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THE CHET EDWARDS BOOMLET.
I'm not sure if I can really fulfill Josh Marshall's request to explain the Chet Edwards boomlet, but here are a few data points:
1) In a meeting with The American Prospect, Rep. Artur Davis, who's one of the Democratic Party's more promising young politicians and is also a key player in the DCCC's Southern efforts, said, unprompted, that he thought Edwards was the best southern politician in the country.
2) Edwards serves a more Republican district than any other Democratic congressman in the country. According to the Cook Political Report, his district is +17.7 Republican. Bush carried it with 70 percent of the vote. Edwards held it, even after DeLay specifically targeted him in the midterm redistricting and redrew the lines to force him out of office. Edwards doesn't come from a famed political family, isn't a celebrity, and isn't extremely wealthy. The guy is just a really, really good politician.
3) Members of Congress love Edwards. I don't know why this is, really, but Davis signs his praises without prompting, Pelosi has pushed him for the vice presidency -- the guy clearly makes a good impression, and has strong relationships with his fellow legislators.
4) Edwards is extremely well-networked with the liberal intellectual class in DC. He's the sort of Congressman who drops by think tank lunches and maintains continual relationships -- not as a source but as an interlocutor -- with interesting, influential folks around town. I've been at some lunches with him, and he's an impressively smart guy.
On the other hand, representing one of the most conservative districts in the country doesn't lead to a terribly progressive voting record. And as Dylan Matthews explained at Tapped, Edwards' voting record isn't the sort of thing that really fits with Obama's message. So I'd be surprised to see him get the veep nod.
COMMENTS (7)
Drawing him into the veep position moderates Obama (who still appears awfully liberal to lots of fly-over country--may not be an issue in this election, but still).
It could also help get a whip-smart blue dog pushing a more liberal agenda and a more liberal message.
On the other hand, it would also open up that seat for a more competetive race, making it more likely that a Republican would take it in the next election.
Posted by: Kevin S. Willis | August 6, 2008 10:45 AM
I wonder if the biggest obstacle to his being VP is his last name. Strikes me that low-info voters would think it was another 'trial lawyer.'
Posted by: Karl Steel | August 6, 2008 11:06 AM
Actually, Texas state law would allow Chet Edwards to run for his House seat and the vice-presidency at the same time. Lyndon Johnson convinced the Texas Legislature to change the law specifically for him so that he could seek his Senate seat and the vice-presidency simultaneously.
Of course, there would probably be political ramifications to Edwards not resigning his seat if Obama picked him: tethering himself to Obama could hurt him in his conservative district despite having a weak opponent this year; if someone ran a poll and it showed him not doing well in his House re-election how that would effect perception of the ticket; deciding whether to split his time between campaigning for VP and for Rep. and whether that'd be seen as hedging by the national press; etc.
But legally, he would be OK.
Posted by: Anon. | August 6, 2008 11:15 AM
I wonder if the biggest obstacle to his being VP is his last name. Strikes me that low-info voters would think it was another 'trial lawyer.'
It could work to his advantage in West Virginia, since Edwards is fairly popular here. A running joke in WV is that when people vote for Alan Mollohan many of them think they're still voting for his father. Name recognition means a lot. (Not that I expect there to be any scenario in which Obama will carry WV, and I'm not being entirely serious anyway.)
Posted by: raging red | August 6, 2008 12:42 PM
"And as Dylan Matthews explained at Tapped, Edwards' voting record isn't the sort of thing that really fits with Obama's message."
But then Obama's voting record doesn't actually fit with his message either.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 6:46 PM
I think visuals are a big part of the VP game. That's why Kathleen Sebelius is a yes, Ted Strickland is a no.
Look at Chet Edwards. He's cute as a bug. He gets a big yes for that, nevermind his smarts.
Posted by: KathyF | August 7, 2008 5:34 AM
As a former resident of Edwards' district (and a baby-eating bleeding-heart liberal atheist) I feel the need to comment. Chet Edwards may be a great politician, but that's not why he was elected. Chet Edwards is an Aggie, and his district is Aggieland. Residents of his district place their loyalties as follows: (least to most loyal)
American - Texan - Aggie
It would be very cool to see how having an Aggie on the ticket would effect Obama's chances in Texas. I would love to hear conservative Texans' excuses for voting *against* an Aggie.
'06 *woop*
Posted by: John G | August 7, 2008 9:09 AM