"Surprising star of Kerry ad -- Edwards"

[Literate Tar Heel]

Charlotte Observer, 7/17

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/9176522.htm

LOS ANGELES - Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards is starring in an unusual role in this year's campaign -- television commercial spokesman for the man who picked him, John Kerry.

A 30-second commercial, entitled "Three Minutes," is now airing in at least 18 key states, including North Carolina. The ad centers around a video clip of Edwards praising Kerry during a speech in Ohio in the days just after Kerry announced Edwards was joining the ticket.

<snip>

"If you have any questions about what John Kerry is made of," Edwards says in the commercial, "just spend three minutes with the men who served with him 30 years ago, who still stand by his side. They saw up close when their lives were at risk that this man is a leader."

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/9176522.htm

[Dirty Hippie]

1. I've seen this commercial

It is fantastic.

[Hubert Flottz]

2. I watched it this morning here!

It is good! The GOPers are spending a bundle of the taxpayer's dollars to win here in Wv! I don't think Bush will carry Wv!

[calico1]

4. They are throwing money away in CT

too for some inexplicable reason. They are not going to win this state. They keep showing this one ad repeatedly. Its stupid. Kerry on the other hand has hardly shown any here which makes sense since CT is sold blue. Definitely seems the Kerry campaign is using their money more wisely.

[against all enemies]

15. Throwing money away? 3 of 5 representatives are Republican assholes.

As long as Bush can control the House and the Senate there will be no investigations into his secretive government. he needs for the Pukes to come out and vote so that Nancy, Robby and Chris can come back to Washing ton and give his white House cover.

[calico1]

17. These are Presidential ads

I am referring to. The Reps put out there own ads when they are running.

[against all enemies]

20. It's all the same, they have to get the base out.

Plus Ct Repukes give huge money to Bush, he has to show something to keep them happy and donating.

[calico1]

21. oh, ok. In any event

its good he is spending money here. The more he spends where he is not going to win the less he has to spend in battleground states.

[Eric J in MN]

3. Help them air it more often,

Donate at:
www.johnkerry.com

[chieftain]

5. Edwards sells the ticket

This is clearly the best commercial of the year . It showcases Kerry's character and Edwards spirit . It and the ticket are winners .

[Hoping4Change]

8. Hi there Chieftain.

Welcome to DU. Glad youre here!:hi:

[chieftain]

9. Thanks

It's great to be among good people who are going to help change the course of the USA .

[Hoping4Change]

10. It really is an oassis of sanity. Even though I sometimes want to

poke someone in the eye for their opinion, I really like this site. But I kid you, I love diversity of opinion here. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

[wicket]

6. I got chills from it

It's a really great spot, everyone should check it out - http://www.johnkerry.com/videos/ It's over to the right, called "Three Minutes". Wow! :loveya:

[Renew Deal]

7. It's a terrific ad.

[Jane Eyre]

11. John Edwards reminds me of Robert Kennedy

Something about the look and the mannerisms. And the charisma!!!

Here's an interesting quote from the article:

It appears to be the first time since 1968 that a vice presidential candidate has starred in an ad about his party's presidential nominee, according to Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a University of Pennsylvania scholar and expert on presidential campaigns.

OK, I give up. It doesn't say which party ran these ads. Who was the vice presidential candidate in 1968 who ran these ads?

[AP]

12. Here's why he reminds me of RFK: in '68 when all the other candidates

were trying to run on being against Vietnam, RFK went to Apalachia to talk to people who lived in tarpaper shacks, and then he went to South Africa and told college students they should fight against apartheid.

At a time when nobody else acted like they cared, RFK put his finger on the pulse and fought against poverty and racism.

Sound familiar?

Here's the U.S. presidential election, 1968
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election%2C_1968

Richard Milhous Nixon born in California (W)
301
31,710,470
43.2%
Republican
Spiro Theodore Agnew of Maryland (301)

Hubert Horatio Humphrey of Minnesota
191
30,898,055
42.6%
Democrat
Edmund Sixtus Muskie of Maine (191)

George Corley Wallace of Alabama
46
9,906,473
12.9%
American Independent
Curtis Emerson LeMay of Ohio (46)

Other
0
972,139
1.3%

[Jane Eyre]

13. That's the ticket

You are right. It is more than just the appearance, it is the stand on the issues. Sort of all goes together, especially when you see him work a crowd.

Here's another article about John Edwards from the Charlotte edition of Creative Loafing that you may find interesting:

http://www.charlotte.creativeloafing.com/news_feature.html

As a person who spent dozens of hours every week listening to politicians pontificate, there wasn't much that impressed me. But this, I'd never seen before. Neither, apparently, had those folks at Green's. Several held their forgotten lunch plates in their hands, their food growing cold. He had them glued in a way that was almost eerie.

From across the room, I couldn't make out exactly what he was saying, which really wasn't important, anyway. For Edwards, speaking was more of an aerobic exercise. His arms and body carved out emphasis for his words in the space around him with such intensity that you were never quite certain he wasn't going to grab someone by the collar and shake him to drive home the point.

It was the kind of theatrics normally best enjoyed about 10 rows back from a stage, and if Edwards wasn't so clearly comfortable in his own skin, the raw emotion of his performance would have been too intense for a small space like Green's. As I watched him, the hair on my arms stood on end and I got goosebumps. I was seeing something rare, something I'd never seen before and haven't seen since, and I knew it. This guy could be President some day, I told Kaplan. I've been writing that ever since, no matter what the numbers said.

[AP]

14. The reason Edwards is so compelling: conviction.

As a lawyer, as a politician, I have no doubt that everything he says and does is so compelling is because he believes iin every word he says and does and because he knows it's the right thing to do, and he knows where it's all coming from: from a desire to see everyone have a chance to succeed, and to make sure that nobody suffers just because someone bigger and stronger wants to make them suffer in order to profit without earning that profit.

[SpiralHawk]

16. The ad is running regularly in NM

I have seen it at least a dozen times, and I do not watch that much TV. It's all over the state -- and in my view it is highly effective.

It is - kaBoing - a positive ad. It gives a damn strong argument to look into who Kerry really is, and to share in the confidence that Edwards has in him. Very compelling TV mini-theater.

Edwards is a breath of fresh air in this race -- but he is hardly a lightweight breeze. On TV he very definitely appears to have substance, passion, and clarity.

In my book, the ad is a WINNER.

An you can be your bippy that Dem. Governor Richardson will help -- in legal and moral ways -- to deliver the Land of Enchantment for Kerry/Edwards.

[PopSixSquish]

18. I Just Watched it on the Kerry/Edwards Site

and I got goosebumps. Especially when Edwards talks about John Kerry leaving no American behind. Great ad!

[JI7]

19. it's one of the best ads out there

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

22. It's running here in Colorado too.

I absolutely LOVE this ad. There's also one here that says "Born in Colorado...."

Gotta love that one too. Maybe we CAN turn this state blue this year!