John Edwards.(DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE)(Biography)

"A hybrid military-civilian organization--a Stabilization and Reconstruction Corps staffed by specially trained military and civilian reservist--must be developed."--J. Edwards

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John Edwards, former North Carolina Senator and millionaire trial lawyer, is running a populist campaign based upon his assertion that there are two Americas--the haves and the have-nots. And like his fellow Democrat candidates, the affable Edwards views the federal government as the tool to effect change.

The son of a textile mill worker, John Ed wards earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University in 1974 and a law degree from the University of North Carolina in 1977. The 54-year-old father of four is married to the former Elizabeth Anania. In 1996, the Edwards lost their 16-year-old son Wade in an automobile accident. Before entering politics, Edwards earned a reputation as one of the top plaintiff lawyers in North Carolina, winning a number of high-profile medical malpractice and product liability lawsuits.

In 1998, the political novice handily defeated Republican incumbent Lauch Faircloth for a U.S. Senate spot. While in Washington, Edwards generally supported the usual liberal causes. Like Hillary Clinton, he voted for the Iraq War resolution effectively transferring to President Bush the decision to go to war against Iraq, although he has since apologized for doing so. In addition to authorizing the use of force in Iraq, Edwards voted for the Patriot Act.

He and his wife earned approximately $39 million in the decade prior to his vice-presidential run and his propensity for $400 haircuts coupled with the construction of an enormous home in Orange County, North Carolina, have done much to discredit the former senator's populist credibility. Still, Edwards clings to the "two Americas" rhetoric as he tries to position himself as a true man of the people. Edwards may fancy himself as a latter-day William Jennings Bryan, but his voting record shows that he is a garden-variety liberal with a tinge of Southern conservatism.

On key issues Edwards favors an approach that is generally in line with his Democrat rivals. He believes that abortion is a constitutionally protected right, and he has consistently supported funding for family planning. In 1999, he voted no on banning partial-birth abortions. Edwards' Senate record on the abortion issue earned him a 100 percent rating from The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL).