Campaigns & Elections - August 2007 - (Page 48)

cover story “When you talk about his influences, growing up poor is the biggest thing.” —John Moylan haircut, Edwards has an amazing amount of grit. He has dealt with the death of his son and his wife’s cancer. “He just has that inner strength,” Leonard said. Edward’s first home was a tiny pink-colored house in the Utica Mill village in Seneca, S.C.—a small town tucked away in the far northern corner of the Palmetto State. Wallace and Bobbie Edwards were Seneca natives, and he worked at the nearby mill when his son was born in 1953. The family moved by the time Edwards was in junior high, but Seneca is still home. Many relatives still live in the town where the population has doubled in the last 30 years since Duke Power created nearby Lake Keowee, now a refuge for million-dollar homeowners. ‘They Trust Him Here’ A recent book on Seneca history dedicates four full pages to Edwards. There are shots of him during his 50th birthday party celebrated downtown, a mug of him when he played one season of football at Clemson University, a classroom shot of him and the rest of the fourth graders at Northside Elementary School in 1962. “They trust him here,” said Charles Hamby, former chairman of the Oconee County Democratic Party. “He is still one of them.” Leonard, who has been friendly with Edwards and his parents for the past 30 years, said the family didn’t have much, but they were content. “He grew up in a warm and loving family,” Leonard said. The family followed Wallace Edwards from town to town as he slowly moved his way up from floor sweeper to supervisor at a plant in Robbins, N.C. The younger Edwards was a standout athlete, who returned to South Carolina for college when he enrolled at Clemson. He transferred to North Carolina State University, where he graduated with a textile degree. He then went to the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth, and clerked for Dupree. “We were pretty much always working on a case,” Leonard said. “There was no inkling of what he thought about the future, because it was all working day-to-day.” After graduation, he worked at the prestigious Dearborn & Ewing law firm in Tennessee before moving back to the Raleigh area of North Carolina to work at Tharrington, Smith & Hargrove. And then came those trials that made him somewhat of a legend, with verdicts that seemed to come out of a John Grisham novel. A $3.7 million medical practice verdict in 1984. A $6.5 million verdict in 1985. More than $60 million in 20 suits over the next few years. He was at the top of his game, but Leonard said Edwards was already feeling he needed to do more. “He had hit the pinnacle of his career, and he wanted a new challenge” Leonard said. “It was very clear he was going to jump into politics.” However, there wasn’t a real timeline for his plans, Leonard said. That changed when Edwards’ son, Wade, was killed in a car accident in 1996. That was the spark that made him ready to run. ‘Sit Back and Watch’ Two years later, Edwards announced he was seeking the Senate seat held by Republican Luach Faircloth. At a gathering of Raleigh legal professionals one night, the general opinion was that Edwards was out of his mind and shooting too high. “But there were two or three of us knew him well, and we all just kind of grinned at each other,” Leonard said. “We said, ‘Sit back and watch.’” Looking back, a Senate run was the best choice for several reasons. First, North Carolinians were happy with the governor and the congressman in his district at that time, making those spots less likely wins. Secondly, it is Edwards’ nature to shoot high. He wouldn’t have been happy on a city council or in the Statehouse. “He is focused and dedicated,” Leonard said. “He is always looking forward. Not back.” >> 48 CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS 08.07

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Campaigns & Elections - August 2007

Cover Contents Editor’s Note Ames Straw Poll Cavalcade; Last Candidate Standing; The New Dollar-A-Year Guy; Web Videos That Can Change the Election Across State Lines: Campaign News from Around the Country People and Organizations Movers and Shakers: Ten Questions for Matthew Taylor and Philip de Vellis Campaign Consultant Sign-Ups Reel Time Cover Story: Building Blocks From Madison Avenue to K Street Money Can’t Buy Votes Dick Cheney: Roll Model for Millions Ames: Still Weird, Still Important How to Do Tougher, Quicker Crisis Management Online Cause-Based SocNets Lure Issue Voters The Great Exaggeration Why Primetime TV is Alive and Well, Politically Speaking Buyer’s Guide Tips for Toeing the Fine Line Between Employment, Friendship Managing Your Friend’s Campaign? Think ‘Consigliore’ Off The Record

Campaigns & Elections - August 2007

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