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John Edwards finds campaign on the rise

Despite his South Carolina roots, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina has shown no signs of being a favorite son here in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. That could change.

With the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday, Edwards is considered the only candidate in that state with momentum. Just a third-place finish behind front-runners Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt could elevate the Edwards campaign to contender status. It certainly could boost his campaign here ahead of the Feb. 3 first-in-the-South primary.

Some contend Edwards' campaign connects because it has less of an attack tone than those of his Democratic opponents. And still others can argue that Edwards is simply an alternative amid a host of so-so candidates.

The largest newspaper in Iowa takes a different view, surprising many this past weekend by endorsing the North Carolinian ahead of Dean and Gephardt.

Whereas newspaper endorsements don't often carry a great deal of weight, this one could. It was such a surprise as to already have boosted Edwards' national standing.

What the newspaper had to say is relevant now to South Carolinians.

Here's a sampling as voters here look to make up their minds:

"When we first met John Edwards, we were inclined to write him off as the possible Democratic presidential nominee. The North Carolina senator is short on experience in public office. Nearly all his rivals are far more seasoned."

A closer look changed the newspaper's opinion.

"The more we watched him, the more we read his speeches and studied his positions, the more we saw him comport himself in debate, the more we learned about his life story, the more our editorial board came to conclude he's a cut above the others.

"John Edwards is one of those rare, naturally gifted politicians who doesn't need a long record of public service to inspire confidence in his abilities. His life has been one of accomplishing the unexpected, amid flashes of brilliance.

From there, the newspaper provided some Edwards background: He grew up in textile country before going off to law school. He went on to practice trial law, "winning some of the most spectacular verdicts in North Carolina history and earning a small fortune by the time he was in his 40s." He lost a 16-year-old son to an auto accident and has three surviving children. He first ran for office in 1998, winning the U.S. Senate seat he holds.

"Now, at 50, Edwards is seeking the nomination for president.

"On issues, the major contenders for the nomination aren't far apart. They differ in emphasis and detail, but all have the same general thrust: Roll back some or all of the Bush tax cuts and redirect the money into health care and education. Conduct a foreign policy that is more collaborative and less bellicose.

"The underlying theme of the Democrats is that the government under President Bush is serving the interests of wealth and privilege, not of ordinary Americans. Howard Dean's call to 'take our country back' is the rallying cry.

"Dean has the slogan, but it is Edwards who most eloquently and believably expresses this point of view, with his trial-lawyer skill for distilling arguments into compelling language that moves a jury of ordinary people. He speaks of there being two Americas: 'One America does the work, while another America reaps the reward. One America pays the taxes, while another America gets the tax breaks. If we want America to be a growing, thriving democracy with the strongest middle class on Earth, we must choose a different path.'

"If Edwards wins the Democratic nomination, voters this fall would have a choice between two men who almost perfectly embody the rival political philosophies in America today. George W. Bush and John Edwards are attractive, likable, energetic. They have about the same level of prior experience in government -- and they are polar opposites. ... What a clear and attractive choice an Edwards vs. Bush fall campaign would offer."