Edwards Campaign Press Release - Reviews Are In: Des Moines Register Debate

Focus Group of Iowa Voters Declares Edwards the Winner. Fox News' focus group of Democrats in Iowa watching the debate declared Edwards the winner of the debate. Luntz: "I want you to raise your hands if you walked in here with John Edwards as your first choice. One, two of you. How many of you thought John Edwards won the debate? [Majority of crowd raises hand.] What was it about John Edwards – you didn't pick him – but what was it about John Edwards you thought stood out?" Democratic voter: "I had John Edwards coming in number three, and he was very believable, he didn't beat around the bush, he talked about the strong interest groups that he's been fighting for all the time, and he has a plan. He came in there with answers." [Fox News, 12/13/07]

Mark Halperin's Debate Grades: "Edwards A-"

Edwards A-

Obama A-

Clinton B+

Richardson B+

Biden B-

Dodd C

[http://thepage.time.com/2007/12/13/game-on-7/]

ABC's Rick Klein: "Edwards Though Wins On My Scorecards."

"3:25 pm ET: Edwards though wins on my scorecards -- he was relentlessly on message, sounding strong, and making a very good case to keep this a three-person race." [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

Des Moines Register: "He's Good;"
Praised Edwards' Answer on New Year's Resolution. Edwards' strength | Posted 12/13/2007 2:19 PM CST | "'Somewhere in America tonight, a child will go to bed hungry.' said Edwards. 'Somewhere in America today...a father will lose his job.' All of us are going to be just fine, he said of fellow candidates. 'What's at stake is whether America is going to be just fine.' He's good." [http://www.desmoinesregister.com/]

Fox News' Major Garrett: "Edwards: Looks Crisp and Confident and Has Clearly Honed His Populist Message."
"Edwards: Looks crisp and confident and has clearly honed his populist message about the role of corporate influence on American political life, his line 'corporate power and greed have literally taken over the government,' will stand as one of the punchiest of the day and crystallizes his campaign theme. His fumbling of his desire that this generation leave the nation in better shape than it was found left a humanizing and humorous feeling in the air."

[http://bourbonroom.blogs.foxnews.com/2007/12/13/democratic-debate-impressions/]

ABC's Rick Klein: "Edwards Is 'Driven in [His] Gut.' Once Again, He Brings It Back to a Clear, Concise Message." "3:22 pm ET: Edwards is 'driven in [his] gut.' Once again, he brings it back to a clear, concise message." [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

Marc Ambinder: "But Who Did Best?... On Balance, Clinton and Edwards."
"But who did best?... On balance, Clinton and Edwards.... Why them, and not Obama? Because Clinton and Edwards repeatedly wove their answers into a larger argument.... Almost every other phrase out of John Edwards's mouth contained the words "corporate power.." or "entrenched interests." And Edwards wasn't aggressive." [http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/12/democratic_debate_first_take.php]

Fred Barnes: I Thought One Person Did Well: John Edwards.

"I thought one person actually did well, and that's John Edwards and you know why? Because he relentlessly stuck to the same point. He got it across- that the biggest problem in America is corporate power and greed." [Fox News, 12/13/07]

ABC's Rick Klein: Fox Dialers Love Edwards' Message "Join Together to Take This Democracy and Take This Country Back."

"3:02 pm ET: Here's Edwards shooting broad once again – 'join together to take this democracy and take this country back.' At least the fourth time he's sounded that theme -- if you're an angry Iowan, you've got to love that message. And the Fox dialers certainly do."

[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann: "He Knows His Iowa Audience."

2:43 PM "Edwards named the closing of the Maytag plant in Newton as the ultimate illustration of how corporate America is hurting the middle class. It was an emotional and much-publicized event for plant workers here in Iowa, prompting cathartic displays such as the public demolition of a washing machine. Edwards visited Newton, Iowa, the week of the plant's closing. The crowd hit hardest by the factory buyout is the one with which Edwards' anti-corporate populism resonates the most. He knows his Iowa audience." [http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/12/13/514608.aspx]

ABC's Rick Klein: Fox Dialers "Have Been Friendly to Edwards."

"2:53 pm ET: Two-thirds of the way through now, roughly, I don't see this contributing significantly to the campaign's storylines. The Fox dial tests have been friendly to Edwards and Obama, if that means anything."

[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

TAPPED's Dana Goldstein: "Edwards Is Great On Education."
"Edwards Is Great On Education:" "I'm always impressed with John Edwards' discussions of education policy during these debates. He begins with the importance of early childhood interventions, he criticizes NCLB while holding out hope it can be reformed, and he highlights the privileges suburban schools enjoy that rural and inner city schools lack. He circles back to discuss free college tuition for qualified high school graduates."

[http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=12&year=2007&base_name=edwards_is_great_on_education#103180]

ABC's Rick Klein: Edwards "Quite Literally off the Charts with That Answer About the Tax System Being Rigged."

"2:11 pm ET: Fox News is doing running dial-testing -- and John Edwards is quite literally off the charts with that answer about the tax system being rigged." [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

ABC's Rick Klein: "Edwards Is Looking Strong Today."

"2:25 pm ET: Edwards: 'What makes America America is at risk.' 'We need to take them on.' Edwards is looking strong today." [http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]

New York Times' Katharine Q. Seelye: Edwards' Catchy Line: Americans "Should Be Patriotic About Something Other Than War."
"2:44 p.m. | Catchy Line Mr. Edwards has a nice line that he uses all the time, but it's still catchy: that Americans 'should be patriotic about something other than war.'"

[http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/live-blogging-the-democratic-debate-4/]

ABC's Rick Klein: "Edwards is Making Just About Every Response About His Fight-the-Establishment Message."
"2:41 pm ET: Edwards is making just about every response about his fight-the-establishment message. He's good at hitting a message over and over -- often what you need to do in a debate that doesn't have major highlights."

[http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/12/live-blogging-1.html]