Why John Edwards Is In Columbus, Kentucky

The Edwards roadshow is in Paducah, Kentucky right now preparing the hour-long trip to the tiny river town of Columbus.

Kentucky isn't one of them early primary states, so it's not easy to figure out what "Bank It On Iowa" Edwards is doing here. In fact, the joke in these circles today is that it's some dirty trick pulled by Hillary Clinton's campaign to keep Edwards down for a day.

Not really. Actually, thank Shawn Dixon of Columbia. When the Edwards campaign used the event organizing site "Eventful.com" to run a contest -- Edwards would go where the people wanted him to go -- Dixon led the charge to bring Edwards to Columbus. In doing so, his efforts beat out Los Angeles and Seattle, among other cities.

So here we are.

Other than thanking the good people of Columbus, Edwards wants the news coverage to emphasize his popularity in this rural hamlet in a Southern state won twice by Bill Clinton. The implied message: "Could Hillary Clinton campaign here?"

Comments

i think edwards is great, keep going

Posted by janna Cutright | October 4, 2007 12:42 PM

I heard that there are at least 1200 folks, maybe more, who showed up to see Edwards. What power the Internet has in bringing politicians directly to our front porches and BBQs'

Posted by Benn | October 4, 2007 1:52 PM

Hillary Clinton excites the Republican base like none of their candidates for president can. She can't win in places like Kentucky. John Edwards appeals to middle America. Hillary mocks us. I'm glad Edwards made this trip.

Posted by vox populi | October 4, 2007 2:15 PM

Over 1200 people in a little town of 229. This is a great story. There are so many people whose voices have been left out for so long, that it's not surprising to see this thirst to be heard.

We will never change things with the same old campaigning and money raising. People here in Montana are sick to death of TV ads. I say give everybody a TIVO and cut them out altogether.

Edwards breaks the mold. The first candidate ever to run on a populist platform who could unite town and country, rural and city; like William Jennings Bryan never could.

Go, John, Go.

Posted by MontanaMaven | October 4, 2007 3:18 PM

"Could Hillary Clinton campaign here?"

maybe so. The more important question is:

"Is Hillary Clinton Campaiging anywhere like this?"

No.

Posted by DrFrankLives | October 4, 2007 3:47 PM

"Could Hillary Clinton campaign here?"

maybe so. The more important question is:

"Is Hillary Clinton Campaiging anywhere like this?"

No.

First answer: No

Second answer: H--- no

Hillary Clinton is too "consulted" to stray far from the status quo. For the Clinton campaign, elections are a science. Hillary Clinton + Kentucky (does not) = a good enough chance of success to try.

I wonder how many Democratic candidates around the south and midwest are going to tell Hillary Clinton to stay out of their faces when they are running in 2008? Probably as many as she won't even bother asking anyway, because she has not intention of going to their states for anything other than money.

Posted by framecop | October 4, 2007 4:18 PM

I live in Louisville, KY and we would love to see Edwards in our town.

We have our fingers crossed that the good people in Iowa come out in record numbers for him in their caucuses so that he can finally get some attention in this race. He is by far the best candidate in the field.

Posted by pmorlan | October 4, 2007 7:21 PM

thanks John for coming to western ky and thank you Shawn, is there a future in politic for Shawn, i think so...
SHAWN DIXON INTRODUCING JOHN EDWARDS, IN COLUMBUS, KENTUCKY POPULATION 229.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YJSEexsXog

JOHN EDWARDS SPEAKING IN COLUMBUS, KENTUCKY. YOUTUBE VIDEO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9JpzHhzoAY

picture i took at the event
http://s163.photobucket.com/albums/t283/kilowat1946/Cloumbus%20ky%20John%20Edwards/

Posted by kilowat | October 5, 2007 10:25 AM