This is the candidate for the Democrats. Forget Obama; definitely forget Hillary. Edwards is a fighter, and he's a good man. Plus, Elizabeth Edwards would be the best first lady this country has seen in some time.

I briefly met John Edwards before he went to the U.S. Senate and I consider myself to be an unabashed admirer of his. And I am a trial lawyer (and proud to be one, by the way). But I absolutely agree with the previous poster. And I don't think I'm just whistling past the graveyard on this one.

John Edwards is the real deal. He is a genuinely caring and personable man who I believe give the Democrats the best chance to win the Whitehouse in 2008. In addition, I think that he would be the best possible President among those mentioned to be running. I plan to do everything in my power to help him get elected.

While I don't expect anyone here to be swayed by what I say, I do hope that you all will look at him with an open mind and give him you full attention before you make up your mind. He is deserving of you attention, and in my humble opinion, he is deserving of your support and your vote.

John Edwards is being grasped by many as the only candidate who can beat Senator Clinton. That is where much of his support comes from (from the anti-Hillary crowd). And she will defeat him, hands down. It won't matter where he stood to make his "announcement" - some would say that choosing the 9th Ward in New Orleans, was crass opportunism on Edwards' part. He's a sugary, transparent candidate who won't be able to withstand what Senator Clinton directs his way, once she gets geared up and in full competitive mode.

Check out these polling numbers, released yesterday, for Nevada, Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire. She beats Edwards and Obama in all four states. And she beats McCain in two of the four states.

http://www.americanresearchgroup.com/

Senator Clinton and Wesley Clark are the only two Dems who can win; and we haven't heard or seen very much of Clark.

"....some would say that choosing the 9th Ward in New Orleans, was crass opportunism on Edwards' part."

Dear Ms. Powell,

Thank you for your posting, which has served to remind me of the profoundly deep and ineffably personal ties with the citizens of New York state which so understandably moved Mrs. Clinton to the realization that she needed to become their senator.

Let's get The Politicians OUT of Our Nation's Capitol! Vote for Hilary!

Level Best as Ever,

David Terry

www.davidterryart.com

I wonder if Senator Leiberman has any more of that "Joementum" stuff left...

I applaud John Edwards for running on an anti-poverty theme. For those who accuse him of opportunism, I'd like to point out that an anti-poverty theme hasn't exactly been political gold for about the past 4 decades. Lyndon Johnson was the last successful anti-poverty politician.

Even if Edwards doesn't win, having him be a major contender talking about poverty for the next year is going to be better for our country. Let's talk about social injustice and universal health care.

I'm not sure if I'll back Edwards or someone else yet, but we could do a lot worse than having an anti-poverty idealist as our president.

I apologize in advance if this is too off-topic, and woefully uninformed, but isn't one reason the rebuilding is slow in the 9th ward is because it is still at major risk of flooding?

My vague understanding is that the levee repairs and proposed updates still will not protect this area of the city very effectively from projected sea level rise and increases in hurricane storm strength. It seems like, while the 9th ward provides a convenient backdrop for a discussion of poverty, the solution to what the people of the 9th ward face is not necessarily more volunteers to clean up and build. It strikes me as more systemic and complicated than that.

And more on topic: While I appreciate that John Edwards is raising the issues he is, I was sorry to read in this article that his proposed solutions appear to be along the lines of "a new spirit of volunteerism." Clearly, government policy plays a role in creating some of the conditions of entrenched poverty (as well as promoting global warming and spiraling health care costs). It would have been nice for Edwards to list a few specific policies that we should abandon or revisit in order to deal with these problems.

Because I haven't met them. I am a hard-core, liberal Democrat in the Eastern U.S., living in a liberal area, and surrounded by liberal friends and neighbors, and in contact with liberal friends around the country.

Could someone please tell me who these people are that are so quick to say they will vote for Hillary Clinton?

Because

I HAVE NOT MET ONE YET...

Seriously...no one I know has anything but utter distaste for Hillary Clinton.

• Hillary Clinton is not an inspiring speaker.
• Hillary Clinton is not an inspiring leader.
• Hillary Clinton is not warm, personable, or even slightly charismatic.
• Hillary Clinton has no vision of the present or the future.
• Hillary Clinton panders shamelessly.
• Hillary Clinton is divisive.
• Hillary Clinton is so despised by the right that she could mobilize major opposition.
• Hillary Clinton SUPPORTED the war.
• Hillary Clinton comes laden with years of political baggage.
• Hillary Clinton is a carpetbagger in the state where she was elected.

WHAT, besides the fact that she is now part of some sort of ersatz Clinton family political power dynasty, is the selling point here?????

Frankly, every single person I've talked to has said that if she is the nominee, they will vote for her only because she's the Democrat, and even then, that vote will be cast while holding their nose.

I include myself in that group. I will NEVER vote for her in a primary, and only in a national election as a vote AGAINST the republican candidate.

I am an Obama supporter, and Edwards would be my second choice. But Hillary? She's TOXIC!

Who are all these mysterious people who love Hillary and think that she's a great candidate, a great leader, and would be a great president??? So, please, speak up, fellow Salon readers. Are any of you Hillary fans? If so, can you explain your rationale, because I'm mystified as to why Lib Dems would support her.

I really don't believe you're really out there. I can only imagine that the Clinton spin factory is already in business, and this Hillary lead is being manufactured out of thin -- no, make that NOT -- air.