Kerry Picks Edwards

By Margaret Lyons in News on Jul 6, 2004 4:17PM

Finally. John Kerry named John Edwards as his running mate this morning, shocking no one but disappointing the other 24 people on his not-that-short list.

By selecting Edwards, Kerry went with the smooth-talking Southern populist over more seasoned politicians in hopes of injecting vigor and small-town appeal to the Democratic presidential ticket. Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, calculated that he didn't need to add foreign policy heft to the ticket. Called aloof by his critics, reserved by his supporters, Kerry hopes Edwards adds blue-collar pizzaz to the Democratic team.

Let the games begin, fools. There was some talk about Kerry naming Republican John McCain as a running mate; McCain rejected any offer, and Republicans are totally eating that up.The Kerry website already reads Kerry-Edwards and has a bio for both Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth.

We'd like to suggest a veep dance-off—put Cheney's bionic heart to the test again Mr. Smooth Edwards. Old school rules.