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July 6, 2004
As the world knows by
As the world knows by now, John Kerry has selected John Edwards to be his running mate. Was this a good decision and what does it mean for Republicans?
On the plus side, Edwards is young, handsome, and by all accounts a good speaker. He will add dynamism to a Kerry's boring style. Being from North Carolina, he also adds geographic balance. The Democrats need to capture at least a few southern states if they hope to win.
On the down side, he is inexperienced, something that Republicans will use against him when compared to Cheney. Edwards has not even served a full term in the Senate, while Cheney was a congressman and Secretary of Defense before becoming Vice President. Edwards Senate career was undistinguished, having no pieces of legislation to his credit.
Edwards' trial lawyer background will cut both ways. Democrats will say that he is a fighter for the "little guy", and they will pull in some votes with this argument. Republicans will counter that he was in it to enrich himself. They will also say that are over-lawyered and certainly tort reform has been a simmering issue for years.
The purpose of the vice president during an election campaign is to serve as "attack dog". This allows the presidential nominee to stay "above the fray" somewhat. Cheney fulfilled this role well in 1980. Edwards refrained from attacks on his opponents during the Democratic primaries. However, his experience as a trial lawyer should help him considerably here.
Ultimately people vote for the presidential nominee anyway. The selection of Dan Quayle was seen as a mistake, but George H.W. Bush managed to win in 1988 anyway. And his loss in 1992 was due to factors other than his vice presidential choice.
Posted by Tom at July 6, 2004 3:44 PM
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