Choosing Edwards gives Kerry a fighting chance
US presidential hopeful John Kerry's choice of John Edwards as his running mate is, more than anything else, a nod to pragmatism.
Senator Edwards might be a freshman senator whom Senator Kerry late last year attacked as too inexperienced while both were campaigning for the Democratic nomination. But he is also acknowledged as one of the party's most charismatic speakers, a southerner in the tradition of Bill Clinton - someone who can exude empathy and sound credible while talking about the plight of the working class.
It is not clear that Senator Edwards' presence will be enough to carry the crucial swing states of the midwest and the south, though no one thinks it will hurt. These are the states where fear of job losses from overseas outsourcing runs deep and where Senator Edwards' previous opposition to free-trade deals - along with his humble beginnings - may help.
At the very least, it will bring the battle to areas the Republicans might have taken for granted this November. The reaction to the Kerry-Edwards ticket as they travel over the next week through Ohio, Florida, West Virginia and, finally, Senator Edwards' home state of North Carolina should provide an early indication of how well the populist turn will play.
On just about every issue - from expanding health care to rolling back tax cuts for the rich - the two candidates generally agree. On trade, Senator Kerry has backed free-trade agreements that Senator Edwards has opposed, while Senator Edwards has backed subsidies for farmers. Clearly, the Democrats seek to frame the election as a referendum on the economy, but it remains to be seen how strong the protectionist rhetoric from the pair will be. Some leaning in this direction is likely as campaigning heats up in the heartland. We may even see the pushing of policy proposals such as ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas.
For those who are watching from this part of the world, which relies so heavily on exports to American and European markets - and on the job creation that outsourcing brings - any indication that trade barriers will go up under a Kerry-Edwards presidency may be worrying. Yet some comfort can be taken from the fact Senator Kerry is in the end a free-trader who has voted for deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.