In the Spotlight

Tools
Your Voice
Document What goals would you set for President Bush? What focus would you like to see? What do you want from the 2004 administration?
Select A Candidate
Document Select A Candidate
Which candidates' views on the issues most closely match your own? Take our Select A Candidate survey.
MyBallot.net
To see who will be on your ballot, enter all or part of your address.

Address Number: (e.g. 124)

Street Name: (e.g. Elm St)

Zip code (required):




Your street address will help generate your sample ballot and will not be used for any other purpose.
News Headlines
News & Features
Campaign 2004
HomeResultsPresidentCongressLegislatureResources


Candidate Bio
John Edwards
Political affiliation:
Democratic Party
Born:
June 10, 1953
Seneca, S.C.
Personal:
Married to
Elizabeth, 1977. Four children, Catharine, Emma Claire, Jack. They lost teenage son Wade in 1996 in a traffic accident. Edwards wears an Outward Bound pin on his suit coat constantly in honor of his son.
Methodist.
Occupation:
Attorney, 1978-98. U.S. senator
Education:
Graduated North Carolina State University, 1974. Law degree from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1977.
Major political experience:
Elected to the U.S. Senate, 1988.
On the Issues
Audio Highlights
Links and Resources
Web site:
Document johnedwards.com
Campaign blog
Document Edwards CampaignBlog
Campaign contributors:
Document Political Money Line
Candidate Pages

John Edwards

SNAPSHOT
Sen. John Edwards soared late in the primary season; but it was too late. He couldn't stop Sen. John Kerry, once Kerry built his momentum. And he dropped out of the race after Kerry's impressive Super Tuesday primary wins, only to be named to the ticket as the vice presidential candidate in June.

Edwards entered the race while completing his first term as North Carolina's junior senator and nobody has been re-elected to the post since 1968. It has changed from party to party in a state that is growing more conservative. Edwards faced a challenge trying to run for president while also trying to retain his Senate seat. History, if not reality, favored him in his bid to be president. No non-Southern Democrat has won the White House since John F. Kennedy. Edwards brought youth and money to the presidential stage. He made his fortune as a personal injury attorney after starting his law career by defending recording companies accused of pirating Elvis Presley records. In the Senate, he has focused on banking issues, and, in particular, efforts to limit the exchange of personal financial information by banks and other businesses. He was on the final list of names to be Al Gore's running mate in 2000 (Gore eventually selected Joe Lieberman). Edwards' southern strategy was dealt an initial blow when Florida Democrat Bob Graham jumped into the race, and convinced Edwards' campaign manager and top fielder organizer to defect. Graham dropped out of the race early.

Sen. John Edwards Document Edwards bows out of race; throws support to Kerry
John Edwards has officially announced that he's ending his presidential campaign. Addressing supporters in Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday afternoon, Edwards spoke highly of John Kerry, who soundly defeated him in the Super Tuesday primaries. Edwards vowed to do everything in his power to make Kerry the next president of the United States -- and he asked his supporters to do the same.
Audio John Kerry has a super Tuesday
Senator John Kerry dominated the Super Tuesday contests and now readies for the November election. In Minnesota, caucus turnout was high.
On the agenda in Duluth Document Kerry adds Minnesota to Super Tuesday rout
John Kerry charged to victory Tuesday in Minnesota's Democratic caucus, adding to his near sweep of Super Tuesday states that pushed rival John Edwards out of the nomination hunt.
Document Super Tuesday Results
Results from state primaries and the Minnesota caucuses for 'Super Tuesday' in the presidential campaign.
Audio Minnesotans head to their caucuses
On Super Tuesday, 1,151 delegates are up for grabs -- more than half the number needed to win the Democratic nomination.
Document Minnesota caucus night culminates campaign flurry in state
On Tuesday, neighborhood meetings held around the state could help decide who the Democrats nominate for president. The Minnesota caucuses are part of "super Tuesday." Residents of California, New York and seven other states will also vote in presidential primaries. And for the first time in many years, the candidates have been focusing on Minnesota along with the bigger states.
Document Edwards steps up campaign in Minnesota; courts Dean supporters
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards held a rally in St. Paul on Friday, marking the second time he's been in Minnesota in the last week. Edwards is one of four active candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for president. Three of the four have visited Minnesota in the last week, courting voters who intend to vote at the state's March 2 caucuses.
Document Let the campaigning begin
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich were in Minnesota Saturday, encouraging Democratic voters to choose them in the March 2 party caucuses. Edwards and Kucinich are two of the four Democrats seeking the party's nomination for president. Their appearances are likely to be the first of many campaign visits to Minnesota over the next two weeks.
Audio Presidential politics
A day after the Wisconsin primary, Gary Eichten and his guests discuss the race for president. On Tuesday, presidential hopeful John Kerry won the Wisconsin primary in a narrow victory over John Edwards. Howard Dean dropped out of the race.
Document Wisconsin voters welcome attention from candidates
Wisconsin is in the national spotlight with Democratic candidates for President criss-crossing the state ahead of Tuesday's primary. For candidates John Edwards and Howard Dean, the dairy state is a must-win following John Kerry's victories in 14 of 16 previous primaries and caucuses. All of the attention is a welcome change to the state's residents.
Audio Taking stock of the Democratic presidential nomination
Is John Kerry's perceived electability driving his success? A look at the factors contributing to the once long-shot candidate's winning ways.
Document Edwards tries to catch Kerry in Wisconsin
Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards toured Wisconsin on Wednesday with stops in Janesville, Green Bay and LaCrosse. Edwards, a senator from North Carolina, continues to trail Democratic frontrunner John Kerry.
Audio The race for president
A look at the key issues and leading candidates in the presidential campaign. Presidential contests in Virginia and Tennessee are on Tuesday, and Democratic hopefuls are campaigning hard. Trying to steal some of the spotlight from Democrats seeking his job, President Bush is highlighting upswings in the U.S. economy.
Document Kerry wins in five states
Armed with a multistate win that cemented his front-runner status, John Kerry is pausing briefly before plunging into the next round of tests as a national presidential candidate. His campaign, Kerry said, is "on the move."
Document MPR Poll: November presidential contest might be close in Minnesota
Minnesota voters say if the presidential election were held today, Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts would have the best chance to beat George W. Bush in the state. A new Mason-Dixon poll sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio and the St. Paul Pioneer Press sheds light on voter opinions on President Bush, the Democratic candidates for president, and the war on terrorism.
Document Democratic presidential contenders meet in debate
Democratic presidential contenders agreed in campaign debate Thursday night that they can and must compete successfully against President Bush this fall in the South, a region that has been hard to crack for many of the party's past contenders for the White House.
Document Kerry rolls over N.H. rivals, taking mantle of front-runner as contest goes national
The opening acts behind them, Democrats transformed their presidential campaign into a national battle Wednesday with John Kerry, fresh from his New Hampshire win, ready to open an advertising blitz in all seven states that vote next and his rivals scrambling to stay competitive.
Audio The next primaries, just around the corner
With the New Hampshire primary over, Gary and his guests take a look ahead to the next series of primaries on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
Audio Spouses on the campaign trail
As the campaign progresses, Democratic candidates' wives are receiving more attention from the media. As in years past, one observer says, first ladies and the women who hope to succeed them are expected to drop careers to be hostesses.
Audio New Hampshire primary
A preview of Tuesday's New Hampshire presidential primary. The candidates are making the most of Monday, in the final day before the primary. Among the Democrats, John Kerry and Howard Dean are leading the pack in some polls. But polls also show eight to 15 percent of likely voters are undecided -- and many others could change their minds.
Audio The Iowa caucuses: results and analysis
After the blizzard of ads, the blanketing of the state by most of the Democratic candidates, Iowans caucused and made their choices. What's next for the following important primary, New Hampshire.
Document Kerry shakes up race and staggers Dean with decisive win in Iowa
Democratic presidential candidates vied for victory Monday across the chilly precincts of Iowa, the first step in the battle to face President Bush this fall. John Kerry was leading in preliminary results of an Associated Press survey of Iowa Democrats taken as they entered the caucus sites.
Document Practicing politics at an Iowa caucus
More than 100 people crammed Decorah's City Council chambers Monday night to participate in the Iowa Democratic caucus. For this precinct, in a small northeastern Iowa college town, it was the best-attended caucus in recent memory.
Document Variety of issues drive Iowans to caucuses
On Monday, Iowa Democrats will meet in close to 2,000 precinct caucuses around the state. Because Iowa gets to go first, some political observers say the views of Iowa residents play a disproportionate role in choosing a candidate for president. But the issues Iowans are concerned about --the war in Iraq, jobs, and education-- are the same ones on the minds of many Minnesotans and other Americans.
Audio Democratic presidential candidates debate
Seven of the nine democratic presidential candidates debated in Des Moines, Iowa, Sunday night in the first official event of the election year. Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean was sharply criticized by his rivals on taxes, health care, and terrorism. Drake University political scientist Dennis Goldford discusses presidential politics.
Document Rivals target front-runner Dean in first debate of the election year
In a feisty, first debate of the election year, Howard Dean drew fire from fellow Democrats on Sunday over trade, terror and taxes, then calmly dismissed his rivals as "co-opted by the agenda of George Bush."
Audio John Edwards on foreign policy and the 2004 election
Democractic presidential candidate, Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, speaking at the Commonwealth Club of California. He discusses the Bush administration's foreign policy and the type of leader he says the United States needs in 2004.
Document Rivals gang up on Dean, Gore in debate dominated by endorsement
Eight of the Democratic presidential candidates ganged up on front-runner Howard Dean and former Vice President Al Gore, hoping to take the luster off Gore's newly minted endorsement of Dean.
Document Local political leaders selecting presidential favorites
The 2004 presidential election is still 11 months away, but the presidential campaign is well underway in Minnesota. Three Democratic candidates recently kicked off their Minnesota campaigns, and some are mobilizing Minnesotans to travel to Iowa in advance of next month's caucuses. Meantime, Republicans are working to sign up a record number of Minnesota volunteers for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign.
Audio The 2004 race for president
President Bush is stepping up the pace this week, packing in four sessions with wealthy Republican donors in as many states. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates are building their paid staffs and paying frequent visits to Wisconsin, before the Wisconsin primary in two months.
Audio Bush TV ad answers criticism over Iraq
Democrats are reacting strongly to an ad running in the crucial early election state of Iowa that talks about Bush's stand on the war on terrorism and Iraq. The ad, sponsored by the Republican National Committee, signals a strategy for addressing criticism of the administration's efforts in the Middle East.
Document Gephardt, Kerry take shots at Dean policies on health care in Democratic debate
Rep. Dick Gephardt and Democratic rival Howard Dean intensified their war of words on Monday, attacking each others' records in the latest in a series of Democratic debates.
Document Dean regrets pain of Confederate flag remark
Howard Dean said Wednesday he regretted the pain he caused by saying that the Democratic Party must court Southerners who display the symbol of the Confederacy in their pickup trucks.
Document Mondale and Boschwitz ponder presidential politics
The presidential election is just a year away, and Democrats and Republicans are saying Minnesota is a toss-up. Former Vice President Walter Mondale says he thinks Americans are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Republican leadership in Washington. Former Republican Sen. Rudy Boschwitz says President Bush is vulnerable now; but Boschwitz says a year is a long time, and he's predicting the issues will break in Bush's favor.
Audio The impact of third party candidates
We discuss the potential impact of third-party candidates in the 2004 elections with professor Lawrence Jacobs. He discusses his 2004 Election Project at the Humphrey Institute.
Audio Presidential candidates profiles: Health care
Health care looms as a major issue in the presidential campaign of 2004. How do the Democratic candidates stack up against President George W. Bush when it comes to health care proposals?
Document Democratic insiders taunt newcomer Clark in presidential debate
Washington insiders seeking the presidency gave Wesley Clark a rough welcome to the Democratic race, dismissing the insurgent outsider's 11th-hour allegiance to the party and assailing his indecisiveness on the Iraq war.
Audio More Democrats join race for president
Friday's Week in Review covers the national political stories as well as the local, including the official entrance of two more Democrats in the presidential candidate field and negotiations on state employees' contracts.
Document Sen. Edwards formally announces presidential bid by highlighting working-class roots
Democrat John Edwards, the Southern moderate looking to reinvigorate his lagging presidential campaign, formally launched his candidacy Tuesday and promised to be an advocate for working-class Americans.
Audio The race for President
With President Bush's poll numbers dropping, many of his fellow Republicans are uneasy about the state of the U.S. economy, rising budget deficits, and the U.S. military operation in Iraq. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential contender Richard Gephardt launched his sharpest attack on rival Howard Dean Friday, likening his views on Medicare to past efforts led by Republican Newt Gingrich to cut the health care program for seniors. We discuss Presidential politics and other national political issues.
Document Democratic presidential candidates curb their politeness, throw elbows at each other
Democrat Howard Dean's claim that he is the only white politician who talks about race to white audiences drew criticism Wednesday from one of his presidential rivals. Sen. John Edwards said the entire field discusses racial issues on the campaign trail.