2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Fresno Bee Endorses John Edwards For President

FRESNO BEE ENDORSES JOHN EDWARDS FOR PRESIDENT

California’s sixth largest paper picks Edwards for his leadership in standing up for middle class families

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, California’s Fresno Bee endorsed Senator John Edwards for President citing his leadership in standing up for middle class families and ending the war in Iraq.

“Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ campaign for president offers a much-needed vision that recognizes the hope and promise of America,” the editorial board wrote. “It’s a view that includes solidifying the plight of working families and others in the middle class. This group of Americans has struggled the past eight years under an administration that has catered to the well-connected and powerful, and it’s time for leadership that understands the contributions and needs of American families. We believe that John Edwards can provide that leadership and urge Democratic and independent voters to support him in the California primary on Feb. 5.”
Last week, more than 1,000 supporters attended a community meeting with Senator Edwards at the Southern California Public Service Workers’ headquarters in Los Angeles. Edwards enjoys the support of more than 760,000 union members across California, including the support of California’s single largest union, the California SEIU State Council. Edwards has also won the support of dozens of diverse Democratic elected officials and party leaders from every region of the Golden State.

The endorsement can be viewed at: https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/story/341733.html.

New TV Spot Highlights Why John Edwards Is The Best Candidate To Fight For Change

NEW TV SPOT HIGHLIGHTS WHY JOHN EDWARDS IS THE BEST CANDIDATE TO FIGHT FOR CHANGE

Edwards campaign begins airing new television spot in South Carolina that draws contrasts between Edwards and his competitors

Columbia, South Carolina – Today, the John Edwards for President campaign began airing a new 30-second television spot in the Palmetto State to highlight how Senator Edwards is the only Democratic presidential candidate who will stand up to the drug companies and powerful Washington lobbyists and fight for hard-working middle class families.

The ad begins with photographs of Senator Clinton and Senator Obama on the screen as the narrator states, “One gets more money than anyone from drug companies. The other one takes more money than anyone from Washington lobbyists. What’s happened to the Democratic Party? Whatever happened to the party of the people?”

As the visuals switch to a montage of crowds at Edwards’ campaign events and images of Senator Edwards working to rebuild a home in New Orleans and greeting supporters, the narrator continues, “The only one who’s never taken a dime from PACs or Washington lobbyists, who knows we’ve been ignored too long, who knows that rebuilding the middle class is more important that politics - our John Edwards. The only one.”

Born to a working class family in South Carolina and raised in small, rural mill towns, Edwards has spent his life taking on powerful interests on behalf of hard-working families like the ones he grew up with. He has never taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or PACs, and has pledged that he will ban corporate lobbyists from serving in his White House. As president, he will only support smart and safe trade deals, opposing trade deals that put the profits of multinational corporations ahead of the needs of hard-working families.

Tomorrow, Edwards will set off on a two-day “Back Roads, Back Home Barnstorm” of South Carolina’s small towns and rural communities to bring attention to the millions of rural Americans who, for too long, have been forgotten by Washington politicians. During the tour, Edwards will be joined by longtime activist and actor Danny Glover, Congressman Heath Shuler, former Congressman and Dukes of Hazzard star Ben “Cooter” Jones and Bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.  During the barnstorm, Edwards will visit volunteer firefighters, stop by diners and discuss his bold plans for change with South Carolinians.

Edwards is the only candidate in the race who was born in South Carolina and he is the only Democratic candidate to ever win in a “red” state. Edwards leads the Democratic field in both campaign stops and money raised in the Palmetto State, and his campaign boasts an impressive statewide grassroots organization strengthened by deep support from Edwards’ 2004 campaign.

Transcript of “What Happened” (30 seconds):
Narrator: One gets more money than anyone from drug companies.
The other one takes more money than anyone from Washington lobbyists.
What’s happened to the Democratic Party?
Whatever happened to the party of the people?
Good question.
The only one who’s never taken a dime from PACs or Washington lobbyists
Who knows we’ve been ignored too long.
Who knows that rebuilding the middle class is more important that politics.
Our John Edwards.
The only one.

John Edwards: I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

What They Are Saying About John Edwards At The South Carolina Debate

SOUTH CAROLINA FOCUS GROUP: EDWARDS WON THE DEBATE

CNN’s Focus Group of Undecided South Carolina Voters: “They Thought That Senator Edwards Won the Debate.” After the debate, CNN reported that a focus group of seventeen undecided South Carolina Democrats said Edwards won the debate:

Anderson Cooper: “Erica, did your undecided voters in the room say who they felt won?”
Erica Hill: “They did.  The interesting thing is they thought that Senator Edwards won the debate.” [CNN, 1/21/08]

CNN’s Focus Group Had a Great Reaction to Edwards When He Jumped in After the Clinton-Obama Personal Attacks. 

Erica Hill talking about CNN’s focus group: “What didn't pay off were attacks…That may have played well in the debate hall, but it left our voters cold and left an opening for John Edwards to grab his best reaction.”
John Edwards:  “This kind of squabbling -- how many children is this going to get health care.  How many people are going to get an education from this?” [CNN, 1/21/08]

NBC’s Matt Lauer: “I thought it was a particularly strong night for John Edwards, who seemed to walk the fence and try and calm down the bickering, at the same time calling attention to the issues.” On the “Today Show” this morning Matt Lauer said, “I have to say, I’m not one, I don't want to handicap this thing and call a winner or a loser, but you have to echo what John Edwards said, aren't there three people in this debate.  I thought it was a particularly strong night for John Edwards, who seemed to walk the fence and try and calm down the bickering, at the same time calling attention to the issues.  How do you think he did last night?”  Tim Russert: “Well, John Edwards was able to be the odd man out and look reasonable and much more focused on issues than personal positions.” [NBC, “Today Show,” 1/22/08]

CNN’s Amy Holmes: “I thought the winner was John Edwards…This actually ended up being John Edwards' night.” “And like many of the guests you've had on previously, I thought the winner was John Edwards. I thought he really helped himself tonight where he could come in above the fray, refocus the debate on the issues. This actually ended up being John Edwards’ night.” [CNN, “Larry King Live,” 1/22/08 (https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0801/22/lkl.01.html)]

KIRO Radio Talk Show Host | Seattle Times Contributor Carl Jeffers on CNN: “I believe that actually tonight was John Edwards' best performance.  And actually he came out better than he has in any other debate.” On CNN immediately after the debate, Carl Jeffers said, “And I believe that actually tonight was John Edwards' best performance…But, Edwards clearly came out very well tonight…he certainly helped himself, and I believe now, even if he comes in third, as a result of his performance tonight, can keep going to the convention where he may still have a role to play.”  [CNN, 1/21/08]

CNN’s Candy Crowley: John Edwards probably won – he “was the one who was on message, who kept bringing them back and saying, what does this have to do with children's health care.” Larry King: “Candy, if you were keeping score, who won?” Candy Crowley: “Probably John Edwards simply because he stayed out of it. I talked to people who were in the room during the debate and I said, well, what did you think and they said, well I thought it was too much arguing. So, if you buy into the old political saw that when A and B argue, C is the beneficiary, John Edwards was the one who was on message, who kept bringing them back and saying, what does this have to do with children's health care, that bite that you played. So, if I had to guess, it would be him.” [CNN, “Larry King Live,” 1/22/08 (https://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0801/22/lkl.01.html)]

The Hotline’s Jen Skalka: “I'd score this one for John Edwards.” “This was the rowdiest debate by far in the Democratic contest. And while each of the candidates had fine moments, I'd score this one for John Edwards. Especially in the standing portion of this two-hour rumble… tonight, he was the catalyst for the action.” [https://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2008/01/rough_and_tumbl.html, 1/21/08 (10:06 PM)]

CNN’s Bill Schneider: “John Edwards got himself back in it — he showcased his style and his key issues, and is clearly back in the game.” 10:37 PM | “Here’s some quick post-debate thoughts: John Edwards got himself back in it — he showcased his style and his key issues, and is clearly back in the game. He showed he continues to deserve to share a debate stage with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and voters here will likely give him another look after tonight.” [https://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/21/schneider-some-final-thoughts-%e2%80%93-two-different-strategies/, 1/21/08]

The Nation’s John Nichols: “Edwards effectively pointed to the heated squabbling between the two frontrunners…as a deviation from the issues that matter…In short order, Edwards had gotten the best of both his opponents.” “John Edwards effectively pointed to the heated squabbling between the two frontrunners in anticipation of Saturday's South Carolina Democratic primary as a deviation from the issues that matter…In short order, Edwards had gotten the best of both his opponents. That was the order of the night. Again and again, Edwards took the side of one of the frontrunners against the other, effectively serving as an arbiter between the two.  It was an ideal position for Edwards, the outsider candidate who is struggling to distinguish himself from two opponents with more money and better poll positions.”  [https://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=273581, “CLINTON, OBAMA COME TO BLOWS; EDWARDS WINS ...” 1/21/08 (10:47 PM)]

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell: Edwards “did very well in the debate.” [MSNBC, “Morning Joe,” 1/22/08]

The New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn: On universal health care, Edwards “had the best argument of all,” asking Obama “whether he would make the same sort of argument about Social Security.” “Clinton and Edwards would require everybody to obtain health insurance and Obama wouldn't…Clinton and Edwards framed the argument perfectly…It was Edwards, though, who had the best argument of all. When Obama said, as he has frequently, he doesn't want to force people to buy health insurance, Edwards asked whether he would make the same sort of argument about Social Security: ‘The problem with this argument is you can make exactly the same argument about Social Security. ... I mean, you think about the analogy.  What George Bush says is he wants people to be able to get out of the Social Security system, choose, elect to get out of the Social Security system.  Well, that's exactly what this argument is. ... This argument is you shouldn't have to have health care.  If you choose not to have health care, you shouldn't have to have it. And that is a threshold question.  It is a judgment.  It's a fair policy debate.’”  [https://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/01/21/debate-blogging-hard-truths-and-half-truths-on-health-care.aspx, 1/21/08]

The New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn: On Edwards, “From the day this campaign began, he's driven the policy agenda.” “Right now, John Edwards is talking about poverty. And that alone is reason to be thankful he's on the stage, even now.  From the day this campaign began, he's driven the policy agenda--not just by embracing ambitious policy initiatives but also by focussing everybody's attention on people who, frankly, don't get enough explicit attention in politics.” [https://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/01/22/is-this-debate-too-ugly.aspx]

The Hill’s Sam Youngman: Edwards “likely won favor with viewers by repeatedly trying to take the high road and stay above Obama’s and Clinton’s demolition derby.” [https://thehill.com/campaign-2008/clinton-obama-throw-sharpest-elbows-yet-at-debate-2008-01-21.html, 1/21/08 (10:40 PM)]

Wall Street Journal’s Susan Davis: After the Debate Descended to the Personal, “Edwards said to applause ‘How many people are going to get an education from this? How many kids are going to be able to go to college because of this?’” “The biggest benefactor of the fight might be former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards who is fighting to regain a foothold in this race. Edwards has repeatedly been given the opportunity to take the higher ground as the two frontrunners throw insults. ‘I also want to know on behalf of voters here in South Carolina, this kind of squabbling, how many children is this going to get health care?’ Edwards said to applause. ‘How many people are going to get an education from this? How many kids are going to be able to go to college because of this? We have got to understand — you know, and I respect both of these — my fellow candidates, but we have got to understand this is not about us personally. It is about what we are trying to do for this country and what we believe in.’” [https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/01/21/obama-clinton-trade-jabs/, 1/21/08 (9:23 pm)]

TPM’s John Marshall: “8:58 PM ... Edwards comparison of 'choice' in health care to 'choice' is Social Security is a pretty good analogy.”  [https://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/064342.php]

TIME’s Mark Halperin: “Made the best of the situation: On a level playing field, Edwards would have won the debate by a wide margin.”  [https://thepage.time.com/excerpts-from-mark-halperins-debate-report-cards-3/]

John Edwards At The South Carolina Debate

EDWARDS: DOMINATING THE DEBATE

Ambinder: “Bet Edwards will win the focus groups again… he is dominating the debate.” “8:35 pm | He is dominating the debate so far...extremely well informed on the subjects he's being asked, and he seems to be relishing his role as the third wheel...because the two fighting children are forced to listen to him. Again, on points, he seems to win these debates.” [https://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/bet_edwards_will_win_the_focus.php]

New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye: “Mr. Edwards is having a pretty good night… He's kind of a palette cleanser.” 9:10 p.m. | Palette Cleanser | “Mr. Edwards is having a pretty good night. Maybe his 4-percent showing in Nevada has liberated him in some fashion. He's looser than usual, and as we said before, without a dog in the fight, he's coming across as an impartial observer. He's kind of a palette cleanser.”
[https://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/21/live-from-south-carolina-the-democratic-debate-2/ ]

AP: Edwards Received Applause for Saying the Debate Is “Not About Us Personally.” The AP reported “‘Are there three people in this debate, not two? [Edwards] asked. ‘We have got to understand, this is not about us personally. It's about what we are trying to do for this country,’ Edwards said to applause from the audience.” [AP, https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Democrats-Debate.html]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “John Edwards is probably winning on points and tone... pushing his message effectively.” 9:10 PM | “And so far, John Edwards is probably winning on points and tone -- taking Obama off his game, but pushing his message effectively even from the sidelines of the main event.”[https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-4.html]

The Nation’s Ari Melber: “Yet while Clinton and Obama exchanged their personal barbs, John Edwards broke through with the best arguments of the night.” 9:46pm “Edwards Excels In Ferocious Democratic Debate...” | “Yet while Clinton and Obama exchanged their personal barbs, John Edwards broke through with the best arguments of the night. Edwards tweaked both his opponents for making the debate about political squabbling instead of public policy. Returning to his populist economic platform -- especially salient as Americans ponder a recession -- he reminded voters that he was the only candidate to outline a comprehensive plan to end poverty, and the first to introduce a national economic stimulus proposal. His plan came out weeks before Clinton and Obama. The program drove the ‘party's policy agenda,’ as Paul Krugman explained, by advocating ‘aid to unemployed workers, aid to cash-strapped state and local governments,’ and alternative energy, (most of which Clinton later adopted in her plan). And while the debate moderators kept pushing trite racial questions, even asking Obama if Bill Clinton was the "first black president,’ Edwards outlined a vision of racial and economic equality, where ‘every American is of equal value.’” [https://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=273552]

Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Obama isn't the best debater on the stage (we still think that person is Edwards).”  [https://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/01/a_few_more_thoughts_on_tonight.html]

NBC's Chuck Todd: “Nobody does the personal story better than Edwards on this stage.” 9:31 PM “Edwards does personal very well” | “Nobody does the personal story better than Edwards on this stage. Perhaps Bill Clinton can do it better than Edwards but I'm not sure. Edwards is good, perhaps even better than the master of ‘feeling your pain,’ Bill Clinton.” [https://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/21/596608.aspx]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “John Edwards comes out most forcefully against the president's stimulus package -- and it's what Dr. King would want, too.” “8:14 pm: John Edwards comes out most forcefully against the president's stimulus package -- and it's what Dr. King would want, too. He goes after trade as well -- finding a distinction off the bat.” [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-4.html]

Ambinder: “John Edwards Is Looking Better.” 8:44 pm | “The candidates tend to explain their policy decisions using short tern and the lingua franca of the Senate, which makes it hard to referee these disputes. So the candidates who refuse to jump in usually wind up looking better. And John Edwards is looking better.” [https://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/01/mixing_it_up.php]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “Easiest word on voices/demeanor: Intense…John Edwards seems most comfortable on stage.” “9:08 pm: Easiest word on voices/demeanor: Intense. It works for all three. Obama seems a bit angry when he's being attacked. John Edwards seems most comfortable on stage. Hillary Clinton looks like the pro she is -- coolly delivering the rejoinders she's prepared.” [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-4.html]

Edwards Campaign Statement On Nevada Caucus Results

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON NEVADA CAUCUS RESULTS

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards for President campaign manager, former Congressman David Bonior, released the following statement about today’s Nevada caucus results.

“Congratulations to Senator Clinton for her win in Nevada.  Our campaign is very grateful to all those who demonstrated the loyalty and dedication to stand up for John Edwards in the face of very difficult circumstances and long odds, including our brothers and sisters in Nevada from the Carpenters, Steelworkers, Transport Workers, and Communications Workers of America.

“John Edwards is the underdog in this campaign, facing two $100 million candidates.  But that is nothing compared to the real underdogs in our country – working men and women, middle class families, and all those who have no voice in Washington. 

“John Edwards is in this race to fight for the real underdogs and to make sure the voices of the American people are heard in Washington, not the special interests. That’s why he’s the only candidate in this race who has never taken a dime from PACs or Washington lobbyists; the only candidate who will ban corporate lobbyists from his White House; and the only candidate who is honest enough to say we are in a fight for our country and we need to take on the special interests if we are going to have a country that works for hard-working families and the middle class.

“The race to the nomination is a marathon and not a sprint, and we’re committed to making sure the voices of all the voters in the remaining 47 states are heard. The nomination won’t be decided by win-loss records, but by delegates, and we’re ready to fight for every delegate. Saving the middle class is going to be an epic battle, and that’s a fight John Edwards is ready for.”

REVIEWS ARE IN: John Edwards At The Nevada Debate

REVIEWS ARE IN: EDWARDS HITS THE JACKPOT

Edwards Declared the Winner by a Focus Group of Undecided Nevada Voters.  On Fox News, Frank Luntz’ focus group from Las Vegas of thirty undecided Nevada Democrats declared Edwards the winner.  Luntz:

“How many of you thought John Edwards won?” [1/2 crowd raises hand]
“How many of you came in supporting Senator Edwards?” [About 3 people raise hand]
“On issue after issue, we’re going to show this to you tomorrow night, his language actually scored better than Senator Clinton and Senator Obama.” [Fox News, 1/15/08]

NBC's Chuck Todd: On Edwards, “I thought he did a really good job tonight…He was the heart and gut campaign tonight.  He was very good.”  After the debate, Chuck Todd said, “And by the way, Edwards, I thought he personalized...I thought he did a really good job tonight.  I thought he, we talked about the fierce urgency of facts, right, that Clinton brought out.  He was heart.  He was the heart and gut campaign tonight.  He was very good.”  [MSNBC, 1/15/08]

NBC's Chuck Todd: “I Thought Edwards Gave the Best Presentation.” “On the perception front, I thought Edwards gave the best presentation; he may have been a little light on speaking time, but in this intimate forum, his skill of making every one of his answers personal to the viewer shined through very well.” [https://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/581417.aspx]

NBC's Chuck Todd: “Head vs. gut on first economic answer…Edwards made the answer personal and talked about people; Clinton talked about the problem in more technical terms.” 9:45: “Watching both Edwards and Clinton handle this first economic question really shows the difference in their personalities. Edwards made the answer personal and talked about people; Clinton talked about the problem in more technical terms. A head vs gut answer; both campaigns are probably pleased with the contrast.”  [“Head vs. gut on first economic answer,” https://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/15/581257.aspx]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “Edwards finds his voice when he talks about money in politics -- it's effective stuff.” “10:29 pm: Edwards finds his voice when he talks about money in politics -- it's effective stuff, to a point.” [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-o.html]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “Edwards Again Kept Things Most to His Message.” “11 pm: Final thoughts -- first, on the debate. Edwards again kept things most to his message…”  [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-o.html]
ABC’s Rick Klein: “A good question from Edwards -- don't the people who are giving you money expect something?” “10 pm: A good question from Edwards -- don't the people who are giving you money expect something? Obama's answer was fine, but little that didn't sound pre-packaged, even insidery.” [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-o.html]

Reno Gazette-Journal’s Anjeanette Damon: Edwards Steeled His Credentials “By Pointing Out He Is the Only Candidate to Explicitly Oppose the Construction of New Nuclear Power Plants.”  When “the inevitable Yucca Mountain question is broached...Edwards attempted to steel his credentials by pointing out he is the only candidate to explicitly oppose the construction of new nuclear power plants.” [https://www.rgj.com/blogs/inside-nevada-politics/2008/01/inevitable-yucca-mountain-question-is.html]

ABC’s Rick Klein: “This is a real point of distinction for Edwards, and a valuable one in South Carolina, on guns.”  “10:43 pm: This is a real point of distinction for Edwards, and a valuable one in South Carolina, on guns. For as far left as he's tacked, it's not happening on the Second Amendment, and that could be worth a few points.” [https://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/01/live-blogging-o.html]

New Edwards TV Spots Challenge Media Frame of Two-Person Race

NEW EDWARDS TV SPOTS CHALLENGE MEDIA FRAME OF TWO-PERSON RACE
Campaign announces additional new television spots in South Carolina showing voters why John Edwards is the only one…

Columbia, South Carolina – Today, the John Edwards for president campaign began airing four new 10-second television spots in the Palmetto State that highlight how Senator Edwards differs from the other Democratic candidates and why he is better prepared to fight for the big change America needs.

In each spot, images of Senators Obama and Clinton appear on the screen while the narrator poses a question.  In “Deal” the narrator asks “Which Democrat opposed NAFTA and other trade deals that send American jobs overseas?” In “Dime” the question is “Which Democrat has never taken a dime of campaign money from Washington lobbyists?” In “Ban” the narrator asks “Who’s the only Democrat who would ban Washington lobbyists from the White House staff?” and in “Beats” the question is “Who’s the only Democrat that beats all the Republicans in the recent CNN poll?”

After the narrator asks the question, an image of John Edwards appears on the screen, accompanied by the words “John Edwards is the only one.”

Born to a working class family in South Carolina and raised in small, rural mill towns, Edwards has spent his life taking on powerful interests on behalf of hard-working families like the ones he grew up with. He has never taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or PACs, and has pledged that he will ban Washington lobbyists from serving in his Administration. As president, he will only support smart and safe trade deals, opposing trade deals that put the profits of multinational corporations ahead of the needs of hard-working families.

The ads begin airing one day after Edwards concluded his four-day “Bringing It Home” bus tour across South Carolina. Edwards is the only candidate in the race who was born in South Carolina and he is the only Democratic candidate to ever win in a “red” state. Edwards leads the Democratic field in both campaign stops and money raised in the Palmetto State, and his campaign boasts an impressive statewide grassroots organization strengthened by deep support from Edwards’ 2004 campaign. Edwards will return to South Carolina on Saturday as part of his “America Rising: Coast to Coast” tour.

Full transcripts are included below.

“Deal” (10 seconds):
Narrator: Which Democrat opposed NAFTA and other trade deals that send American jobs overseas?  John Edwards is the only one.
John Edwards: I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

“Dime” (10 seconds):
Narrator: Which Democrat has never taken a dime of campaign money from Washington lobbyists?  John Edwards is the only one.
John Edwards: I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

“Ban” (10 seconds):
Narrator: Who’s the only Democrat who would ban Washington lobbyists from the White House staff?  John Edwards is the only one.
John Edwards: I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

“Beats” (10 seconds):
Narrator: Who’s the only Democrat that beats all the Republicans in the recent CNN poll?  John Edwards is the only one.
John Edwards: I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.

Edwards Campaign Begins Airing New "Mill" Television Spot In South Carolina

EDWARDS CAMPAIGN BEGINS AIRING NEW “MILL” TELEVISION SPOT IN SOUTH CAROLINA
In new ad, Edwards says he’s running for president to help hard-working families like the ones he grew up with

Columbia, South Carolina – The John Edwards for President campaign has begun airing “Mill,” a new 30-second television spot in South Carolina that features John Edwards speaking about what motivates him to run for president. 

“I’m not running president because I read something in a book,” Edwards says in the ad. “I’m not running for president because some political consultant told me what I’m supposed to say. I’m running for president because of 54 years of my life, I have believed to my soul that the men and women who worked in that mill with my father were worth every bit as much as the man that owned that mill.”

Today, Edwards also launched a three-day South Carolina “Bringing it Home” bus tour to rally supporters and bring his fight for the middle class to the Palmetto State. During the tour, Edwards will discuss his plans to bring about bold change and fight for the middle class.

Edwards’ three-day sprint comes on the heels of his homecoming tour, which saw crowds exceeding 1,000 South Carolinians in Clemson and 500 in Columbia. Edwards is the only candidate in the race who was born in South Carolina and he is the only Democratic candidate to ever win in a “red” state. Edwards leads the Democratic field in both campaign stops and money raised in the Palmetto State, and his campaign boasts an impressive statewide grassroots organization strengthened by deep support from Edwards’ 2004 campaign.

A full transcript of the spot is included below.

Full Transcript of “Mill” (30 seconds):
I’m John Edwards and I approve this message.
I’m not running president because I read something in a book.
I’m not running for president because some political consultant told me what I’m supposed to say.
I’m running for president because of 54 years of my life, I have believed to my soul that the men and women who worked in that mill with my father were worth every bit as much as the man that owned that mill.

Edwards Statement On Governor Richardson

EDWARDS STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR RICHARDSON

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards released the following statement today about the announcement by Governor Bill Richardson that he will no longer seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

“Governor Richardson has been a strong voice on behalf of America’s families.  He ran an impressive campaign focused on the important issues facing our country.  From ending the war in Iraq to achieving energy independence, Governor Richardson has spoken out with passion on the issues that matter most to the American people.  I want to thank him for his decades of service to our country and I wish him the best as he moves forward.  I know that he will continue to be a leader in the fight to change our country.”

Edwards Statement On Senator Kerry's Endorsement Of Senator Obama

EDWARDS STATEMENT ON SENATOR KERRY’S ENDORSEMENT OF SENATOR OBAMA

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – John Edwards released the following statement today about Senator John Kerry’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama.

“Our country and our Party are stronger because of John’s service, and I respect his decision.  When we were running against each other and on the same ticket, John and I agreed on many issues.  I continue to believe that this election is about the future, not the past, and that the country needs a President who will fight aggressively to end the status quo and change the Washington system and to give voice to all of those whose voices are ignored in the corridors of power.”