http://sidewaysmencken.blogspot.com/2006/12/atypical-involvement.html

1) Competency — No other person out there has Richardson’s proven record of as a legisltor; a diplomat; a Cabinet officer; and as a state chief executive. All Democrats talk about is competency and the lack of it in the White House now. They need to put their money where their mouth is.

2) Demographics — Richardson represents the largest swing voting demographic in the country. Richardson can turn more red states blue than any other Democrat.

3) Likeability — Richardson is good guy. He is someone you could see yourself having a beer with. He takes the issues seriously, but doesn’t take himself too seriously.

He hasn’t been sitting still since 2004. He kept campaigning among key Dem constituencies, and he became director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina.

He’s essentially spent the last two years honing his anti-poverty argument and building a base of support.

I think he’s also being very savvy by downplaying Iraq and promoting his poverty initiatives. It lets him distinguish himself from all the other candidates who are obsessing over Iraq. And it lets him continue projecting the upbeat persona that is one of his winning traits.

He’s still short on details in a lot of areas. But it appears he has put a lot of time and effort into planning this campaign.

I go into this in more detail over at Midtopia.

John Edwards is one of the most decent human beings I have ever met. I think that counts. I’m not looking for a strategist to sit at the head of my country. I’m looking for a smart, capable, decent human being.