The new urgency of John Edwards

The new urgency of John Edwards

A year ago, John Edwards flew to New Orleans to announce another run for the White House. The man America met as a Southern-twanged, hope-is-on-the-way, sunny son of a mill worker emerged in the Lower 9th Ward grimmer, better traveled and quicker to attack, his policies more ambitious, detailed and liberal.

The tone and manner were as if Edwards' persona had been transformed, or at least as if Edwards listened to different people now. Was that true?

"Yeah," he says. "I listen to me."

[...]

Rivals note that Edwards is also a legendary trial lawyer with a focus-group-honed skill for swaying juries. His political evolution coincides with a leftward drift in the Democratic electorate. Some of his top issues this campaign -- including global warming and poverty -- hardly show up in his six-year Senate record.

Why does what happened a year ago effected with John Edwards today? I suppose it makes sense because this is a man who is running to take control of our country.