Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
Ryan Lizza in the New Republic:
Edwards spent the first half of the year largely focused on raising money, and he now barely tops Carol Moseley Braun in most polls. But, for months, his advisers have cautioned that it is all part of the plan. "We've been operating under this quaint theory that the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary take place in January, and we've calibrated our strategy accordingly," says David Axelrod, one of Edwards's top advisers. The town-hall-style meeting in Nashua is just one in a long series of late summer stops in Iowa and New Hampshire to finally introduce the senator to the voters. But, while this tour has long been anticipated, what wasn't foreseen was the metamorphosis that has accompanied it. Whereas the old Edwards often replied to queries with Southern-accented platitudes, the new Edwards spews statistics and answers voters' questions with a sometimes overwhelming arsenal of specific proposals. Indeed, while the media have focused on the improbable success of Howard Dean, over the last few months Edwards has developed perhaps the most detailed and coherent domestic agenda of any of the Democratic candidates.
[...]
For what it's worth, at five events I attended in New Hampshire over two days, voters seemed impressed. In Nashua, the first voter to speak after Edwards delivered his stump speech began by declaring, "I'm convinced you're the only candidate who can beat Bush." A swooning Elizabeth Pelletier, an older woman from Nashua, told me she came to the meeting undecided but was now won over because the senator reminded her of Robert F. Kennedy. Yet another woman approached the senator after the meeting broke up and told him, "I brought my six children here to show them how awful politicians are, but I'm leaving impressed." She asked for a picture with all her kids and the senator. I thought for sure the last person to ask a question that day was a campaign plant. Robert Vaughn rose and explained that he can't afford to send his kids to college, that he hates paying the tax burden for the wealthy, and that he's sick of pols owned by lobbyists--three of Edwards's top issues. After the speech, he walked up to the senator, gave him a sturdy handshake, and looked him in the eyes. "I'm voting for you," he said. He was even choking up a little bit, as if he was about to cry.
Underestimate John Edwards at your own risk. As Kerry and Dean swing at each other's chins, he's preparing to unleash his multi-state advertising blitz. His numbers will move, and the man knows how to turn a jury. I don't know if he can get the nomination, but he still seems to me like the guy most likely to pick off Bush.
TrackBackI’m not sure how much 65 key’s of heroin is worth, all I know is that the government defrauded out of more than $120,000.00. By Mr. Franklin D. Turner who gave this money to drug dealers in Chicago and turned a hard profit, while Mr. Turner portrays to be a common thief. Millions of dollar’s was made each year started my by getting 7 to 8 thousand from Department of Veterans Affairs dating as far back to 1987, By Mr. Franklin D. Turner SSN:373-46-6331. The last check was received around June 18, 2003 for $8082.00 direct deposit into Mr. Turner account while Mr. Turner was servicing time at Dupage County Jail. I know this because, when Mr. Turner got locked up, My mother and I kept his section 8 going, so her and I would have a place to live. Mr. Turner asked my mother to take the document to the Dept. where it was drop off, I drove her. Mr. Turner knows the tenants at 55 east 72nd street second floor apartment and the owner of the build quiet well. I found this out when my mother and I move in the first floor apartment at 55 east 72nd street. Mr. Turner was going hind my back dating my girlfriend when he got out of jail on June 23, 2003. I was still living with my mother on Mr. Turner’s section 8, that how he met Aunzette Carddell. I move out of Mr. Turner apartment at 7349 S. Perry on Oct 26, 2003. On Nov 1, 2003 I called the police on the tenants above me, because Aunzette Carddell was yelling for help calling my name. She hind when the police came. I’ve told you this before, I don’t know how true it is. All I can go by is, what I hear from the tenants above me, yelling at me from up stairs and outside my apartment. Threaten me each day and night, yelling how they are going to kill me, because I kill their family. This has being going on for a hole year how! Thank God! They have not done any of the terrible things they yell from around the building I live in, but the will act like they are going too! That’s what scares the hell out of me! They blame me for what they lost 65 keys of heroin and say I kill their family and now just lately they have been yelling, that they are going to kill my whole family including my wife, kids, sister and brother all at one time back to back. This is what they yell and say! It’s nothing in there way to stop them either, because no one believes me. Everyone think that it’s the drug I’m on. I can’t do anything but listen to their threats each day and night. I have done all the I can do! It’s in Gods hands now and I believe that nothing happens without a reason. I would rather die just so that these people can never do this to anyone else, who lives in this apartment after me and this building belong to someone else that would not allow pay for this to go on!. You can go to william_brewington@sbcglobal.net under breifcase last upload to listen to them planning this
Posted by: derek boyd at October 26, 2004 04:51 AM