Monday, November 29, 2004
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Edwards to End Term With Farewell Tour
Mon Nov 29, 1:57 PM ET
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Democrat John Edwards (news - web sites) is pondering his future as his tenure as a North Carolina senator winds down, but says even his campaign for vice president fit his view of public service.
Edwards has planned a three-day farewell tour around North Carolina this week to thank those who sent him to Washington.
"I want to make sure North Carolinians know how much I appreciate and am honored to have represented them," Edwards said last week.
"I saw my job as helping make sure ... that the voices of regular North Carolinians were heard and someone was fighting for them and trying to help them."
After his Senate term ends — Republican Richard Burr won the election for the seat that Edwards gave up to run for vice president with John Kerry (news - web sites) — Edwards will concentrate first on his wife's battle against breast cancer.
Edwards will be giving up a seat that no one has held for very long. Democrat Sam Ervin's re-election in 1968 marked the last time someone kept the post for more than a term.
The 51-year-old Edwards has ideas about the path his party should take for the future.
He said the party needs to be sure that voters understand Democrats have the same values as the people Edwards grew up with in South and North Carolina, where Republicans have dominated national elections.
"I wish we'd had better chances, better opportunities (in the 2004 campaign) for me to talk about what my personal values are," Edwards said.
"How important my relationship with God is, how important my faith is in our day-to-day lives, the struggles my family's had in the past, plus what Elizabeth is facing now."
Democrats also need to reach out to those who voted for Bush, he said.
"In order for us to unite the country ... those voters have to believe that our values — my values and the values of other Democratic leaders — are the same values they believe in. That means we have to be touching them, reaching out to them."
Edwards said that even without a forum in the Senate he plans to keep a high profile.
"We've had lots of proposals and offers out there," he said. "The bottom line is: I have to sort my way through all of that stuff and figure out what makes the most sense and what's the best way to fight for these things I care about."
Edwards said he will continue to give speeches around the country and may publish another book. He also plans to build a new home near Chapel Hill.
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Edwards to End Term With Farewell Tour
Mon Nov 29, 1:57 PM ET
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Democrat John Edwards (news - web sites) is pondering his future as his tenure as a North Carolina senator winds down, but says even his campaign for vice president fit his view of public service.
Edwards has planned a three-day farewell tour around North Carolina this week to thank those who sent him to Washington.
"I want to make sure North Carolinians know how much I appreciate and am honored to have represented them," Edwards said last week.
"I saw my job as helping make sure ... that the voices of regular North Carolinians were heard and someone was fighting for them and trying to help them."
After his Senate term ends — Republican Richard Burr won the election for the seat that Edwards gave up to run for vice president with John Kerry (news - web sites) — Edwards will concentrate first on his wife's battle against breast cancer.
Edwards will be giving up a seat that no one has held for very long. Democrat Sam Ervin's re-election in 1968 marked the last time someone kept the post for more than a term.
The 51-year-old Edwards has ideas about the path his party should take for the future.
He said the party needs to be sure that voters understand Democrats have the same values as the people Edwards grew up with in South and North Carolina, where Republicans have dominated national elections.
"I wish we'd had better chances, better opportunities (in the 2004 campaign) for me to talk about what my personal values are," Edwards said.
"How important my relationship with God is, how important my faith is in our day-to-day lives, the struggles my family's had in the past, plus what Elizabeth is facing now."
Democrats also need to reach out to those who voted for Bush, he said.
"In order for us to unite the country ... those voters have to believe that our values — my values and the values of other Democratic leaders — are the same values they believe in. That means we have to be touching them, reaching out to them."
Edwards said that even without a forum in the Senate he plans to keep a high profile.
"We've had lots of proposals and offers out there," he said. "The bottom line is: I have to sort my way through all of that stuff and figure out what makes the most sense and what's the best way to fight for these things I care about."
Edwards said he will continue to give speeches around the country and may publish another book. He also plans to build a new home near Chapel Hill.
