John Edwards on the Campaign Trail

— -- ABCNEWS' Gloria Riviera is on the trail with North Carolina Sen. John Edwards as he makes his bid for the White House. For the latest report, scroll down.

Happy Veterans Day … ?

Nov. 12 —Sound the bell, round one between General Clark (or at least his communications director) and Senator Edwards has begun.

In a letter criticizing Senator Edwards' association with General Hugh Shelton on the grounds that Shelton has engaged in a "smear campaign" and "character assassination" against his boss, Clark's communications director Matt Bennett said Edwards "should insist that General Shelton either repudiate his attacks or back up his charge with an ounce of evidence or a shred of substantiation."

The campaign released the letter Edwards wrote back, addressed directly to Clark. In it Edwards says that while he values the General's advice, Shelton has yet to officially endorse any candidate. "He is a fellow North Carolinian and has been a friend and adviser for many years. I will continue to seek his advice. When I talk to the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it's about the safety and security of our men and women in uniform, not about politics."

The Shelton association came into the spotlight late last week when Edwards named him as someone he consults with on a semi-regular basis, after being asked about advisers in general at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. Bennett's letter also suggested that Edwards rethink his support of the war in Kosovo, since General Shelton was not an advocate.

Here's Matt Bennett's letter to Senator Edwards:

Dear Senator Edwards:

I'm simply astounded that you have retained General Hugh Shelton as an adviser to your presidential campaign. This choice undermines the spirit of civility that you have urged your fellow candidates to uphold. Just this September, you said: "We need to be really careful that our anger is not directed at each other." Maybe you should share that advice with your own campaign team.

General Shelton has engaged in precisely the type of politics as usual mud-slinging that you profess to abhor: he initiated what has become a smear campaign that the Republicans have gleefully taken up. And his character assassination was the worst type: General Shelton leveled charges about "integrity" and "character," and then refused to back up his charge with an ounce of evidence or a shred of substantiation. Attacks like these have no place in campaigns, or in any public discourse. You should insist that General Shelton either repudiate his attacks or come forward and provide proof for what he said.

Your association with General Shelton is also curious given your position of support for the war in Kosovo. As you know, by waging war against Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo, we saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing, all without losing a single American life. Have you changed your mind about this operation? Do you now think we should have refused to stop the genocide and given Milosevic free reign in the region, as your adviser apparently believes?

By associating with General Shelton on this campaign, you seem to have given in to the negative politics that you say you have risen above. I hope that throughout the campaign you will maintain the high level of dialogue that you have insisted on for others and that you will address this matter promptly.

Sincerely,

Matt Bennett Communications Director Clark for President

And Senator Edwards' letter to General Clark:

Dear General Clark:

I wanted to bring to your attention a letter by a member of your staff sent to me regarding General Hugh Shelton. Whatever your personal views on General Shelton, I'm sure you agree that he is a respected military leader who served our country with distinction.

Although General Shelton has not endorsed me or any other candidate, I value his advice as one of our nation's top military leaders. He is a fellow North Carolinian and has been a friend and adviser for many years. I will continue to seek his advice. When I talk to the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it's about the safety and security of our men and women in uniform, not about politics.

I appreciate your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

John Edwards

Edwards picks up southern help, picks on Dean's decision

Nov. 11 —"I'm a little bit older than he is," said former Georgia governor Roy Barnes.

"Not by much," Senator Edwards shot back.

Depends on how you judge five years (Barnes is 55).

In Atlanta Monday afternoon to announce endorsements from Barnes and three Georgia state representatives, Edwards focused his campaign speech to the potential donor crowd on his fight for the plight of the middle class. For anyone who read Bob Herbert's New York Times op-ed, it was old news.

Speaking to reporters afterwards Edwards repeated his now well-reported reaction to Dean's finance decision. " … Governor Dean himself said several months ago that he thought it was imperative that the Democrats to stay within the public financing system in the presidential race, and it appears at least that he has decided it is not in his interest to do that and he's reversed his position. I think this is a matter of principle and I think the integrity of the system matters."

Asked how concerned he is that Dean will carry some southern states, Edwards said simply, "Not."

The campaign launched television ads in Iowa and New Hampshire today as part of a four-phase "Plan for Change" unveiled week by week touting Edwards' 60-page platform handbook. Edwards says the book is a way to hold him accountable, and a voiceover tells viewers how to get their own copy.

Edwards rolls along on Granite State goal, adds foreign policy advisers

Nov. 10 —Saturday, Senator Edwards capped off his New Hampshire bus tour three-quarters of the way toward reaching his goal of holding 100 town hall meetings in New Hampshire. Asked about his circle of policy advisers, Edwards named retired General and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and fellow North Carolinian) Hugh Shelton as an informal foreign policy adviser, as well as Ambassador Richard Holbrooke and former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger.

Edwards was in North Carolina Sunday evening to rally support from the African-American voter base that was so critical in helping him win his Senate seat in 1998. Craig Kirby, Edwards' deputy national campaign chair, told the audience they needed to make the campaign a grassroots powerhouse, getting into diners and coffee shops to tell people who John Edwards is. And, ever mindful of the long-term campaign strategy, Kirby told the room the election would start in South Carolina.

Campaign staffers say Clark's decision to focus on South Carolina only makes the state more of a battleground and increases its relevance as never before. "Because we know we will win South Carolina," one senior aide said, the reaction to Clark is simple: Bring it on, General.

Official-izing it in New Hampshire

Nov. 7 —"My handwriting is so bad," Senator Edwards said as he signed himself into history, officially filing for the New Hampshire primary Thursday afternoon at the State Capital in Concord. "I agree," his wife, Elizabeth, chimed in. And so it was scrawled into the record books with the personal message, "America works best when it works for all of us — thanks to New Hampshire, John Edwards."

Afterwards, reporters asked Edwards what was working best for him in New Hampshire. Should he be doing better at this point? "It takes a long, sustained effort to make this happen," said Edwards in his typical this-comes-as-no-surprise style, followed by how pleased he is with the latest polls and endorsements. "My job is to have my message and my candidacy penetrate in these early primary states and that is exactly what is happening."

Highway 93 North, then South, then North again

Nov. 6 —The Edwards' campaign's Real Solutions Express hit the dark and rainy New Hampshire highway Wednesday for the first four of 25 campaign stops over the next three days.

Edwards announced what his campaign billed as "major economic policy" on Wednesday morning, but the question foremost on everyone's mind was the Dean scrap at Tuesday evening's Rock the Vote.

Responding to Dean's mea sorta culpa, Edwards was quick to say he wished Dean had apologized earlier but it was time to move on. Later in the afternoon Edwards was asked about it again, and he made a point to steer the issue away from Dean. "My view is that it is important to us can as a party. This has nothing to do with Governor Dean or any individual candidate, it is for us as a party to be sensitive to the feelings and self respect of people in all parts of the country."

By the evening's Planned Parenthood debate the tension was apparently gone as the two joked with one another side by side. They looked distinctly more cordial than they had minutes before standing in line backstage, in silence, waiting to be introduced.

Edwards' economic policy, by the way, proposes new ways for Americans to save money and targets irresponsible and predatory credit lenders. Edwards' goal is to "empower the middle class" by helping them buy a first home, save for retirement and avoid the traps of credit card companies.

During the debate Edwards managed to get in a significant amount of his stump speech, which he had skipped at events Wednesday in order to take more questions from the audience at his town hall meetings. The most important female in history? Eleanor Roosevelt. And on the other issues: he supports equal pay for women, stem cell research, the right to choose, the right to privacy and fighting domestic abuse.

He tailored the finale of his speech to fit the female crowd: "I believe the daughter of a truck driver can be a physicist … a CEO, " and then of course, that "the son of a mill worker can beat the son of a President for the White House."

The audience got a slightly wider glimpse into John Edwards when he talked about his family. Asked what kind of father he is, Edwards' response was as sincerely loving as it was, and always will be, sincerely difficult. The Edwards' oldest son, Wade, died in a car accident in 1996. Edwards rarely mentions or explains it less it seem in any way politically calculated. What he did say is that he and Elizabeth have had four children, an unusually spread out family with one daughter in college and two under the age of six.

"I am connected at the breastbone to my children … my younger children are right on top of me when I am home and that is exactly where I want them, they are simply the joy of my life," he said, describing coaching basketball and soccer through the years.

He did not talk about Wade, but the subject has been covered in the national print and broadcast media. As the campaign continues Edwards will most likely have to address it more than one more time. And for Edwards, as he himself told a supporter in Iowa who also lost a child, the pain never leaves.

On Elizabeth, whom he refers to or introduces as "my wife of 26 years", he was effusive, telling the crowd they share every major decision and if he is not 100 percent for supporting women's rights, he doesn't come home.

Elizabeth is on the bus tour this week, a simultaneously relaxed and energetic presence. She often arrives at events before her husband, and easily moves amongst the crowd and host introducing herself and promoting her husband's candidacy. She is known to be down to earth and at ease introducing herself to strangers, something she attributes to growing up as a "military brat" moving every three years.

Over Diet Cokes on the way to the first stop, New Hampshire State Senator Lou D'Allessandro told a story about attending an event titled, "Stepping Out". "You go to parties that have names?" Elizabeth teased with a stone-straight face. Later that afternoon, she met a female supporter with frosted blond, blown-out hair in a well-tailored grey suit. "You look like you should play the candidate's wife. I am looking for someone for that role," she said, laughing.

Leaving, the candidate and staff were huddled undercover as a heavy New England rain fell outside, a short walk from the bus. Elizabeth came marching up near me. "I guess it's me, I go?" she asked over her should to a crowd of staff, none of whom had and answer or an immediate exit strategy. "Ok!" she said with a chuckle, and she was off running down the path, through the rain without an umbrella or stylist.

Edwards carefully cross examines Dean

Nov. 5 —"Were you wrong, Howard?

One small sentence for John Edwards, one giant leap for his campaign.

Until now the Senator has been a litigator as opposed to prosecutor in approaching the competition, for the most part preferring to let his campaign send e-mails pointing out his rivals' inconsistencies or negative press.

But at the Rock the Vote forum Tuesday night Edwards showed a hint of the bite that made him a successful trial attorney. Up from his chair, voice raised, Edwards demanded that Howard Dean explain his statement on courting Southern voters who drive pickup trucks and fly the Confederate flag. This is the South we are talking about, and it's personal. After all, Edwards himself drove a pickup truck.

Dean tried to explain, saying he wanted to go down South and talk to the voters there.

Edwards made it clear he would not be rolling out any red carpets, "Let me tell you, the last thing we need in the South is somebody like you coming down and telling us what we need to do."

Later, in the spin room, Edwards elaborated, "If he said it 100 times he is still wrong. It doesn't matter how many times he has said it. I am troubled by the fact that he won't say what he said was wrong. If he said, 'Listen, I made a mistake … all I meant was we should reach out to white voters, there is nothing wrong with that. That is absolutely fine, but that is not what he said. And at least up to now he has not taken responsibility for it."

The campaign has always said Edwards would approach attacking his rivals with caution because it is a high-risk, low-yield tactic. Edwards is still making a first impression, staffers say, and they don't want it to be that of an attack dog.

Edwards discusses running

Oct. 31 —I am off the campaign this weekend in order to give the New York Marathon a good old off-air try.

I did not undertake this mad challenge in order to foster relations with the candidate, known to be a runner himself.

(I, like may other reporters, have requested a "jog-along" but the campaign doesn't allow it.)

But the running thing has helped break the ice.

At an event in South Carolina recently I found myself waiting backstage with Edwards before a speech. The crowd wasn't quite ready for him. A press aide had his eyes and nose glued to the crack between the door to the stage, and Edwards and I tapped our feet and looked at our watches. I was just starting to contemplate inane phrases to fill the slightly awkward silence between reporter and candidate that tend to come up when you don't know one another all that well and find yourselves without press aides, cameras or voters. But he saved me from that. "How's the running going?" he asked. I didn't know he knew I was a runner. Later, a press aide would tell me Edwards has an incredible memory for details about people and that she had off-handedly mentioned that I took a long run a few weeks ago along the Mississippi River.

Edwards has run five marathons and according to him, it's all about the six miles and it's all mental. "Up here," he said tapping his head. "You'll be fine."

Edwards goes Hollywood, Ashton no-shows

Oct. 30 —From ABC News' Edwards campaign reporter Gloria Riviera:

"This used to be a helluva good country. I can't understand what went wrong with it."

These lines were first spoken in Dennis Hopper's 1969 directorial debut, Easy Rider, the story of two men in search of 'real' America. They might as well have come from John Edwards at a campaign fundraiser held at Hopper's home in Venice Beach last night.

Edwards gave the Hollywood crowd his campaign speech and was asked to explain why he thinks he can win. "The people [Bush] needs to get re-elected with are the middle class," said Edwards. And when the middle class sees two candidates on stage they will see that Edwards understands them and Bush does not. That connection is the secret weapon.

But attendee Chris Moore, a former Kerry supporter, didn't exactly buy it. He wants to know why Edwards considers himself a better candidate than his eight rivals. 'I'm sure there is some strategy why no one answers the question,' he said. 'But I just thought why not give us a kernel?'

It was the second time in one day Edwards was pressed for a game plan of sorts. Earlier Curtis Owens told Edwards he had his vote, but he wanted to know the logistics for success. Stock and trade answer: Compete in Iowa and NH, win South Carolina and carry southern states. But Owens said he worries the campaign won't have the money to see the plan to fruition.

The Hopper's home, filled with modern art including an original Warhol of Hopper himself, a Peter Maxx rendering of Chairman Mao and works by Kenny Sharif and Manuel Ocampo, played host to a crowd of more than 100 L.A. types who mixed and mingled and asked whether Edwards wears boxers or briefs.

Well? No answer.

Dude, where's my host?

Incidentally, the much-heralded host-to-be Ashton Kutcher was not able to make it in the end due to reported fire-related plane cancellations. Victoria Hopper says Kutcher is eager to help and may campaign for Edwards Kutcher's home state of Iowa.

Edwards swings through Iowa

Oct. 29 —"I am the only one in this room with no accent, by the way." — Edwards' new laugh line for audiences in Iowa.

According to Firehouse Brewery owner Bill Hillman, five out of the nine candidates can beat Bush in 2004 and John Edwards is one of them. Edwards spoke to about 30 people at Hillman's place in Red Oak, Iowa, as part of a two-day, seven-stop swing through southwestern Iowa Monday and Tuesday.

Like State Senator Robert Ford of South Carolina, a supporter who thinks 'all [Edwards] has to do' is to win big in South Carolina and California, Hillman thinks it is simple. "Senator Edwards could win if everybody in this room voted," Hillman said introducing Edwards. Pause. " … And no one else voted," he added.

If only it were that simple

Instead, Edwards is hunkered down for some serious groundwork in Iowa. He'll return to the state for multi-stop turbo swing every week this month.

Edwards' speech on the road has been entirely free of attacks on his rivals. It's all Bush, almost all the time. This week he's focused on the "out of touch" plan Bush gives families of four to save up to $20,000 by 2008, tax free. "How many families can save $20,000?" he asks crowds. "What world is that?"

Crowds at these stops number anywhere from 30 to 70. House parties and morning coffee shops are packed. People say they are impressed and find Edwards genuine, honest and understanding of the common man. Some have said they are open to the idea of caucusing for Edwards but need more time to decide.

Edwards is asked frequently asked about Iraq and will tell crowds a standard speech line about making it an international effort. He has in the last few weeks increasingly mentioned that he thinks responsibility for the Iraqi Civilian Authority should be handed over to the United Nations immediately.

Edwards preaches unity and a collective effort

Oct. 27 — Edwards' accent was as dramatic as the Sunday hats in full effect at Baptist Churches he visited in Detroit the morning of the debate. Sequins, feathers, mesh and more. Purple, gold and blue and a sharp gray fedora-top-hat combo of particular height. Sunday is for pulling out all the stops and Edwards did so by starting off his address with three little initials: J. F. K.

"You know, I am reminded of the words of President Kennedy. He said, here on earth God's work must truly be our own. Brothers and sisters we got work to do … we have work to do but with the Lord's help, with the Lord's help and only with the Lord's help, we will do it, we will rise above it, we will lift up our people."

Edwards seemed as comfortable at the pulpit as he is in living rooms in Iowa. He gauged the mood of the room and upped his tempo accordingly for a crowd naturally primed to respond well to his Cities Rising urban initiative, unveiled the evening before at a campaign event in Lansing, Michigan. The initiative is not new — everything is in the booklet — but at various stops Edwards highlights location-specific elements. He spoke about improving schools for the "system of have nots" — as Edwards refers to the schools system currently available those in poor urban areas — and improving teacher pay.

Campaign says ad spending is worth the price

Oct. 24 — Brian Mooney's article in Thursday's Boston Globe said the Edwards campaign has outspent all rivals in ad spending, has nothing to show for it and is now short on cash. Due to a mistake in the campaign's FEC filing it appeared the campaign had spent 73% of allocated spending limit in New Hampshire and 55% in Iowa while actually, the numbers are at about 40% for Iowa and 33% New Hampshire.

So how much does this matter?

Well, it is true that Edwards' numbers on television spending are higher than any other campaign. But the campaign says they started off at 2% in Iowa and are now anywhere between 7% to 11% according to various polls - so they have moved.

No such luck in NH though the campaign has moved ever so slightly and attendance is increasing at campaign events. "The biggest goal of our ads is to get people to come to our townhalls," said campaign spokesperson Jennifer Palmieri, "We understand this is going to be a months-long process." Palmieri dismisses any concern about being short on cash.

In South Carolina Edwards has spent $361,189 or 22% of the federal limit for that state, and in fourth place he has doled out 196,282 or 14% of allocated state limit in Oklahoma."

Edwards ratchets up attacks and pleas for support

Oct. 23 — Senator Edwards has taken a measured and subtle approach in attacking his rivals. To this point the campaign has chosen to engage on paper in handout fliers or emails as when the campaign highlighted Clark's lobbying activities soon after the General joined the race. At the New York City Pace University debate back in September, Edwards went so far as to say, "We really need to be careful that our anger is not pointed at each other."

Slowly but surely that has changed, beginning with his speech at the DNC fall meeting when Edwards pointed out he has been a Democrat all his life (left unsaid: unlike some). Very recently he might not have actually named names, but he did name states. On Monday he singled out Vermont as failing children on healthcare at forum on the University of New Hampshire campus hosted by the Every Child Matters Education Fund. Edwards cited a 2001 Kaiser report finding that in Vermont 5,000 children remain without insurance.

I want YOU to caucus for me!

"About as large a crowd as our annual Christmas party," figured Ron McMahon of Edwards' campaign event at the McMahon home in Manchester, Iowa, on Wednesday. With 14 sons and daughters ("We have our own voting unit," said Judy), their house was packed.

Those inside at the McMahons, and the other six stops Edwards made in eastern and central Iowa on Wednesday, heard his specific thoughts on prescription drugs, in addition to the civil rights, homeland security, anti-Ashcroft and Q&A elements of his regular stump speech. He cited his career as a trial attorney fighting for the underdog and equated it with the fight he intends to wage as President against drug companies.

"These are the people I fought against on behalf of people like you … Important fights, fights I was able to win most of the time," he said. Edwards says he would lower drug cost by ushering generic brands into the market and enforcing regulation standards on internet drug companies among other things.

Also new and Noteworthy (at least since this reporter returned from vacation) is Edwards' direct plea for support. In his early October swing through Iowa he was simply not as straightforward with Iowans as he was Wednesday, "I am here to ask for your support. I am here to ask you to caucus for me," he told a crowd of about 70 at the town deli in Elkader, IA. "I need your support. We have got to get George Bush out of the White House in 2004."

Crowd reaction?

"I'm very impressed. He gave answers [before] people even had to ask," said Mary Healy, 73. "I was for Kerry but now it's between Dean and Edwards."

Anything come off as phony? "I can't believe he's 50," said Sheila Knoke, 70.

Stumped On The Stump:

Last week it was Chris Matthew's question on what his favorite movie is that had Edwards momentarily stumped (answer: Shawshank Redemption). This week:

"What happened to all that money we took from Saddam's palaces?" - Question from the audience at the town deli in Elkader, Iowa

"You got me. I don't know where it went … but I will find out." - John Edwards

Edwards Shoots for 100 Granite State Town Halls

Oct. 21 — The Edwards campaign says it is just about halfway to its goal of holding 100 town hall meetings in New Hampshire.

Monday Edwards focused on his proposal to provide health care for every child in America. As John Wagner reports in the News Observer's Eye on Edwards, the senator pointed out that in Dean's state of Vermont, almost 5,000 children are without insurance and said, "In my case, I am talking about every single child."

Edwards' plan would require by law that parents cover their children until age 21 and would offer tax breaks for high-quality health insurance. The campaign also released a candidate-by-candidate critique on the children's health care platform of Gephardt, Kerry, Dean and Lieberman.

In response to U.S. News and World Report's cover story "Big Money on Campus," the campaign released a statement in which Edwards said, "You can see in the student loan system everything that is wrong with Washington today. The banks get a guaranteed profit for their student loans, then protect those profits by hiring high-paid lobbyists who dole out golf outings, cruises and campaign contributions. We should get the banks out of the system and loan money directly to students."

More in case you missed it last week: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native Ashton Kutcher will host a fund-raiser for Edwards on Oct. 29 in Los Angeles. No word on whether Kutcher's girlfriend, Demi Moore, most recently of the adventure flick Charlie's Angles II: Full Throttle, will join him in campaigning on behalf of Edwards.

Edwards Savors Desert Grilling

Oct. 10 — In the week leading up to the Phoenix debate Edwards canvassed New Hampshire and Iowa touting his message and holding one-on-one question and answer sessions in 21 campaign stops. The fact that he managed to answer two audience questions on two topics he had been addressing all week, prescription drugs and unions, was a beneficial coincidence.

While the second question from Bryan Vance on how the unions fit into candidates' economic plan allowed Edwards to get personal by mentioning that his mother and brother are both union members, it was the first question from stroke victim Karen Dickinson that catered to just the kind of interaction campaign staff touts as his strength.