July 13, 2004. Copyright, 2004, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Profile of Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards
By Joanna Griffin

LONDON, July 13, Graphic News:  In picking John Edwards as a running mate, John Kerry hopes to infuse his own presidential campaign with an element that has so often held sway with U.S. voters: of the four-man line-up who will parade in front of the electorate in the run-up to November elections, only the fresh-faced senator from North Carolina encourages Americans to indulge their dreams.

Indeed, Òthe two JohnsÓ Ð as they have been called Ð would seem to have all bases covered. As a team, they illustrate their own intention to build Òone AmericaÓ out of a land divided by privilege. Like Kerry, Edwards is now a middle-aged millionaire, but his journey to the foot of the White House steps could not have begun more differently from that of the older man.

Born in 1953 in North Carolina, EdwardsÕ father was a textile mill worker and his mother worked for the postal service. During his own campaign for the Democratic nomination, Edwards never shied from supplying details of his ordinary background in a charismatic style and native twang reminiscent of that other child of the American South, Bill Clinton.

The first in his family to attend university, Edwards studied law and then amassed a fortune by fighting personal injury suits. His record of securing huge payouts from big corporations has won him mixed reviews: right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh has called him an Òambulance chaserÓ, while Edwards points out that many of those he fought for were children.

Edwards has said that his life changed after the death of Wade, the eldest of his four offspring, in a car crash in 1996. Elected to the Senate in 1998, he began to pursue his political ambitions and was a popular front-runner for the Democratic nomination before dropping out to endorse Kerry. In that contest he won only one seat but secured a place in U.S. hearts and minds.

It has been said that Kerry picked the younger man to balance his own shortcomings. Where the senator from Massachusetts certainly drops points for appearing dull, austere and out of touch, Edwards picks them up for being an energetic and eloquent campaigner. Kerry grew up attending establishment soirees whereas Edwards barely knows his way around Washington.

But the differences are more than skin deep. Edwards has hit out at the Bush administration for ignoring rural America, and he alone might be able to convince voters in swing states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania that the Democrats are their champions: ÒRural America and small town America are in trouble,Ó he said on the campaign trail. ÒAnd George Bush doesnÕt get it.Ó

As for Edwards, his critics say thereÕs a lot he ÒdoesnÕt getÓ either. He has no experience of international affairs at a time when national security is a key poll issue. A one-term senator, his limited knowledge of the workings of government prompts shudders whenever the issue of his jumping into the hot seat is raised. Then again, it is unlikely that he will ever need to.

As a centrist, EdwardsÕ main role is to broaden the appeal of Kerry, an East Coast liberal, in a way that Vice-President Cheney can never do for Bush. Edwards has been chosen to enforce the message that the Democrats will put jobs, healthcare and education at the top of the agenda, and remake America. Kerry needs his help to win. The rest can come later.
/ENDS