Presidential candidate John Edwards took some modest swipes at the frontrunners last night.
In the the first debate of the 2008 campaign season, Edwards was asked whether he was criticizing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton when he said Americans want a leader whose not afraid to admit a mistake. His response:
"I mean, Sen. Clinton and anyone else who voted for this war has to search themselves and decide whether they believe they've voted the right way; if so, they can support their vote," Edwards said. "If they believe they didn't, I think it's important to be straightforward and honest." (McClatchy)
The 90-minute debate at a historically black college in South Carolina was a "surprisingly sedate affair," with Clinton and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama trying to stay above the fray, while Edwards tried to politely criticize them. (NYT)
Edwards was also asked about that haircut and his work as a hedge fund consultant. He acknowledged that he lives comfortably:
"If the question is . . . whether I live a privileged and blessed lifestyle now, the answer to that's 'yes,' " he said. "A lot of us do. But it's not where I come from. And I've not forgotten where I come from." (WP)
