Democrats laud tabbing of Edwards

Alicia Robinson

The announcement of North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as Democratic

presidential candidate John Kerry’s running mate didn’t come as a

surprise to many political observers here.

“In terms of the mainstream of the party and the direction that

the party wants to go, he was by far the best choice,” said Jim

Toledano, a Costa Mesa attorney and past chairman of the Orange

County Democratic Party.

Some candidates would rebel against choosing the favorite, so they

wouldn’t feel pressured, Toledano said. Most pundits expected Kerry

to name either Edwards or Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt.

“It’s the conventional thing to do,” UC Irvine political science

professor Mark Petracca said. “Having taken all this time to arrive

at the obvious choice seems too much fuss about too little result.”

Eleanor Klein, a Costa Mesa resident who is president of the

Democratic Club of West Orange County, said she was expecting Edwards

to be the vice-presidential candidate, and she still thinks he’s an

exciting choice.

Most Democrats consider Edwards’ energy, visibility and

attractiveness as major assets, and in some cases their GOP opponents

don’t disagree. Even Republican 70th District Assemblyman John

Campbell called Edwards “telegenic.”

Edwards’ Democratic supporters were even more effusive.

“I think it’s great because Edwards is a dynamic, positive

candidate who really appealed to a lot of voters in the primary,”

said Katrina Foley, a Democrat and member of Costa Mesa’s Planning

Commission.

Some Democrats believe Edwards will lend a more positive tone to

the campaign, as he did in the primary.

“I think the Kerry-Edwards ticket will continue to offer a

positive message, and that’s what voters want,” Foley said.

But other voters on both sides of the aisle said the

vice-presidential candidate doesn’t usually have much influence on an

election.

“It rarely does, and in this case, Edwards isn’t of significant

enough stature to make a significant difference,” said Orange County

GOP Chairman Scott Baugh.

While he expects spirited campaigning, Baugh said it will end in

the reelection of President Bush.

“[Edwards’ candidacy] is not bad news for Republicans,” Baugh

said. “It gives Republicans yet another opportunity to put out that

the agenda of the left is controlled by trial lawyers like Edwards.”

The selection of Edwards as Kerry’s running mate isn’t likely to

bring much campaigning for either Democrats or Republicans to

California.

Petracca thinks the GOP will have to devote more energy and

funding to campaigning in southern states on the chance that Edwards

will be a draw there.

Campbell also said Democrats are trying to be more competitive in

southern states by putting Edwards on the ticket, but opinions were

mixed on how that strategy will play out.

“I think Bush is clearly the favorite, but I’m absolutely not

going to say that it’s a lock by any stretch,” Campbell said. “Kerry

and Edwards are not out of it.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].