REALITY CHALLENGED:

In and out in N. C. (Peter Roff, 9/9/2003, UPI)

North Carolina's John Edwards, one of the smaller of the nine Democratic blips on the party's presidential radar screen, has taken another step toward political irrelevancy by announcing he would not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.

Under state law, Edwards could have run both for re-election and for president on the November ballot but state Democrats, fearful of losing the seat, had in recent weeks been increasing vocal in their calls for Edwards to make a decision.

In a letter to North Carolina Democratic Chairwoman Barbara Allen, Edwards said he believed that his presidential campaign was going well; therefore, "I will not seek re-election to the United States Senate, in order to devote all of my energy to running for president."

Going well?

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 9, 2003 4:27 PM