On "The Fix," a political blog at WashingtonPost.com, a University of North Carolina law student complained that former vice presidential candidate John Edwards is simply using the UNC Poverty Center and the issue of poverty as a stepping stone to another presidential run. I posted this response:
I submit that if UNC had not selected Edwards, a national name, to head the poverty center, the center and the whole issue of poverty would receive far, far less media attention. Edwards' value to the center is obvious. Coming out of a national political campaign, he has a network, a following, and the desire to create a movement. He doesn't have to show up at an office at the center every day to push such a movement forward.
As for his presidential ambitions, I'm skeptical. Other than charm and star quality, he doesn't have a lengthy public record of accomplishment or a base -- a few years as a Senate backbencher.
Best bet for his longterm presidential ambitions is to hold a cabinet position -- attorney general or HHS, probably -- in a future Democratic administration.
He has the political skills to run for governor, but given that he quit as Senator from North Carolina because he apparently didn't want to make the compromises necessary to represent a constituency more conservative than he is, I doubt he'll do that. The voters of NC would be initially skeptical of him, though he could probably overcome that skepticism.
He was probably bored in the Senate.
If I had to predict Edwards' future, I'd guess his career will be like that of Jack Kemp -- star member of Congress for a few years, cabinet secretary, vice presidential candidate, unsuccessful presidential candidate.
Kemp and Edwards incidentally just debated at UNC.
http://www.newsobserver.com/politics/story/2829089p-9278972c.html
Kemp had the presidential bug for awhile, but now says you have to make too many compromises to be president. Given that Edwards apparently felt he had to make too many compromises to remain Senator from North Carolina, I imagine he'll eventually come to the same conclusion.
