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The (Mis)Education of John Edwards




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John Edward’s consecutive primary losses ended his five year bid for president. His “two America” campaign theme and populist approach did not resonate well with democratic voters. After seven years of gross mismanagement and disastrous neo-con policies, democrats hunger for change, competency and unity. While Obama represents freshness and change, Clinton’s experience and policy prowess reassures weary working class voters. Democrats seemed to move beyond the "have and have-not" argument in this election. Pressing challenges such as the Iraq war, home foreclosures, rising healthcare and educational costs, and economic downturn unite people. When facing a real or potential crisis, there is only one America.

Edwards’ campaign should have focused on unity – the need to bridge the gaps between the rich and poor, the old and young, the educated and less educated, women and men, straights and gays, and blacks, whites and browns. Democrats probably would have responded positively given the divisive racial and gender rhetoric in the early primaries. Edwards’ two America message was equally divisive and thus, failed to be a credible alternative to Obama and Clinton. Edwards, 53, is a young and promising leader. Perhaps he should return to his roots in NC, run for governor, and return in 2012 or 2016.
TooPolitical

3 responses // The (Mis)Education of John Edwards

  • John Edwards was the best choice for president from all the candidates Democrat or Republican.

    The polls showed, that it was Edwards that could have beaten all the Republicans in a general election.

    The problem was the media, al the coverage/hype they gave to Obama and Hillary. This was evident when Edwards came in second in the Iowa caucus. The media was all over Hillary with a what happened??

    Had the media been truly unbias...and gave Edwards the same coverage, the race would be looking very different...
    NYTheatrebug
  • To say that his message didn't resonate with the masses is unfair in a closed party process, this is not the general election and with this race charged heavily with both ethnicity and sex with a hispanic, african american, and woman running within his party. To have placed a very close third says something rather important about his candidacy and that his message was indeed popular. And to call Hillary a unifying force is rediculous on the outset, she has polled as the most antagonistic candidate in an election cycle in a very long time and more than fifty percent of people at times have said they could never vote for her.
    ocanada
  • Thanks for your comments. Good and valid point on the biased media coverage. Edwards being the best candidate, however, is debatable. To be fair he campaigned the longest and was one of the first candidates to declare his candidacy. Had he picked the right message (i.e. Obama's change and hope, and Clinton's experience) such as unity, it probably would have resonated with voters.
    TooPolitical

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