John Edwards is Passionate Candidate
John Edwards appeared briefly at the Hampton Democratic Party Annual Picnic on Sunday. He and his family rolled in on their beautiful, huge bus, and spent a short time with a large, happily picnicking crowd. He spent several minutes talking about the need to end the war in Iraq and to stop the funding: keep sending back bills unless there are timelines attached, he urged.
Senator Edwards then answered questions from the crowd for about 15 minutes. I must confess that I could not hear all the questioners, and his answers were often drowned out by people behind me (including Elizabeth Edwards!) who were busy talking during his answers. What I did sense was his passion, even anger at the current administration, a new urgency that I did not hear in his voice four years ago.
My sense of Edwards is that though he is passionate and smart, he is not distinguishable from the other Democrats in significant ways. I would feel safe if he were our leader, I would vote for him if he were nominated. But for me, he does not stand out. Perhaps because he did not seem generous with his time on this day, I feel a touch of regret, for he was the one Democratic candidate I had not up to this day seen, and he did not spend much - or quality - time with us!