Edwards Rejects the Money Factor
At a campaign stop in Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Monday, a man raised his hand and told John Edwards that Michelle Obama said he was a great candidate, but couldn’t win because he didn’t have enough money. Mrs. Obama’s remark, he said, was made at an event in Pocahontas, Iowa.
The man’s account—though not confirmed—elicited a strong response from the Senator.
“We’re not going to have an auction in Iowa, we’re going to have an election,” he said. “I just want to say how unbelievably weak it is to be arguing that you should be the candidate because you have more money than the other candidate.”
Edwards continued to chastise those who divert attention from the issues and focus only on a candidate’s war chest. Yet, fair or not, his campaign financing has become the subject of debate among political strategists, who question whether or not he can compete effectively in the larger state primaries. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama reached $27,859,861 and $21,343,292 in the third quarter, respectively—and are expected to have each raised over $100 million by the year’s end on their presidential campaigns. Edwards, whose campaign is publicly financed, raised $7,157,233 in the third quarter, and is expected to close the year with about $44 million.
“When you’re resorting to arguments about how much money somebody has, you’re in a bad place,” he said. “When I win the Iowa caucuses, the money will pour in. It’s how it always works.”
Offering a final exclamation mark, Elizabeth Edwards, who was seated directly behind him, stood up and took the microphone.
“You may not be surprised,” she said to her husband, “but I am surprised and disappointed in Michelle.”
done
Tags: barack obama, campaign finance, Elizabeth Edwards, Iowa caucuses, john edwards, Michelle Obama
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[...] Click here to watch the Edwards’ response. [...]
It’s unbelievable to me for a candidate to resort to discussing amount of fund raising in order to discredit another candidate. Barak Obama’s wife should keep her mouth shut. Loose lips sink ships.
Keep on keeping on message. They are nervous, but you are right!
How true !! Campaigns should be publicly financed to keep the system clean of obvious bribes, lauded as “contributions” … Edwards success is the news of the day!!
Edwards took the bait. He should have moved forward but he let his emotion play his position.
“Speaking to a crowd of voters in Iowa on Monday, Edwards was questioned by a man who said that Barack Obama’s wife Michelle told the man’s daughter — who was sitting right next to him – that Edwards was a great candidate, but couldn’t win because he has less money.”
Listen to it, it was a trap set by the person asking the question (publicly?), totally transparent.
John, you should know your opponent better than that. Even if you feel Michelle could say it, a comment presented like that would never hold up in court. There is no empirical evidence to support it, the comment is not credible.
Furthermore the comment is out of character, Michelle has nothing to gain.
The man was doing nothing more than starting a fire, he should be ashamed.
Great response, John, if Michelle said that. Did she? Or was the questioner a plant by your or Hillary’s campaign so you can publcly make your statement? Why is everyone assuming the questioner is trustworthy. I love Hillary, but it sounds like something that should come from Hillary’s campain to try and knock out two birds with one stone. We won’t kow if Mchelle said that unless we hear it from her mouth or it is verified, e.g. by other people. Stop the dirty tricks, you all. Those are Republican tactics.
Why would I want to respond to a Republician network like Fox?
I THINK JOHN EDWARDS SET UP THIS PERSON TO ASK HIM THIS QUESTION.
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