Edwards Versus Clinton

John Kerry today selected as his Vice Presidential running mate, John Edwards from North Carolina. Edwards has many laudable qualities, most important among them is that he came late to politics. What better than a self-made man who pursues politics out of conviction, and what worse than the high-school class president type, who goes to college and law school in order to run for political office (think Clinton and Kerry). Edwards is likable and eloquent. He will add much, but not enough to the Kerry-Edwards ticket. Edwards will not deliver southern states for the Democrats, but may have an important impact in swing states like Pennsylvania. The Kerry/Edwards paring should result in very entertaining debates- particulary between Edwards and Vice President Cheney. But the most interesting result of the Edwards nomination is that it places him on a collision course with the political ambitions of Hillary Clinton. Win or lose, Edwards will emerge at some point in the future with a strong claim to a party nomination that Hillary believes is hers by right. The drama!