Wait! David fr. Salinas - come back. I enjoy your comments. I have noticed the mod. here sometimes combines threads that have similar topics if the comment count is low. Then you may see your comment moved over to another post. You're not the only one to which it's happening and you're not the only one who gets deleted.

Edwards is our southern boy. Don't listen to the people on here who bash him from the south. I'm from NC, and have been a native for 46 years. My wife, my kids, and I fully support Mr. Edwards.

I live in Greenville, and was here for all the trials of Edwards against the big companies. Don't believe those who call him an ambulance chaser… Those mothers injured by doctor's traditional views of harming them during pregnancy instead of having new methods of chils birth to safely protect the mothers and babies, and those companies who made defective equipment that injured and killed those kids should be held accountable. That is not the definition of an ambulance chaser…it's called holding hospitals and companies accountable for their irresponsible actions.

And I'm so sick of people from California, Illinois, Florida, NC, or even the Yankees from NY stating that Edwards couldn't even win his own state. The fact is, the ONLY reason he didn't carry NC in 2004 was because Kerry was #1 on the ticket, and most here thought Kerry was fake. Y'all have no idea how many people that actually like Edwards, but didn't vote for him because he wasn't #1 on the ticket. In addition, y'all haven't looked at the polls lately, because he is clearly leading the NC primaries over Clinton and Obama.

Let's face it, the DEMS will carry the usual blue states regardless of who gets the nomination…Let's get a nominee in there who will sure up the midwest and put the south in play.

Amazing how y'all from wealthy states don't want the government to help you, when you don't even get out of your own selfish world and realize those down south and in other poor areas of the country have MANY without health insurance. It's called HELP, and any of y'all who don't want to help others with health insurance because you already have it are obviously selfish individuals… But then again, you're probably voting for stuck up Hillary, or the guy currently in the White House.

The GOP didn't want Edwards to be the nominee last time…..and the don't want him to be the nominee this time. If he is the nominee, the Dems will have the White house faster than you can count McCain and Guliani's ex-wives!

Independent Voter, TN writes: “I posted a comment earlier which CNN apparently did not seem to want to print”

CNN regularly deletes on-topic posts. I don’t think it’s media bias so much as bad software engineering. In any case, I’m tired of posting, getting deleted, re-posting and getting locked out of the system.

I’m done with Ticker until they get the bugs out of their system.

Good luck all. Bye.

Sharon of Baltimore and xtina, I agree with you completely. Any candidate who thinks that every personal problem or every personal choice begins and ends with a government solution is no candidate of mine.

We should hold union endorsements against candidates. Given that unions want the president who is the most prone to handouts, the unions will only support those candidates who have unreasonable spending practices and those who will use taxpayer money as their personal piggy banks. I'm not surprised that Edwards has the union endorsements.

Sharon in MD, you are not the only one; I also totally dread the government taking over health. They can't even do FEMA, Walter Reed Hospital, and Homeland Security well. The local USPS service (that is, in the city of Chicago) was voted WORST in the nation in 2007. To give these same government people the medical system is not wise. However, the cost of free market services and medications is ridiculous and somehow must be reigned in. I think through competition ( such as WalMart's $4 Prescriptions ) and through torte reform the country would see lower costs.

He could pull it off. There are quite a few people around who wouldn't vote for a woman but would vote for Edwards.

Interesting. My comment from earlier was removed from this post. I will try again. I cannot support a candidate who wants to mandate certain medical tests/exams as part of his national healthcare plan. I do not want the government making my healthcare decisions. Make healthcare available and affordable to all and let us decide what to do with our bodies.

Once again I have to ask CNN: why are you allowing serial commenters like "pl at the UN, for a while" to continue to post despite their non-citizen status?

Mr. Brusk,

You need to do a better job truly "editing" this story since it has numerous typographical errors. CNN should aspire to be better than that. I had to re-read the final line four times before I was able to figure out what you were trying to say…

"all the places in American were we have to be able to compete and win. I will campaign everywhere”

David from Salinas:

I find myself agreeing with you on the immigration issue, but am at odds with you on others. However, I couldn't agree more with you on Edwards' candidacy.

I posted a comment earlier which CNN apparently did not seem to want to print (probably since it called into question the relevancy of unions). In it, I made the point that union endorsements can actually have a negative result with the electorate at large since many main stream Americans see them as an anachronism as well as an impediment to our being able to compete in the global economy. The auto and airline industries as well as steel and textiles are good examples of this and don't even get me started on the backwardness of the teacher's unions.

I think that your analysis of the candidates (democrat and republican) is very accurate and unbiased.

"Mr. Haircut" isn't going anywhere. He won't even be considered for any positions in the Hillary administration.

I still have a question concerningn a"noble" component of his presidential aspirations: Why is he so vilfied for his success as a lawyer? Why does that disqualify him for being a spokesman for those living in poverty without healthcare. Isn't there a common cry from the left that "those that got don't care about those that don't"!

Thomas said:And Obama whom we really don't know anything about other than that he is black and running for president.

Why don't "we" know anything about him? He has two books out - one about his background and how it shaped him, the other about his views on reclaiming the American dream. Even if you don't have the time to read the books, the web is at your fingertips. It's relatively easy to acquaint yourself with all of the candidates.

And for pl. at the UN who says Obama studied Islam for 5 years - that's incorrect. His mother worked in Indonesia for several years where he went to school as a kid. It was a public school in a Muslim country.

I haven't decided who I support yet, but do realize that it is up to me to research the candidates, and not rely on newsclips and soundbites to tell me what I need to know to make that decision.

I think we should be concerned about a candidate who proposes a healthcare plan that mandates certain kinds of testing/treatment. I do not want the government making my healthcare decisions. Period. Just make sure that everyone has access to affordable healthcare and let them make their own choices!

These two unions surely know how to pick a loser. It is a kiss of death.

In the 2004 election, they picked Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri, who later dropped out of Democratic primary race.

With Edwards in the White House, Obama at the Naval Observatory (as VP), Pelosi as Madam Speaker, Reid as Senate Leader, Howard Dean as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kucinich as Secretary of Energy, Richardson as Sec. of State, and a 60+ super majority of DEMOCRATIC Democrats in the Senate, we will finally be able to get something worthwhile done in this country.

Then all we would need is liberal solid majority in the Supreme Court, with Ruth Ginsburg as Chief Justice. THEN, the USofA would regain its respect in the global community, and be a true role-model for the rest of the planet.

Excellent points David! I would also add that Edwards and his wife Elizabeth have been stirring the racial pot up all summer, which certainly does not reflect well on them personally or John's ability to connect with the diversity of people in this country. Just look at the racist comments on this thread alone. Its that way with every Edwards article. These are the folks he is engaging.

I agree with David, from California. Edward looked very naive comparing to Cheney during the vp debate in 2004. He is fake. He told million times his father is a mill worker. Does it matter? He lives in 36, 000 sq ft mansion, gets his hair cuts for $400.00. Ed has a ZERO (0) chance winning the primary and the election. ZERO. NADA. ZILCH.

I am not a fan of Obama but the comment about his wife is not okay. She is on the trail and personality may dictate why she is not as vocal as say Mrs. Edwards but I doubt it is because her husband defines her place. The spouse though important does not dictate policy and though I agree they should be visible their personalities should also be considered. Bill Clinton is a politician, he loves this stuff so yes he is more visual. And Mrs. Edwards has been through this before on the national seen. Give me a break pl. at the un for a while.

This good news for the ABC (Anybody But Clinton) Democrats.There must be many Obama fans like me who would want Edwards as second choice.

Hey, it worked for Gephardt! Oh, wait, nevermind.

He is the only canidate out there who is passionate about America and our interests at home

Regardless of these unions's endorsements of Edwards, Hillary still leads in nearly all state and/or national polls. Besides, the unions' endorsements do not necessary dictate the final election votes of their workers.

John Edwards is still in the distant third in polls.

In my view, Edwards's wife talks too much (could be personality of cancer people issue), Obama's wife talks too little (could be muslim issue), while Hillary's husband talks right enough (presidential).

To pl at the UN for a while,

This isn't the 1st post where you refer to Michelle Obama as invisible. Search the news archives yourself and you'll see that you are mistaken. Here is a little preview:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/16/320324.aspx

There is plenty more where that came from. But as opposed to other Candidate's Spouses, she focuses more on why her husband is the best candidate instead of bashing the others.

Have a good one.

A positive article on Edwards. Thank you CNN. Let people see him in the light he deserves.

This moron called Pn keeps posting this crap about Obama. Why don't you pay attention and see Michelle Obama at EVERY campaign stop of her husband's campaign? Your desire to smear Senator Obama is beyond lame.

Unfortunately for Edwards, the endorsements of Big Labor don't mean much anymore.

pl with the UN for a while….you are such a slow job. You think Mrs Obama is shying down coz of "islamic ties". Thats why we need a population that is educated unlike you. Hhint…not just reading. Obama is the best and the only endorsement he needs is….the American People.

I'm a consistent Hillary-basher and only an occasional labor-basher, so I applaud the workers' decisions to support the _only_ candidate among the top three who can win in a general election. His legal experience, polished advocacy, sound judgment, likability and electability are not in question, as are some of these qualities of the other two. Don't lose this one, Dems. It's a long time until 2012.

I am from n.c. and watched John Edwards quite a bit . John EDWARDS did not help the rich,the poor, the middle class. John Ewards helped John Edwards.
I wouldn't trust John Edwards as far as I could throw him.THE U.S. WILL BE IN ONE H— OF A MESS IF HE SHOULD BE ELECTED.

Edwrds and his ilk just want to re-distribute the wealth to people who haven't figured out the wall street smarts.Just because America was "built"by mine workers and steel workers John, doesn't mean that they should have the success that wall street people have. These mine workers and steel workers see others who are fianacially successful and demand from their politicians that they be given the same success. Enter John Edwards and his tax increses. DOn't these little people know that more taxes taken out will evetually hit their paychecks too? THAT's why they're not smart financially!

This is an endorsement to be excited about. UMW, USW, and the Carpenters, too! Two AFL-CIO unions, plus a CTW union. Needless to say, those three unions are well organized in terms of electoral politics, and the USW has influence with other industrial unions in the AFL-CIO. No doubt the head of the Carpenters is talking with UNITE HERE and SEIU.

Ugh. Edwards should just give it up now. He's no match for Barack or Hillary and will not win the nomination. Iwish we could winnow it down to only three or four candiates NOW and not waste all this time and money.

Yeah, remember how well Edwards did cutting Dick Cheney down to size in their V.P. debate in '04? Oh wait, that's right. He totally dropped the ball and allowed Cheney to walk all over him. Okay then, remember how Edwards, as John Kerry's running mate was the most electable V.P. candidate in '04? Oh yeah, they lost. Edwards is a hack. If nominated, he is likely to blow the election by following the Democratic leaderships flawed advice to pander to the moderates. This strategy doesn't work for dems. People in this country are ready for a BIG change, and sadly, Edwards isn't it.

Well what do you know… I finally can endorse the same candidate as my union. I still think it's funny that Union bosses can pick a candidate. Most times, I don't agree. This time I do. GO JOHN!

The headline for this on the main page "Edwards leads Clinton, Obama" was grossly misleading. Was that on purpose? It makes CNN seem to have an agenda or else be guilty of sloppy "journalism." Which is it?

I don't normally comment here, but I had to reply to your ignorant remark "pl. at the UN for awhile". Mrs. Obama has actually been quite visible in her campaign with her husband. The difference between her and the other candidates' spouses is that they have small children and she must also spend time caring for them while her husband campaigns, while the other candidates' children are much older. But make no mistake, she is a very intelligent woman and has had much to contribute to his campaign.

I am casting my absentee ballot for EDWARDS. It would be amazing if it were and EDWARDS OBAMA TICKET. It would be a dream for the DEMS - A southern whiteman aembracing a black VP think of all the blacks and southern votes it would garner.

Please remember John Edwards has never won re-election for any position. In fact whenever his term has ended he was so poorly thought of he was afraid to run. He could not win North Carolina in the primary after serving as Governor and Senator. Why?

Pro-union candidates scare me. I am in a union myself, so I have mixed feelings. Some unions stay out of politics, some are greedy and bullying. Look at the car indsutry; I believe unions have a lot to do with their financial failure. Unions have strong-armed car co.s into being nannies for their employees, pretty much taking over every aspect of the employees' health. Car co.s spend more time being like giant managed health-care benefit companies than they do making quality cars.

Yeah…why are you, CNN, who are presumed by Linda to be an 100% American outfit (with no global outreach…hhhh), allowing an international "passerby" like me, "at the UN for a while" to post on this blog that, as Linda puts it, "is strictly on domestic politics"?

[you may want to review my response to Linda on the 'Clinton' blog of Sep 1].

but what has Edwards really done to qualify him? Im speaking of budget decisions and executive experience. Senators prettymuch just sit and debate. That's all they do, sit and debate. Taking more federal money to feed social prog. does not a President make.

Nah!

I’m not sure why anyone thinks John Edwards is more electable than Senators Clinton, Obama & Biden or Governor Richardson.

Edwards has run far to the left in his attempts to play catch-up and has made several comments that will cost him independent votes in the general election. (Remember what Obama said about his “two Americas” at the Democratic convention? Imagine what Fred Thompson would say).

Edwards may be a straight white southerner, but his personality doesn’t really play well with the good-old-boys. (He didn’t help Kerry in the south one bit).

Edwards is open to legitimate charges of hypocrisy for his investments, his mansion and his haircuts. (You can’t run one way and live another and expect to be respected).

He couldn’t beat Dick Cheney in a debate. How’s he going to beat Rudy Giuliani?

He comes off as cloying, boyish, wimpy, false and un-Presidential. I agree with most of his positions and even I don’t much like him.

I think Edwards is the weakest of the leading Democratic candidates. The Republican nominee would eat him for breakfast.

Edwards is the candidate I support and I am glad that his campaign is building steam in more endorsements from the American people. Remember, John Kerry was not the fruntrunner during the last race, in terms of Democratic candidates. He came from behind to win the nomination. I hope Edwards, too, can follow in Kerry's footsteps and become the Democratic nominee. And then, hoepfully, its on to the White House!

In response to PL at the UN: The candidates spouses are not running for office, so in my opinion, they have very little to no bearing on the election. Anyone who would vote for a candidate based onwho their spouse is does not even deserve to be allowed to vote, as far as I am concerned. This is the kind of thing that has been wrong with elections for far too long, and why we end up with losers like Bush for preident - because people lose sight of the issues and concentrate too much on the 'side shows', lie the one the Clintons are performing now.

Also, people who do not live in the US and do not vote here should keep their opinions to themselves.

They endorse Edwards, because he hits all the right populist notes. Frankly, when he trots Danny Glover around with him on campaign stops it scares me. Glover is an admirer of Fidel Castro and of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez (the guy who is trying to "reform" his country's constitution so that he can be president for life). Any guy that Glover endorses is questionable.

Awesome!! This is just what Edwards needed, and I know he's going to get the nomination. The leader this early (Clinton) never gets it. He is MOST electable…

One thing y'all should note who back Clinton and Obama… look at who's leading in the democratic primaries where it counts.. Edwards is up 30% to Clinton's 18% in the latest WRAL news poll of my home state, NC. Could y'all imagine how awesome it would be if the South was actually in play for us Dems during an election.

Y'all have no idea how many people I know that didn't vote for Edwards because Kerry was #1 on the ticket last time. For all of you who say Edwards can't win his own state, HE CAN… But we are picky down here as to who is #1. If anyone but Edwards is the nominee, you can throw out the south for the Dems yet again.

GO GET 'EM JOHN!

Mr. Obama is Christian and is not Muslim. His wife is not hidden from view at all, I don't know why pl at the UN insists on deliberately lying in this forum.

As for Thomas Henson; We know a great deal about Obama and his positions, unless you prefer ignorance to knowledge. Obama's positions, as well as any other candidates, are well known to anyone who cares enough to go to the candidates' web sites and invest time in reading them. It is ridiculous for any one to say they don't know where the candidates stand.

The union vote is not indicative of mainstream America. Most Americans realize that Unions have become an impediment to U.S. businesses and have outlived their usefulness.

The airline and auto industries are prime examples of what organized labor does to economic competitiveness. Plus half the union leadership is crooked. Might as well get a mob endorsement as a union endorsement.

On top of this Edwards is not the fresh change everyone keeps calling for. He's a populist with a negative message about appealing to the have-nots in order to bring down "the man."

He strikes me as insincere and phony.

Go, Biden!

The guy is so wrong for the U.S. He did NOTHING as a senator for North Carolina-NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING. As soon as he was elected senator, he announced plans to run for President. He is a money hungry lawyer who sued companies for money. Do not vote for this guy.

I am not American. I cannot vote.

But I have a tendency to favour any candidate where the spouses take a very visible role on the campaign trail. The more visible, the better.

The world ignores this appeal that would favour women greatly. Fine. Ms Edwards is there to do her part. Mr Clinton, likewise.

I keep on asking: "Where is Ms Obama!!?" Does her invisibility have to do with the fact that candidate Obama took a liking, and studied, Islam for 5 years of his life? I hope not. It would not bode well for the women of America.

he is only more electable then Clinton…and that is not hard to be.

Excellent. We need a good alternative to Hillary "Let's nuke'em, and then castrate the infidels" Clinton. And Obama whom we really don't know anything about other than that he is black and running for president. Remember everyone, the politically correct choice isn't always the CORRECT choice. Look at the views, not the color or gender of the candidate.

Edwards is the MOST electable in the general election and does the best in match-up polls against Repupblicans.

Wake up, people. If you don't want another Republican in the White House, vote for Edwards!

what are the "values" of the United Steelworkers and United Mine Workers? Does anyone know?

I've supported Edwards since the democratic races of the previous election, when somehow that idiot Kerry was chosen. Let's not do that again. Unlike other candidates, if you want to find out his stance on an issue it is no problem. He isn't all vague concepts and generalized political fodder. Behind Edwards we have Hillary "Let's nuke'em and then castrate them!" Clinton. Then there is Obama… and we know WHAT about this guy again? Well.. he's black.. and he's a democrat? Right. That's all ANY of us know about him. It might be well and good, even "Progressive", of us to elect a woman or a black man as president, but not these two. We should not vote for them based on gender and color. Edwards is a white male, and that garners no political correctness, but he is simply a much better defined, and MUCH more trustworthy candidate than either of those two. Whitewater anyone? Please… we can't afford to make a mistake on this again. Lets get John Edwards the nomination, and then a running mate that isn't obama or clinton.

[...] United Steelworkers and the United Mine Workers of America have now endorsed John [...]