WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry selected former rival John Edwards to be his running mate, telling supporters Tuesday he couldn't wait to see the freshman North Carolina senator going "toe-to-toe with Dick Cheney

"In the next 120 days and in the administration that follows, John Edwards and I will be fighting for the America we love," Kerry said in an e-mail to supporters obtained by The Associated Press. "We'll be fighting to give the middle class a voice by providing good paying jobs and affordable health care. We'll be fighting to make America energy independent. We'll be fighting to build a strong military and lead strong alliances, so young Americans are never put in harm's way because we insisted on going it alone."

By selecting Edwards, Kerry went with the smooth-talking Southern populist over more seasoned politicians in hopes of injecting vigor and small-town appeal to the Democratic presidential ticket.

He offered Edwards the No. 2 spot on the Democratic ticket in a telephone call Tuesday morning, and the North Carolina senator accepted, said two senior Democrats familiar with the conversation.

Edwards was at his home in Georgetown when Kerry called, readying his two young children for summer camp. Kerry called from his Pittsburgh home.

He planned personally announce his pick at a rally in Pittsburgh. Edwards won't be at the rally. Obsessed with secrecy, Kerry kept his decision to himself until the last possible minute, giving Edwards no time to get to Pittsburgh in time.

The newly minted ticket will meet up later Tuesday and begin a multi-state tour, ending in Edward's home state.

They will be nominated at the Democratic National Convention in Boston, which begins July 26.

Kerry's decision ended a search that began with about 25 candidates and a mandate to find a political soul mate who could "be ready at any moment" to assume the presidency. Kerry advisers said their boss had also signaled his interest in Rep. Dick Gephardt (news - web sites) of Missouri, Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa, Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark (news - web sites), Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana and Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

Smart decision and right decision for Kerry. A lot better than any of the wild speculation that was going on, like Hillary. (Well, McCain would've been great, but I never thought he'd agree anyway.) Though it will be interesting...the VP candidate, in this case, seems to be more charismatic than the presidential one.

An excellent choice on Kerry's part, although yes, McCain would have been better. I think Kerry's choice is going to make it harder for Mr. Bush.

I am very dissapointed. John Edwards is all style, no substance. I was really dissapointed in the primary when he almost flat out called Howard Dean a bigot. If Kerry had any balls he would pick an anti-war candidate. I'm sorry , but I fail to understand how the Democrats managed to nominate a ticket of two pro war candidate seeing as most of us opposed the war >_<. John Edwards is Bush-lite on the issues so I have to say the only good thing out of this is the fact that he didn't choose Gephardt

Howard Dean is still first!!

Edit: I would like to ask my fellow liberals why they would have liked a Kerry /McCain ticket. I understand that he is not creep like many in the GOP but he a social conservative. He supports the war, is staunchly pro-life, and voted against hate crimes legislations. For the hate crime issue alone, John McCain will NEVER get my vote.

I like Edwards. Now if the Dems win, I wont feel so bad because there's always a chance Kerry will drop dead and make it President Edwards.

The Nader effect...

Nader to Kerry: Pick Edwards for vice-president (http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-06-23-nader-kerry_x.htm)

Originally posted by Idioteque

Edit: I would like to ask my fellow liberals why they would have liked a Kerry /McCain ticket. I understand that he is not creep like many in the GOP but he a social conservative. He supports the war, is staunchly pro-life, and voted against hate crimes legislations. For the hate crime issue alone, John McCain will NEVER get my vote.

I consider McCain to be a moderate, and while I don't like his postion on some issues, I think he would have that moderating influence on a very polarized society. There's also the fact that McCain would have likely attracted many republicans to vote for the ticket.

As far as hate crimes legislation goes, the idea is just wrong.

I'm gay, but the idea that killing me because I'm gay is worse than killing you because I wanted your money is absurd.

The law should treat everyone equally.

If you get punished more for killing someone because your victim was gay, or Jewish, or Black, why can't the law punish you more because the killer was Gay, or Jewish, or Black? We wouldn't tolerate that would we? If the law is going to fair it must be applied equally, and the race, religion, or sexual preference of your victim should have no more bearing on the law than the race, religion, or sexual preference of the perpetrator should.

Originally posted by Idioteque
I'm sorry , but I fail to understand how the Democrats managed to nominate a ticket of two pro war candidate seeing as most of us opposed the war >_<.


Because Kerry's not trying to get your vote - he's already counting on it. He's trying to get the votes of more moderate Americans. Which is something Bush should try.

Kerry/Edwards will not be trying to get Republican votes.
If smart, they will be going after undecided(swing) votes and Independents. This could be the deciding factors in the election.

Have already seen Bush's add response. Calling Edwards the second choice candidate.
Some think Bush was America's second choice for Pres. in the last election. Demos may play on this in political adds.

After thinking about it for a while, I am happy with Edwards being Kerry's running mate. I was just kinda down that it wasn't Dean. I think Arianna Huffington said it best today on an article she posted for Democracy for America (http://www.democracyforamerica.com)

The First Great Decision of the Kerry Presidency

by Arianna Huffington

The choice of John Edwards as #2 on the Democratic ticket is the first great decision of the Kerry presidency -- a mature, self-confident choice that bodes well for the Kerry campaign as it kicks into high gear.

It wasn't based on looking at a map and trying to figure out who could deliver the most Electoral College votes. It wasn't based on who Kerry felt most comfortable hanging out with. It wasn't based on who would help make Kerry look most presidential.

It was based on who was the best choice for the country.

Instead of picking a running mate who had the strongest resume, Kerry picked the one who had the strongest vision for the country -- a vision that can help Kerry bring heart and soul back to American politics.

Here are just two of the many things about John Edwards that should be sending a cold shiver down Karl Rove's spine right about now:

One: Edwards can help Kerry make this campaign about what kind of America we want to live in -- a campaign not just about policies and programs but also about our fundamental values as a country.

Throughout his primary campaign, Edwards showed an uncanny ability to frame his positions in the language of morality and traditional American values.

"I believe we can build a better life for our families," he said during a Democratic primary debate. "But it has to be based on the values of hard work and responsibility, not accounting tricks and corporate greed. I want to bring your values, the values of Main Street America, to Wall Street and then to Pennsylvania Avenue. I want to give this White House back to the American people."

This is a linguistic battlefield that has been dominated by the right since the 1960s. Edwards' ability to speak to core American ideals like hard work, responsibility, fairness, faith, and family -- the values that built America -- will help Kerry reclaim key words and concepts like "values", "morality" and "responsibility" from the recklessly irresponsible and grossly immoral GOP.

It's not by accident that this is the first quality Kerry cited when announcing Edwards as his running mate: "John understands and defends the values of America. He has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle class Americans and those struggling to reach the middle class."

George Bush wants to define this campaign in terms of right and left. John Edwards will help make sure that it comes down to a discussion of right and wrong.

Two: Edwards' core theme of the two Americas -- "one for the powerful insiders, and another for everyone else" -- helps sharpen the differences between the two tickets, and shows that far from being a uniter George Bush has been the ultimate divider. As Edwards evocatively paints it, Bush has created two school systems, two health care systems, two economic systems, two tax systems, and even two systems of government, all designed to benefit "those who never have to worry about a thing" -- and at the expense of ordinary Americans.

Edwards has also shown a commitment to putting poverty-fighting front and center in his campaign, sending the message that we are all in the same boat together. This powerful, positive, and patriotic populist vision stands in direct contrast to the "every man for himself" rallying cry of the conservative movement, which is epitomized by Bush and his buddies in the Leave Us Alone Coalition, who'd like nothing better than to see all social programs gutted and abandoned.

As Edwards put it during his presidential run (and will no doubt repeat now that he's back on the stump), "2004 is a make-or-break election because we need to create one America again. And that is the one thing George Bush will never do. Dividing us into two Americas -- one privileged, the other burdened -- has been his agenda all along."

Kerry picked Edwards for one reason.
He thinks Edwards can help him become President.
No thoughts of country. No thoughts of whats best for the people.
Just working to present the perfect illusion to voters.

The same perfect illusion the Republicans hope to present.
These politicians would not give us the time of day if we were not voters.

Originally posted by Dan Fussell
Kerry picked Edwards for one reason.
He thinks Edwards can help him become President.
No thoughts of country. No thoughts of whats best for the people.
Just working to present the perfect illusion to voters.

The same perfect illusion the Republicans hope to present.
These politicians would not give us the time of day if we were not voters.

Likes how DAN spells things out !!!!!!!!!!