Edwards didn’t give up without a fight

By Nicole Reed

The John Edwards campaign fell short Tuesday night in its effort to win the Democratic nomination, but he won’t be folding his campaign tent yet. Delegates at Western Illinois’ mock presidential election chose Edwards as the vice presidential running mate for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

But Edwards didn’t play second fiddle in Tuesday night’s activities without a fight, which is how the real John Edwards would have wanted it. Derek Jones put Edwards’ name in nomination for president.

“Edwards would make a good president because he wants to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home and provide health care to many Americans.” After his speech, Jones said he liked Edwards because he felt he reached out to younger people. And then he turned and walked into the crowd trying to hustle delegate votes for his candidate.

But it didn’t work. Obama won the nomination and will face Rudy Giuliani and candidates from the Libertarians and Green Party in next Monday’s mock general election.

D’Angelo Taylor, an Edwards campaign worker, said making Edwards the vice president on the Democratic ticket was a practical matter.

“Why not put together the two strongest people in the Democratic Party to help shape America, by helping us to only get stronger.” Taylor said both candidates have similar ideas. “Edwards has already lived the American dream. He has come from nothing to something.”

There were only a few quiet ‘nays’ when the roll was called on putting Edwards in the VP slot. So the road to the White House isn’t over yet for the attorney from meager South Carolina roots.

Reed is a student in Dr. Lisa Barr's Reporting I class.