60-40 FILES

Facing 2 races, Edwards bides time: Keeps options openon top job, Senate (Patrick Healy, 8/19/2003, Boston Globe)

Possible Democratic candidates for Edwards's Senate seat -- particularly Erskine Bowles, a former chief of staff to President Clinton who lost to Senator Elizabeth Dole last year -- have been seeking a decision by Edwards, or at least a green light for them to raise money, as [Florida Senator Bob] Graham has signaled. But Edwards is biding his time. Analysts say the longer he waits, the more he risks not only the good will of state Democrats, but the national Democratic Party's future support, since party leaders do not want Edwards's hedging to hurt their chances of winning control of the US Senate next year.

"He needs to decide by October, certainly -- he knows that we can't lose this place in the Senate," said former state representative Dan Blue, a Tar Heel Democrat who is also considering a run for Edwards's seat.

But Blue, an Edwards supporter, also said he was sympathetic and sensitive to Edwards's concerns.

"He needs to win something next year," Blue said. "Otherwise, it's out of sight, out of mind."

The problem for Mr. Edwards and his party is that he doesn't have time to bide. Every day he stays in the race, competing with people like Howard Dean and John Kerry for Democratic primary voters, who are well to the Left of his constituency, makes it less likely he could win re-election to his Senate seat. Posted by Orrin Judd at August 19, 2003 8:10 AM