Top three issues:
Establishing new jobs: Edwards proposes a plan for revamped job training programs that links training to real jobs. The Edwards economic plan focuses on cutting middle class taxes so families can buy a first home or save for college or retirement; restoring and creating jobs with tax credits for domestic manufacturing; and restoring corporate accountability. He also proposes cutting the deficit in half by stopping the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $200,000, shutting down corporate tax loopholes, and limiting spending in non-defense federal bureaucracies by 10 percent.
College Education: Edwards offers a plan for free college education through work, a program he calls “College for Everyone.”
Health Care: Edwards proposes universal coverage for children and “significant help” to adults.

Official strategy statement: Edwards will continue to focus his campaign for the working people.

Campaign's assessment of its own strength: Edwards grew up in a small town, and he knows first-hand about issues that rural Iowans face.

Quotes from Edwards: "I hope you agree with me this is still a country where the son of a millworker can go toe-to-toe against the son of a president of the United States." — Washington Post, 6/8/03

"We have an imminent, serious threat. It won't protect the American people either in the short or long term to have a long-term reorganization of government bureaucracy if we aren't focusing on the primary function of identifying where the bad guys are and stopping them." — Des Moines Register, 7/15/03

Critiques from others: "Edwards has become a captive of the trial lawyers and the left-wing special interests in Washington. He has lost touch with the average American. Clearly, he is not ready for 'prime time.'" -- The [Raleigh] News and Observer, 12/08/02

"I know, Edwards has served just four and a half years in the Senate. And he's a trial lawyer, and he's rich, and he's unfamiliar with the nuances of some policy debates, and he's got no military record. I won't spend this column pointing out that Bush's resume was equally thin when he ran for president, he had less foreign policy experience than Edwards does now, that Bush and Kerry are rich, or that Bush is still unfamiliar with the nuances of most policy debates. The journalistic case for Edwards is that he's got the most interesting message in the race, distinct from Dean's and Bush's, plus the talent to make it stick. He'd put up a hell of a race against Dean and, if he prevailed, a hell of a race against Bush." -- Slate, 07/08/03

Our own assessment of Edward's vulnerability: Edwards has not been as visible in Iowa as the front-running candidates. He has not established strong support in the state in terms of money raised or backing by Democratic party activists. His lack of political experience as a one-term senator makes some people question his political savvy. The announcement of his candidacy on Sept. 16 was overshadowed by retired Gen. Wesley Clark's declaration.