An email I just received from Elizabeth Edwards

[Jersey Devil]

Dear (my name omitted),

First, I want to thank each of you for the support you have given to John Kerry and John Edwards. You gave it in a thousand ways: coming to our events, volunteering to set up and clean up, working the phone banks, knocking on doors, contributing, blogging, standing on corners with signs, whatever it took. Your strength carried us through.

You may have heard that I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Your strength is carrying my family through too in this latest struggle, and this is a fight we will win. We have (and I say we because John has been with me every minute) started chemotherapy with tremendous confidence, confidence in our doctors, in our ability to face obstacles, and in our friends far and near who we know give us their thoughts and prayers and support today and will continue to do so in the months ahead.

So many of you have tried to reach me recently with your support, and I know that the Senate office and the Wade Edwards Learning Lab have been flooded with calls and e-mails. No complaints there, but in order to take a little pressure off of them, I have resurrected my old e-mail address at [e-mail], where you can reach me. I will e-mail periodic updates to you about my progress from there, if you would be interested in getting those. Treatment should last until about next June with follow-ups every three months or so.

I hope you understand how much your support has meant to us. This thank you is to our new and expanded family.

Elizabeth Edwards

[LisaM]

1. Can SHE run for President?

What an engaged, thoughtful, caring, empathetic, and intelligent woman.

My mother picked up signs from the convention that say "Elizabeth!" I still have mine and will keep it around for awhile.

[booksenkatz]

3. My husband would LOVE for her to run for prez

He always votes Dem but HATES politics -- he's rather a fatalist, que sera sera, etc. But one night, I had Elizabeth's speech on CSPAN in our office and he was absolutely mesmerized by her ability to talk intelligently and at length about any topic that was thrown to her. He raved about her and said she should definitely run for president, and believe me, that means something coming from him.

Our best to Mrs. Edwards in whatever she does, once this awful business is behind her!

[blue neen]

2. Elizabeth is courageous beyond description.

What a wonderful example for womankind (and mankind, too!).