree who lives at Wrightsville Beach.
"Why are you traveling to all these other states?" Gentry yelled out as Edwards was being interviewed by a CNN producer.
"He's not for the people of North Carolina," Gentry, a Republican, said in an interview. "He's just looking out for himself."
Such sentiments were uncommon on the beach, however. Jeff Taylor, a middle school principal from Hickory and a registered Republican, said he had been impressed with the senator since his 1998 election. He called the prospect of a presidential bid intriguing.
"If he's prepared, it would be good for our state," Taylor said.
Among those who encouraged Edwards to run was Debbie Whitman of Wilmington. But she said Bush, a popular incumbent, probably would carry North Carolina against Edwards if the election took place today.
"We'll have to see what happens in the next two years," Whitman said in an interview.
Philip Stout, a retiree from Texas, greeted Edwards with a plea to do more to cut taxes in Washington. He said Edwards seemed likable, but he couldn't see supporting him over Bush.
"I'm a Bush man," Stout said. "I'm from Texas; I believe in just about everything he does."
Whatever Edwards decides, Thursday's trip underscored the celebrity status he is coming to enjoy. He was approached by numerous autograph seekers and beachgoers who wanted quick pictures snapped. One posed with Edwards and her surfboard.
Among the other photo-seekers were three bikini-clad women in their 20s. One, paralegal Danielle Yurkovich, said she would like to see Edwards be president. "He seems to be so genuine and sincere."
Edwards was accompanied on his beach walk by Wilmington Mayor Harper Peterson, who was clearly taken by the prospect of a presidential bid. On a couple of occasions, he encouraged young people to make sure they register to vote by 2004, so that they might support Edwards.
"People here are proud of him," Peterson said in an interview. "They see higher office calling."
Washington correspondent John Wagner can be reached at (202) 662-4380 or jwagner@mcclatchydc.com.
"Why are you traveling to all these other states?" Gentry yelled out as Edwards was being interviewed by a CNN producer.
He's not for the people of North Carolina," Gentry, a Republican, said in an interview. "He's just looking out for himself."
John Edwards goes to toilet!
John Edwards opens car door!
John Edwards wins national fast eye-blinking contest!
Hello, McFly!?! Anyone in there?
I predict that Ray Charles will see before anyone in the mainstream media will ask that question.
Well, that's good enough for me. This babe was only 10 when Clinton first got elected. So Edwards would be her very own Bubba.
Sounds like Johnny Boy is borrowing a trick from Bill Bradley, former Senator of NJ, of walking on the beach. Doesn't Charlie Rose, a popular Cumberland County politician do the same thing?
Also missing from this story is that Wrightsville Beach is rather toney, not for the low lifes and local riffraff. Very few accessable public beaches and even less public parking. I'm surprised Johnny Boy didn't head to Bald Head or Figure 8 Island to hang with lawyer buddies.
If Vinroot doesn't want it (and the RNC needs to determine that right now), then they need to set up Rules Committee member Sue Myrick or Vice-Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee Richard Burr. Burr will be 49 in 2004 and Myrick will be 63 (like Vinroot). I don't know if Vinroot or Myrick would serve more than one term because of their age, but it's possible.
Other Democraps may run in 2004, but the state would really be in a pickle if they don't give Blue or Marshall another shot after they lose to Bowles-- unless Blue pulls off the upset this year. I really believe the Democrap nominee will be one of those two.
'Twould be more fun to see Edwards take a long walk on a short pier...
He's not a conservative.....that is enough qualification as far as the media is concerned.
I know several people that have homes on Figure Eight and I'm surprised he wasn't run off the island!
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