The patrician and the populist.(running mate for presidency)

Publication: Global Agenda

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COPYRIGHT 2004 Economist Newspaper Ltd.

John Kerry has picked John Edwards, a young senator from North Carolina, as his running mate. The charismatic southerner should give a much-needed boost to the Democratic ticket

SO IT is John Edwards. John Kerry has picked the young, handsome and optimistic senator from North Carolina to be his running-mate on the Democratic ticket facing George Bush and Dick Cheney in the November presidential election. After months of the traditional campaign quiet between the primaries and the summer party conventions, Mr Kerry's choice has created quite a buzz.

Speculation about who Mr Kerry would choose as his number two had run rampant from the moment he wrapped up the Democratic nomination with a string of primary victories in early spring. Presidential candidates tend to pick running mates who make up for something they lack. Often it is regional balance (though this has been less prominent recently--Bill Clinton and Al Gore were from neighbouring southern states, and Mr Bush and Mr Cheney both hail from solidly Republican western states). A running mate may also...

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