on John Edwards

By Christine Dolan
Mirror.co.uk

Former CNN political director Christine Dolan is an insider in the race to claim the White House. She'll be blogging for Mirror.co.uk during the campaign - and here explains why forgotten man John Edwards is setting the agenda even after pulling out of the race

John Edwards chose New Orleans - epicentre of the Katrina disaster - to announce his presidential candidacy. And he returned to the city when he dropped out of the race a year later.

It was symbolic. A deliberate act acknowledging his commitment to America's poor - part of his and his wife Elizabeth's continuing campaign against poverty and for universal health care in the US.Their priorities are clear: engage with nations globally on poverty, health, climate change and energy use.

John Edwards’ firm belief is that the next American president must fundamentally understand that what Americans do connects with what happens abroad and vice versa. That visionary leadership is essential to America’s position in the world. Elizabeth wants to concentrate on a national health care system and a new energy policy.

The fact that they are now independent voices –speaking out on the same campaign issues but through a different prism - adds strength to their messages.

The Edwards are not part of the bitter racism, sexism and bickering between Obama and Clinton that has fatigued the American public. They can address the bigger picture in this country and across the world.

Last week John spoke at Massachusetts Institute of Technology about poverty in America and poverty globally. In Boston, at the same time, Gordon Brown was addressing an audience on poverty and economic development.

Equally, Edwards obtained commitments from both Obama and Clinton on eradicating poverty in America and globally, and elevating it in their administrations while having a similar discussion with Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

This week McCain travelled to places which most Republican front-runners ignore - the poorest regions of Kentucky, Ohio and Alabama.

The message there was about helping the disadvantaged, the poor, and uneducated. "Not because of any other reasons other than John McCain personally cares about poverty, education and helping the disadvantaged," says Charlie Black, McCain’s Chief Strategist.

Poverty in America was a central theme of Edwards campaign. John and Elizabeth elevated that battle not just in America, but now around the world.

They may be out of the race for the White House - but, right now, they are setting the poverty agenda globally.