© National Journal Group Inc.
Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007

This is the last in a series of reviews on books by the 2008 presidential contenders. See the archives for the rest. Edited by John Edwards, Marion Crain and Arne L. Kalleberg ISBN 1595581766 The New Press 267 pp. Purchase This Book

When people think about John Edwards' presidential campaign, he wants them to think about poverty. The Democratic field's perpetual No. 3 has tried to tie himself tightly to the issue, founding the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity at the University of North Carolina after his failed vice presidential run and expired Senate term.

It follows, then, that his name should be splashed across a book called "Ending Poverty in America" in 2007, exactly the time when primary candidates are trying to solidify early support for their bids for office. And Edwards is a candidate who needs an issue. Differentiating himself is a life-or-death move as he tries to siphon off even a little bit of attention from the two giants in the Democratic field. In previous elections, he's hammered home his son-of-a-millworker background and painted himself as the populist candidate.

Campaigning against poverty certainly has helpful political uses (taking a stance against the issue isn't exactly controversial, after all), but it does more than play well on the stump for Edwards. Cynicism aside, someone without a true passion for the subject probably couldn't or wouldn't have put his name on this book.

(For the sake of clarity, this review concerns only the conclusion that Edwards penned personally, not the other 19 essays in the book. Two other editors, Marion Crain and Arne L. Kalleberg, are also credited on the front; this review avoids discussing the other essays at the risk of putting words in Edwards' mouth.)

In the opening lines of his conclusion, Edwards notes that although most readers of the book are probably familiar with the statistic that 37 million people in America live in poverty, "a number lacks a human face. Statistics do not struggle. They do not go to bed hungry, wake up cold, or give up on hope."

Hurricane Katrina, he argues, brought millions of Americans face-to-face with statistics they were forced to see as people. Edwards doesn't take the gimme shot at the Bush administration, though, and instead keeps his argument general, in highbrow terms.

"Poverty is such a low priority in Washington that politicians are not even interested in developing an accurate statistic," he continues, and explains that he wants to re-energize the debate about poverty through the essays in this book.

Most of Edwards' conclusion stays on that broader level, but a few snippets address bread-and-butter campaign issues in the context of poverty. He advocates reversing tax cuts and protecting the right to organize, saying he wants to "build an economy that values work." He appeals to rural voters -- "it is important not to overlook rural America, as policymakers too often do" -- and describes a program called "College for Everyone" that would make the first year of college free to certain students who work part time while going to school.

But most of his focus stays on the big, wide-reaching goals of the book: "There is a reason we chose to title this book 'Ending Poverty in America.' We should not be satisfied with a modest improvement. Let us set a national goal -- the elimination of poverty in America in 30 years.... If we do not rest until poverty is history, it will be."

Edwards knows he's far from selling either the party establishment or Democratic primary voters on his candidacy. He trails Hillary Rodham Clinton by seemingly insurmountable percentages in the polls; his run was supposed to be history when Barack Obama entered the race. But Edwards is sticking around.

"Even the most brilliant policy idea will not make a difference in anyone's life without the determination and commitment to turn them into reality," he writes. "If we are ever going to end poverty, the American people will have to demand action from their leaders. And I believe that they will when they understand what is at stake."

The unspoken part of that sentiment: as long as they elect the right leaders who focus on the issue. Edwards himself believes he is that leader; his challenge is to convince Democratic primary voters to feel the same way.

--Gwen Glazer, NationalJournal.com