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December 01, 2004

Looking back

John Edwards in the Charlotte Observer:

Earlier, Edwards reflected about the last campaign.

He said Republicans successfully tapped into the "cultural populism" on issues such as gay marriage that played well throughout the South and in much of the rest of the country. Edwards said Bush used those issues to divide, adding that Democrats have to talk more about religion and other "common values" that people can relate to.

"We can't be a party of elites and intellectuals," he said. "People have to believe we're on their side," he said. "... People have this instinctive radar for that. They know whether you respect them. They know whether you respect their way of life."

He declined to say whether he thought the outcome would have been different had he, not Kerry, been atop the ticket. Nor did he say what the campaign should have done differently.

But, he said, "The most important thing ... that we need in a future presidential campaign is a message that's clear and strong and a candidate who believes it to his or her soul. It's the core of a successful run for the presidency. Otherwise it sounds like today's message or yesterday's poll numbers."

Kerry's campaign was often criticized for lacking focus.

John Edwards from Salon Magazine:

The 51-year-old Edwards has ideas about the path his party should take for the future.

He said the party needs to be sure that voters understand Democrats have the same values as the people Edwards grew up with in South and North Carolina, where Republicans have dominated national elections.

“I wish we'd had better chances, better opportunities (in the 2004 campaign) for me to talk about what my personal values are,” Edwards said.

“How important my relationship with God is, how important my faith is in our day-to-day lives, the struggles my family's had in the past, plus what Elizabeth is facing now."

Democrats also need to reach out to those who voted for Bush, he said.

“In order for us to unite the country ... those voters have to believe that our values -- my values and the values of other Democratic leaders -- are the same values they believe in. That means we have to be touching them, reaching out to them.”

Edwards said that even without a forum in the Senate he plans to keep a high profile.

“We've had lots of proposals and offers out there,” he said. “The bottom line is: I have to sort my way through all of that stuff and figure out what makes the most sense and what's the best way to fight for these things I care about.”

Edwards said he will continue to give speeches around the country and may publish another book. He also plans to build a new home near Chapel Hill.

Posted by Mike at December 1, 2004 02:16 PM

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