Edwards campaign reaches Nassau Inn

Democratic Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina took his presidential campaign to Princeton last night, where he met his daughter, Catharine Edwards '04, and about 70 students at the Nassau Inn.

Greeting many students by name, Edwards gradually worked his way to the front of the small room to switch off the microphone and await his daughter, who introduced the senator simply as "my dad."

"I'm here campaigning," Sen. Edwards told The Daily Princetonian. "I want [college students] to be involved and I want to hear their ideas. I don't just want to talk to them — I want to listen to them."

The campaign

The one-term senator with two decades experience as a trial lawyer officially announced his candidacy earlier this week.

One of 10 Democratic presidential candidates, Edwards expressed confidence about the upcoming primary elections.

"I feel better about the campaign at this moment than I have at any other time, and I know I could beat George Bush," he said.

Despite his optimism, Edwards has received single-digit support in recent national polls.

His daughter, who spent the summer campaigning with her family, organized last night's small fundraiser with a group of Princeton students.

The suggested $44 contribution was expected to cover the cost of the event.

During his brief speech, Edwards criticized President Bush for his lack of vision. He claimed the president "fundamentally misunderstands what America's role is in the world," and has alienated allies and shunned international coalitions.

Referring to Washington as an "echo chamber" lacking fresh ideas, Edwards asked his audience to share suggestions with him.

Foreign policy

Edwards responded to a range of foreign policy questions concerning U.S. policy toward the global AIDS epidemic, recent failed World Trade Organization talks, rebuilding Afghanistan and war in Iraq.

When asked about the United States' deteriorating relations with Latin America, Edwards replied that Bush has treated "some of our most important democratic partners" like "a redheaded stepchild," provoking laughter from the crowd.

Some students were impressed by the senator's responses.

"It has excited me so much that there is someone articulate and educated who knows about the issues and knows his own opinions and isn't reading off cue cards," Teniqua Crawford '04 said. "I've never been interested in American politics until now, and I really do think he cares."

Student response

Student coordinators led by Catharine Edwards were pleased by the turnout and student response.

"From my experience of the last week or so, people have been really receptive and excited," Catharine Edwards said. "In a way I expected students to be less engaged than they are."

Owen Conroy '05, president of the College Democrats, believed Edwards could find support on Princeton's campus.

'Princeton connection'

"I think that especially with Senator Edwards' Princeton connection there is a lot of room for him to be very popular here on campus," Conroy said. "Much of Princeton's student body is very receptive to the message of the Democratic Party and very progressive, liberal ideas."

Throughout his campaign, Edwards has emphasized his smalltown roots and homegrown American values, which his daughter referred to as the centerpieces of his campaign.

"The idea behind the campaign is that dad grew up in a tiny mill town. His dad was a mill worker and his mother had odd jobs to make ends meet. He was the first in his family to go to college," she said.

"He basically lived the American dream, and he's very much in touch with the mainstream of America and the voices that aren't usually heard in politics," she said.