I live in North Carolina and ever since I voted for John Edwards for US Senate in 1998 I have been a supporter of his. I was thrilled when John Edwards won the Senate seat and thrilled again when he ran for President in 2004. I was disappointed when he lost that race but excited again when he became the Vice Presidential Nominee that year. I was devastated when Kerry/Edwards lost in 2004 and truly could not believe it. Alas, I resigned myself to trudging through the next few years and trying to make the best of it. I became an even stronger supporter of John Edwards when he started his campaign for Presidencey in 2007. For the first time ever I actually donated money to a presidential campaign. I donated a grand total of $405.00 to John Edwards campaign in his primary run. My reasoning this time around for supporting John Edwards was that I felt that Hillary Clinton was too decisive and would pump up republicans to vote against her and alas, I was not sure if America was really ready to vote for a Black Man for the Presidency of the United States.
So I told myself that John Edwards was the best one and had the best chance of beating whichever Republican became the other sides nominee. I was so disappointed when John did not win Iowa. My thought was he would win Iowa and then springboard through the rest of the primary. Even after Iowa I continued to support him and even gave another $50.00 just before he suspended his campaign. I was very disappointed at that time and was afraid that the Democratic Party would lose again.
Well, in the words of John Edwards, I Was Wrong! I have been totally and utterly awed by Barack Obama's campaign. His campaign is the most organized, dedicated group of people I have ever seen in my life. Yes, I have now given about the same amount to Barack Obama in his campaign as I did John Edwards.
I was again disappointed by John Edwards this past August when it was revealed that he was unfaithful to his incredible Wife Elizabeth. When that happened my first thought was Thank the Lord he was not the nominee. However, I do think despite John Edwards inability to keep his penis in his pants I think he does deserve kudos for bringing the issue of poverty and healthcare to the forefront. I'm not so sure that the other candidates would have had as strong poverty and healthcare policies as they do if not for him.
Anyway, I ramble a bit here. This is my first diary as I just joined up one week ago today and finally have been given the right to diary. These thoughts have been going through my head for a while now and I just needed to get them down in writing. I have been a lurker here on Daily Kos for over a year now, enjoying all the fine writing and banter back and forth. As I said I finally decided to joing last week and hope that I can come back here again and again and read other's thoughts and put down my own thoughts.
Thanks everyone who reads this and once again, I am so glad Barack Obama won the nomination from the Democratic Party and it will be refreshing to finally have an intelligent President after having such an idiot for the past eight years. Go Obama!