Is Edwards a vulnerable candidate?
From Brian Todd
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- On the surface, John Edwards doesn't present the image of a man with vulnerabilities. But even John Kerry zeroed in on Edwards' lack of experience in January.
"When I came back from Vietnam in 1969 ladies and gentlemen, I'm not sure if John Edwards was out of diapers then yet, or not. I'm truly not sure. I don't know," Kerry said while campaigning before the Iowa caucuses.
Then, Kerry immediately backed off, saying, "I truly don't want to be negative, with that comment I made. It was not meant to be negative. I don't want to go that road. I think what's appropriate to recognize is that he's a very talented person, I like him a great deal."
But John Kerry had voiced what many observers believe is one of John Edwards' principal weaknesses as a national candidate.
"I think if he has a weakness, it's national security, defense. He lacks a lot of experience there. I think the Republicans will try to exploit that and say, 'These are dangerous times. We can't have a VP who doesn't have an extensive background in national security issues,'" says CNN political analyst Stuart Rothenberg.
But analysts CNN spoke to say there are other pitfalls out there that Edwards will have to counter, including one part of his resume that he promotes as positive: His reputation for fighting for the little guy in court.
"Edwards' biggest problem is probably his background as a trial lawyer. A lot of business people, a lot of doctors will find that offensive -- that he made his millions essentially at their expense," says Hastings Wyman of the Southern Political Report.
Edwards may have to play defense sooner rather than later. Here's what the Republican National Committee hit on in a statement just hours after Kerry announced his choice:
"Who is John Edwards? A disingenuous, unaccomplished liberal and friend to personal injury trial lawyers."
Then there's the man Edwards will be measured directly against. And while the boyish senator's optimism and exuberance may give him a cosmetic edge, observers say, "Watch out."
"Edwards will know debating techniques. He will be smooth, he will be articulate. But Cheney is a man who knows facts," says Wyman.
Even in the South, political analysts say Edwards is a mixed blessing. They point out that Edwards may give the campaign a broad boost in some states, but in his home state of North Carolina -- where he declined to run for re-election to the Senate this year partly because he wasn't polling well there -- he may not give Kerry the edge over President Bush.
