Jonathan Freedland (Guardian Utd): Edwards is a stunt that might work

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Wednesday July 7

A stunt that might work
Kerry has picked a strong running mate; millions are hoping the choice will make up for his weaknesses
By Jonathan Freedland

Yesterday John Kerry's campaign for the US presidency did some stunting . . . . He . . . introduced a new character, in the hope that Americans who hadn't tuned in for a while would pay attention once more. He announced his running mate, the North Carolina senator John Edwards.
The move will certainly achieve what TV stunts aim for: a sudden surge in viewer interest. For the next few days, the Kerry campaign will garner more coverage than it has since the winter victories in Iowa and New Hampshire that set him on the road to the Democratic nomination. That will help, but will it be enough? This, after all, is a contest whose impact will be felt around the world; the stakes could not be higher. There are millions of people, far beyond America's shores, praying for change in November. Many of them are wondering: is John Kerry doing enough to beat George Bush?
Over the next few days the signs will be positive. Yesterday's decision was Kerry's first in the national spotlight, and he made the right one. If he had chosen either of the other two men said to be on his shortlist, we would now have grave reason to doubt his will to win. Congressman Dick Gephardt and Iowa governor Tom Vilsack would have been cosier choices; they are closer to Kerry in age and temperament. But neither would add lustre or excitement to a campaign that needs both.
The boyish-looking Edwards fought Kerry well in the primary campaign, serving up the best stump speech of any candidate. "He has vim and vigour, he's a great campaigner and a very charismatic guy," Eli Attie, a former aide to both Bill Clinton and Al Gore, told me yesterday.
In other words, Kerry has chosen a man utterly unlike himself. The positive spin is that Edwards complements Kerry, filling in his gaps.

Make no mistake about it: the world, weary of Bush's imperial tyranny, is voting for Kerry and Edwards.