In contrast to Linda Lowen's observations about how media often characterize political wives, Edwards demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of technology and technology's impact on policy and politics. And confirming that she is a thought leader in her own right, Edwards said she was "delighted" to be involved with the Obama campaign on health care issues.
Calling herself an "insomniac," Edwards acknowledged that she comments on sites regularly, using a pseudonym. She said that she intended to continue interacting with the political-digiterati via the American Progress blog.
Shortly into the Edwards chat, ericagee tweeted: "So, Obama/*Elizabeth* Edwards '08, anyone?" and Noah Kunin replied: "Obama/Elizabeth Edwards would be an extremely powerful ticket. E. Edwards proving her chops here."
That sentiment was reflected in a grasp of issues beyond her trademarked health care issue as well as her humor and what appears to be genuine empathy: "people who are most affected by government are the least able to participate."
Just as Edwards was about to sign-off, husband John walked in. (He'd just flown home from someplace unstated.) She pulled him onto the sofa and pushed him in front of the computer, as he playfully protested "I just walked innnn..." He gave her a quick sideways glance -- and grinned as the crowd in New York laughed with him -- before chatting with the estimated 1500 in the PDF crowd.
"I think we did some things very well online," he said in response to a question, contending, like many others, that the internet is a major factor in the 2008 race. He asserted that the reason the Obama campaign backed out of public financing is their extensive grassroots financial network.
Both husband and wife were relaxed and dressed casually, like "real" people, not political actors. This is not the way most of us "see" politicians when their images are beamed into our living rooms lives, via the television screen or a YouTube clip. The dress is formal (even when it's studiously "casual"); the language is scripted (even when it's studiously "casual"); and the time on the screen is measured in seconds, not a half hour.
Might the candidacy have been different had they been able to capitalize on this genuineness, this likability?
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