“McCain, Vilsack, Gephardt, and Edwards: The Battle for the Vice-Presidency”

Edwards is a southerner, as it evident by his accent which he makes no bones about using. A Southerner, even a Southern liberal, can do nothing but help a Northern liberal on this ticket. Most of the Southern states voted for President Bush in 2000 based on Bush's Southern charm. However, Edwards charm now in 2004 seems as though it will travel a lot further than Bush's did in 2000. Already the Kerry/Edwards ticket has made a campaign stop in Fort Lauderdale, FL, hoping to pick up support and votes and looking to capitalize on the Southern half of the ticket.

Now for the bad news. John Edwards' ties to trial lawyers, having been one himself in a former political life, make him an enemy of big business. That may end up hurting the Democratic ticket, as John Kerry also has been a lawyer, although Kerry can boast of his record as a prosecutor. Strange that a prosecutor and a defense lawyer can end up on the same presidential ticket, isn't it?

Over the next fifteen weeks, we will see how much Edwards proves to be a shot in the arm to Kerry's campaign. Whether both men can capitalize on their newfound political capital remains to be seen. However, President Bush has a distinct advantage that Kerry does not: Bush already has the White House. Everything he does as President he does as a campaigner. Therefore, he receives more exposure to the American public than any other candidate.

Go To Page: 1 2