I went to Bristol on Friday to see the possible heir to Bill Clinton’s throne, Sen. John Edwards.
I did not enter into the event blindly, I knew that Sen. Edwards was a good campaigner.
On CSPAN, he woos the viewer which leads me to wonder, what must this master of oratory be like in person?
Let’s just say that he spreads his message of populism like a king christened to take the throne.
Edwards wants the throne, but his supporters do as well – which may win the Democrats a 2004 upset.
I spent all day talking with supporters of John Edwards and here are some of the things they had to say about the issues on the table, Kerry and the other Democratic candidates.
Tim Carpenter and I dined together and talked issues while waiting for the arrival of Wesley Clark.
Carpenter’s “Bible Belt populism” is really not that different from many supporters of Edwards.
“The three issues that hurt the Democratic party are abortion, gun control and gay marriage,” Carpenter said.
When asked about the Florida recount, he said, “the Supreme Court took Florida away from Gore.”
He then added, “We are looking for the best candidate to beat Bush, but the party will align behind whoever is nominated.”
Nicky Daane, a King College student, said, “I just like Edwards because he’s got people skills.”
When I asked her about a change in the White House she said, “I normally vote Republican but I would support Edwards if he gets the nomination.”
“There is nothing that turned me away from Bush. I just want a change.”
ETSU graduate Heather Moody said, “Edwards is more in tune with the major issues of this country.”
“The number one issue for me is classicism. He speaks about it directly where a lot of the other candidates don’t. I feel that there are two Americas. Until it changes, I just think it will keep getting worse and worse.”
Albert Lester of Johnson City said, “I don’t think John Kerry or Howard Dean can relate to the South.”
“Edwards is more moderate,” said Lester.
Kay Edwards of Dickenson County, Va., said, “I’ve been on the phone calling people and passing out literature for Edwards.”
“I’m glad he is not for gay marriages and I’m very much opposed to abortion. They have a right to choose before they get pregnant,” she said.
When I asked her about supporting the nominee no matter who it ends up as, she said she would stick with her party.
“We’ll support whoever is nominated. John Kerry is my second choice,” she said.
“I’m worried that people will jump on the bandwagon,” said Greg Spranger, a teacher at Tusculum College about former DNC Chairman Terry McCauliffe’s tight primary schedule.
“I’m afraid they will look at Kerry and say here’s our guy and run with it. I just ask them to look at Democrats elected in the past 30 years and what kind of message they are portraying.”
On NAFTA and the trade issue, he said, “I like fair trade instead of free trade. Where I’m from, a lot of jobs have been lost.”
“Edwards said that children learn differently, said Angela Wilson, a master’s student of education at ETSU, about “No Child Left Behind.”
“Some learn mathematically or academically and if you start taking programs out of school some children will be lost. No Child Left Behind is putting pressure of teachers because some students don’t learn as quickly as others,” she said.

Author