White Male Democrat In Iowa

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards has been running for President since the Kerry-Edwards tick was defeated in the 2004 Presidential contest. His campaign has been overshadowed in the national media by the candidacies of his big name Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. While he has been trailing his two rivals in most polls, I wouldn’t surprised if he finishes in the top two tomorrow since he is the second choice of many voters who will be caucusing for candidates that will not meet the 15% threshold (this will be explained in my caucus post later today). 

John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth have been hitting nearly every county and small town to make sure that he stays in the forefront of people’s minds.  What makes his candidacy so solid is the kind of voters he is attracting. Obama and Clinton are both depending heavily on first-time caucus goers that are feeling inspired by their candidacies. Edwards, on the other hand, is attracting old school Democrats, people who have caucused before and are traditionally blue-collar workers and union members.

Margaret Jensen, a long-time caucus-goer in her late sixties, said that last time she came out for John Kerry and she’s regretted it ever since. “I swore if Edwards ran again I would caucus for him, vote for him, get everyone I could to support him,” she said.

At his event last Saturday night in a school gymnasium in Des Moines, about 600 people crowded on bleachers and stood in every available crevice to see John and Elizabeth. People held homemade signs (maybe created from supporters or perhaps campaign staffers) that gave the feeling that this is a grassroots, for-the-people-campaign. Some of these signs talked about rural Iowan support, smart trade not free trade, how Edwards is the guy for the common worker, and of course the famous “two Americas” concept that has been the cornerstone of the campaign rhetoric.

There was one sign that really grabbed my attention, “Edwards is Electable.” In his speech he talked about his qualifications, how he would fight for the common man against corporate giants and special interest, blah blah blah.  John Edwards did not say this, and I don’t mean to imply for a second that he did. But I wonder, even in an enlightened Democratic Party, how many people might choose Edwards because they feel the nation will not elect a woman or an African-American. I’m just throwing it out there. Making history is an exciting thing, and the nomination/election of with Clinton or Obama would certainly be historic. I just wonder how important that is to those still deciding how to vote.