John Edwards was one of the biggest losers on Election Day. Not only did he fail to carry a single Southern state for the Democratic ticket, but John Kerry's vice-presidential running mate also turned in what many Washington insiders considered a graceless and discomfiting performance early this morning when he defiantly refused to concede to the Republicans and raised his fist repeatedly as he promised to fight to the last vote. Many thought he looked immature and ill at ease. In addition, Edwards' Senate seat in North Carolina, where he passed up a bid for re-election, went to the Republicans. This helped them increase their majority on Capitol Hill.
Indeed, Edwards' home state went for Bush by 13 points, the exact margin by which he carried North Carolina in 2000, with no home state official on the Democratic ticket. Political operatives from both parties this morning are speculating about how a Gephardt selection might have changed the race, particularly if Gephardt had focused on hammering a jobs message in the Midwest, where it turns out the election was lost for Democrats. Reflecting on Edwards' performance in this election, one Democratic told the US News Bulletin this morning, "Edwards is done."
