Edwards Ties Rivals to Special Interests

[December 29, 2007]  DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said Friday that those who take money from special interests cannot bring change to Washington, a criticism aimed at his leading rivals as they compete for undecided voters in Iowa's upcoming caucuses.

Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who are in a tight race with Edwards in statewide polls, have debated who is best suited to put the nation on a different track. Clinton contends that it takes experience more than desire, and Obama maintains that expecting change from the same Washington players is too much of a gamble.

Edwards, who rails at special interests and greedy corporate America during his campaign stops, jabbed at Clinton and Obama during a stop in northeastern Iowa. While he didn't mention Clinton by name, he criticized her for taking campaign contributions from special interests.

"To get real change, we need a president who will stand up against the big corporations and powerful interests who control Washington," the former North Carolina senator told about 250 people in Dubuque. "Nobody who takes their money and defends the broken system is going to bring change."

In veiled criticism of Obama, Edwards has said at recent campaign events that if a candidate believes that he or she can sit down at the table and negotiate with special interests, then the candidate is living in "Never-Never Land" and that it's a "fantasy" to think that way. Asked by an Associated Press reporter on Friday if he thinks Obama is living in "Never-Never Land," Edwards equivocated.

"Sen. Obama is a good person and a good candidate. We just have a very different view about what it's going to take to bring about the change this country needs," Edwards said. "I do not think you can sit and negotiate with drug companies, insurance companies and oil companies, and think they will voluntarily give their power away. I think we have a fight in front of us."

Obama's campaign responded to such criticism by saying that Edwards has advocated bringing special interests to the table for discussions.

"Edwards is ramping up his attacks as the caucus draws near, but his new rhetoric on 'not negotiating or compromising or working with the powerful interests' is a sharp U-turn from what was once a quite conciliatory view towards those same powerful interests," Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said.

Edwards assured a crowd at a stop earlier in the day in Independence, Iowa, that he'll work diplomatically with fellow lawmakers and save his ire for the powerful interests.

"I'm not talking about fighting politicians. Nobody is interested in seeing a bunch of politicians fight," he said. "We're going to put the power in the people, and that's what this democracy is."

The Edwards campaign announced a new "Ask John" program that will give voters throughout Iowa a chance to ask him questions in the final days leading up to the Iowa contest.

Edwards promised that every person asking a question - through a new Web site, a telephone bank and at campaign stops - will get a response by caucus night on Thursday.

[Associated Press; By AMY LORENTZEN]

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