Thoughts on John Edwards

This past Sunday night it was all: Eli Manning? Super Bowl? Seriously?

But by Tuesday evening I’d decide I’d now be rooting for him.

Like a lot of people, I imagine, when I don’t have a horse in the race, particularly in sports, I end up pulling for the underdog. I always have.

On Sunday, however, I was rooting for Brett Favre and The Packers, just because I, like a lot of folks, were hoping to see Favre take on and beat Tom Brady and The Patriots in the Super Bowl and then be able to retire and go out with a story book ending. (Sports fans can be very romantic). So, I’ll pull for the favorite when I have an interest in their winning, but normally, in match-ups that don’t make a big difference to me, I’ll be cheering for the long shot.

And I tend to think that this way of thinking is common in America, whether among big sport fans or not. We Are Marshall, Rudy, Miracle, these are all films specifically made for that audience. And there are plenty more. See: Happy Gilmore, Dodgeball, Rocky, The Goonies, and billions more. (Okay, maybe not billions, but a lot).

So, if it can’t be Favre, I’m fine with Eli. What it all comes down to really is that I just hope it is a good game, but if young Eli can knock off the all-mighty Brady, who so many say is invincible, I’d love to see it.

Underdogs are inspiring. They remind us that the big fights are winnable and worth fighting. They serve as examples for what is possible when you continue to persevere in the face of adversity.

While thinking about all this these past few days, I have inevitably been led to also consider how this affinity towards underdogs has influenced my support of presidential candidate, John Edwards. I like his politics, for sure, but I know that there is a part of me that likes his campaign because it challenges and attempts to cut through the air of inevitability that surrounded the campaigns of Obama and Clinton.

Just as how the Giants are still in it, despite the Patriots having bigger budgets, more well-known players and more wins, Edwards can still play a major role in this campaign, regardless of how invincible the other two candidates seem to be. In both contests, the end result is impossible to predict. The smart money is with The Patriots, but who knows what will happen.

Same thing goes with these Democrats. Clinton is leading the polls and it isn’t expected that Edwards will move up beyond third, but there’s no telling what can happen between now and August when the Democrats hold their convention.

Aside from just liking Edwards because he’s the current underdog, in the Democratic debate on Monday night in South Carolina, I think he made his clearest case for his campaign.

First, for context, watch this clip below. Obama and Clinton hit back at one another throughout the night, but this is about as nasty as it has been between them.

This next clip picks up where the first left off, with Edwards beginning to address the back and forth bickering between the two front-runners. Pay attention to the first 3 minutes.

Even if all he would be doing from here on out is keeping the other two candidates on-track and focused on the issues, his presence in the race is still valuable.

But strategically, there is still a strong case to be made for Edwards. Here he is (see 1:57 – 4:24) from earlier in the debate explaining how his campaign is best fit to beat McCain in the general election. I agree with his case.

And if you’re still not sure Edwards should stay in the race, Joe Cannon broke down reasons he should:

1. Edwards functions as an insurance policy. What if a hitherto-unknown (or under-reported) scandal should engulf either Clinton or Obama? Or both?

2. Edwards is the only thing standing between Hillary Clinton and a lock on the nomination. One argument holds that lingering racist attitudes will harm Obama’s chances in the south. Edwards and Hillary could split the non-Obama vote, which — paradoxically — gives Obama a chance to prevail in some southern states.

3. Edwards could play kingmaker in a brokered convention. Obviously, he would want the Vice Presidency. The question is — what kind of Vice Presidency? Dick Cheney has brought a new level of power to that office — although I’m sure that, on a moral level, Edwards would resemble Obi-Wan more than Darth. No presidential candidate would want a Number Two who harbors that level of ambition — but in a pinch, deals get made.

And if that logic isn’t solid enough for ya, how about a strong endorsement from MLK III

In a letter of support, Martin Luther King Jr.’s son, writes:

“I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are – a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.

…

I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.

So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.”

Plus, there’s this:

Anyway, all that said, the great thing about all of this is that no matter who the Democrats nominate, the Party will (for the most part*) be excited about the general election. The same can’t be said for the Republicans right now.

*While I do think for the most part Democrats will be okay with their nominee, it can’t be said enough that nominating Clinton will send a huge amount of energy into the Republican party and later the GOTV efforts. Knowing that, her winning the nomination will likely bum out a large chunk of the Democrats, but still, I think they will come through and back her candidacy, even if reluctantly.