John Edwards Political Party Democratic Party Current Position Trial Lawyer, Director of the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity Age 55   (June 10th, 1953) Hometown Robbins, NC Religion Methodist Elections Straw Poll   Compare John Edwards to:      Joe Biden Hillary Clinton Chris Dodd John Edwards Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Barack Obama Bill Richardson Sam Brownback Jim Gilmore Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney Tom Tancredo Tommy Thompson Fred Thompson    Vote for John Edwards

PERSONAL

Spouse (1977-present): Elizabeth Anania
Children: Wade (1979-1996, deceased) Cate, Emma Claire, Jack.

EDUCATION

• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, J.D., 1977
• North Carolina State University, B.A. in textile technology, 1974
• Clemson University, transferred
• North Moore High School

PROFESSIONAL

• Law Clerk, Office of Judge Franklin T. Dupree Jr., United States District Court for the Eastern District (1977-1978)
• Associate, Dearborn & Ewing, Nashville, TN (1978-1981)
• Associate, Tharrington, Smith & Hargrove, Raleigh, NC (1981-1983) – gained national attention as a prosecutor in medical malpractice cases.
• Partner, Tharrington, Smith & Hargrove, Raleigh, NC (1984-1992)
• Founder, Edwards & Kirby, LLP, Raleigh, NC (1993-1998) – became known as the top plaintiff’s attorney in NC.
• Author, Four Trials

POLITICAL

• Senator, United States Senate, 1998-2004.

• Believes in a constitutionally protected right to choose—even partial-birth abortion.
  
  
• Opposed criminal penalties for harming an unborn fetus—penalties treating the fetus as a person—in the commission of another crime.
  
  
• Opposed a ban on abortions in military hospitals.
  
  

• Opposes same-sex marriage but supports civil unions.
  
  
• Opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
  
  
• Has supported adding sexual orientation to the definition of hate crimes.
  
  
• Supports teaching young children about homosexuality and equal rights in school.
  
  
• Wants to get rid of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.
  
  
• Believes strongly in separation of church and state; would not oppose his faith on the American people.
  
  
• Supports individual states making their own laws on civil unions and gay marriage.
  
  
• Supports dramatic revision of the Patriot Act – feels the President is not above the law and should not spy on Americans.
  
  

• Supports the death penalty and believes it should be a state by state decision. Also supports requiring more DNA testing for all federal executions.
  
  
• Feels that our justice system is not color blind.
  
  
• Supports eliminating the mandatory minimum sentencing for non violent crimes.
  
  
• Accepts that gun ownership and hunting is a way of life in rural America, but supports renewing the assault weapons ban citing that you don’t need an AK 47 to hunt.
  
  
• Believes guns are about independence and that is not to be altered, but supports background checks at gun shows, and feels criminals and kids should have limits regarding guns.
  
  

• Opposes decriminalizing marijuana, saying it sends the wrong signal.
  
  
• Supports national ban on smoking in public places.
  
  
• Is against lowering the drinking age from 21.
  
  
• Supports drug courts and alternatives to incarceration, as well as drug + job counseling.
  
  
• Admits having smoked marijuana.
  
  

• Has called the U.S. Federal Budget a “moral document” to end American poverty.
  
  
• Supported increased funding for education, health care and homeland security.
  
  
• Advocated rolling back the Bush tax cuts for high-income earners.
  
  
• Advocated new tax cuts for middle-income earners.
  
  
• Voted against the 2003 Bush tax cuts.
  
  
• Has called for a minimum wage increase to at least $6.65.
  
  
• Voted against phasing out the estate tax.
  
  
• Voted in favor of increased tax deductions for college tuition costs.
  
  
• Wants more funds for education, health care, and defense.
  
  
• Supports rolling back the Bush tax cuts and addressing real priorities.
  
  
• Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts.
  
  
• Eliminate all tax breaks for outsourcing jobs and offer tax incentives to keep jobs in America.
  
  
• Feels public campaign finance would reduce the length of campaigns.
  
  
• Supports vigorously prosecuting voter suppression efforts.
  
  
• Believes the minimum wage should be increased at the state level, due to federal inaction.
  
  
• Says he would accept minimum wage as President.
  
  
• Does not support privatizing social security or raising the retirement age. Believes the cap should be raised.
  
  
• Supports tax cuts for the middle class, not multimillionaires.
  
  

• Wants universal kindergarten for 4 year olds, and free attendance at all community colleges and public universities.
  
  
• Supports paid tuition for all students in exchange for 10hrs/week of work.
  
  
• Supports individual school prayer, not teacher led prayer.
  
  
• Believes No Child Left Behind is vastly underfunded, and that expertise and resources should be brought in for failing schools.
  
  
• Supports higher pay for teachers, especially in low income schools.
  
  
• Voted YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors.
  
  

• Opposes developing more nuclear power in the U.S.
  
  
• Believes the oil companies should be investigated.
  
  
• Wants greenhouse emissions reduced by 80% by 2050.
  
  
• Thinks the public should give up SUVs and make other sacrifices to deal with the climate crisis.
  
  
• Wants to cap carbon emissions and invest in carbon sequestration.
  
  
• Thinks Katrina residents should get paid to rebuild.
  
  
• Supports investigating and enforcing clean air laws against refineries.
  
  
• Supports protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
  
  

• Has supported universal coverage for kids, now supports coverage for all by 2009.
  
  
• Feels we should fully fund finding a cure for AIDS.
  
  
• Wants to end Bush’s tax cuts in order to fund health care.
  
  
• Believes mental health should be treated just as physical health.
  
  
• Supports allowing prescription drugs into the US from Canada.
  
  
• Wants to end the $250 registration fee for Veterans getting health care.
  
  

• Supports legal status and a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
  
  
• Advocates working with Mexico to improve border security and stem illegal trafficking.
  
  
• Believes we shouldn’t allow illegal immigrants to have drivers licenses, unless they are on the path to citizenship.
  
  
• Supports more technology at the border, but wants to address underlying causes of illegal immigration as well.
  
  
• Feels undocumented workers deserve the same rights as American workers.
  
  
• Believes we should allow illegal immigrants already in the country to pay a fine and learn English to achieve citizenship.
  
  

• Medical/Science - Supports expanded federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
  
  
• Medical/Science - Wants to provide incentives for students to go to nursing school.
  
  
• Arts - Supports the National Endowment for the Arts.
  
  
• Personal - Doesn’t want your vote if you wouldn’t vote for a woman or black person.
  
  
• Personal - Prays daily, but doesn’t believe prayer can prevent bad things.
  
  
• Voting Record - http://www.vote smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=21107
  
  

• Advocates ending the war through Congress defunding it.
  
  
• Opposed the “surge” in U.S. troops in Iraq.
  
  
• Has said it is not naïve to think Iraq can become a democracy, but that failed policies have diminished its likelihood.
  
  
• Has said that “changing course in Iraq is the first step in restoring America's ability to provide moral leadership in the world.”
  
  
• Apologized for voting in favor of Iraq war authorization resolution.
  
  
• Thinks attention to Bin Laden was diverted because of Iraq, and maintains no connection between 9/11 and Saddam Hussein.
  
  
• Feels our policy regarding relations with Latin America is either to disengage or bully.
  
  
• Believes that America ought to lead an international effort to make primary school education available to every single one of the 100 million children in the world, largely in Africa, who have no education whatsoever.
  
  
• Says we should close Guantanamo, end torture, and comply with the Geneva Convention.
  
  
• Thinks the GOP candidates are Bush on steroids, and that all Democratic candidates would end the war.
  
  
• Wants to keep the troops at the embassy and border, but out of the civil war in Iraq.
  
  

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John Edwards not interested in US vice presidential role: report   7:45 am on Jun 6, 2008

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Washington diary: Edwards endorses   7:40 am on May 15, 2008

Richardson on Edwards Endorsing Obama   6:53 am on May 15, 2008

John Edwards backs Obama as top Democrats rally round   11:30 pm on May 14, 2008

Edwards stands by ex-rival Obama's side at Grand Rapids rally   11:18 pm on May 14, 2008

NH Edwards delegate announces he's supporting Obama   7:36 pm on May 14, 2008

Edwards endorses Obama in move to unify support   7:10 pm on May 14, 2008

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