Behind every great man
By the Wolf Blitzer Reports staff
BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- Two of the words you might hear associated with Elizabeth Edwards are "real" and "unpretentious." For this political wife now in the spotlight -- there's no other way to be.
"If you try to pretend you're something else, be something else, you're gonna be uncomfortable and voters are gonna sense this," Edwards says.
She's a bit of a contrast to Teresa Heinz Kerry, who makes no bones about speaking her mind. The confidence is same, but Elizabeth Edwards has a different style.
"I don't know whether the 'outspoken' and 'direct' are the right description of me. I do know that I try to speak with people openly and if it doesn't work, that's who I am. I wouldn't change it," says Mrs. Edwards.
Elizabeth Edwards was born in Florida and spent part of her childhood in Japan where her Navy pilot father was stationed.
She went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both undergraduate and law school, and married John Edwards just days after taking the bar exam.
A successful legal career followed, along with children Wade and Cate.
But Wade's death in 1996 rocked the family. As Elizabeth Edwards put it, "The music went out of our lives."
In her late 40s she had two more children -- Emma Claire and Jack -- often seen on the campaign trail -- which can sometimes be a challenge.
"What you have to do is just prepare them and hope that you have taught them a little bit of manners. That doesn't mean that they won't occasionally take the cheese heads they've been given by the staff and head butt one another," says Edwards.
As for her role, Elizabeth Edwards says she sees herself as a sounding board for her husband -- and alerts him to things she thinks he should know. There have also been solo campaign appearances -- something she may do more of as the presidential race moves into its final weeks.
"This is such an important election that I have expressed my willingness to do what ever I need to do to get this ticket elected in November," says Edwards
