I attend a John Edwards campaign event

A bit over five hours from South Bend, IN, Burlington, Iowa turns out to be a beautiful, old Mississippi River town of the kind that many of us who hail from the midwest cherish.

The venue picked for the event was the Drake Restaurant - specificly, the large outdoor section of it which overlooks the river. It was a gorgeous, sunny afternoon and something like two hundred people were there.

After a while, a forty foot motorcoach with "John Ewards 08" on the front and "Fighting For One America" on its side rolled into view. Moments later, John and Elizabeth Edwards made their entrance(s) to enthusiastic applause.

Elizabeth (looking great) introduced John in her usual manner. John made some brief opening remarks, mostly centered on creating a new energy economy and aggressively addressing climate change. Then he took questions from the audience.

Burlington, like many other cities in the rural Midwest, has experienced hardship and challenges. Senator Edwards addressed these concerns head on. Paraphrasing, since he's from a part of the country that has suffered in much the same way, his policy proposals focus on dealing with these problems. Trade issues, energy independence, educational opportunity, a fair tax system, the right for workers to organize, a minimum wage that is a living wage, as well a specific program for rural America - all these factors figure in.

Naturally, the event was far too brief for my taste. Something I noticed from seeing videos of Senator Edwards at events like these - the way he relates to people asking questions or making statements - was certainly confirmed by seeing him in person. Though he lacks the "you're the only person here" demeanor of Bill Clinton, he has an intense focus of attention to whomever is addressing him. I have yet to ever witness him dodge a question and he's not afraid to answer in a way that might reasonably not please the questioner. His approach is as respectful as I've ever seen.

So, the event ended and John Edwards made his slow exit talking briefly to many people, shaking hands, being photographed, signing autographs, generally heading back to the bus which will take hime to the next event.

I eventually positioned myself by the bus door. As Senator Edwards was about to climb the steps, I stuck out my hand and said "I came here from South Bend this morning to see you. And I'll be back here to help caucus for you". He shook my hand, then noticed the One Corps shirt I was wearing. He looked me in the eye and said "Thank you for that".

A lot of my friends are intrigued that I would have driven ten hours today to have been at this event. I say it's worth some effort to shake the hand of the next President of the United States.

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

Don Wheeler
South Bend, IN