John Kerry on John Edwards
TL;DR
John Kerry's autobiography revealed he regretted selecting John Edwards as his 2004 vice-presidential running mate.
Key Points
John Kerry later admitted in his autobiography that selecting John Edwards as the 2004 running mate was a mistake.
Kerry noted that some colleagues warned him about Edwards being too ambitious and potentially not being a reliable team player during the campaign.
The relationship appeared strained after the election, with Kerry believing Edwards offered dishonest assessments about the campaign's failure.
Summary
John Kerry's core position regarding John Edwards, particularly concerning the 2004 presidential campaign, is one of deep regret over his selection as the running mate. In his autobiography, Kerry detailed that while he ultimately chose Edwards, some colleagues had expressed concerns that he was too ambitious and potentially not a team player. Kerry recounted feeling uncertain about an eight-year partnership and noted an unsettling familiarity when Edwards recounted a personal tragedy, concluding that he couldn't fully count on him.
Following the 2004 election loss, Kerry's frustration intensified as he perceived Edwards as watering down defensive talking points against attacks, resisting campaign guidance, and failing to aggressively confront the incumbent president in the expected manner. Kerry wrote that he had been promised toughness and loyalty, which he did not see, leading him to be convinced he had "picked a lemon." After the loss, Kerry viewed Edwards's post-campaign assessment of the loss as dishonest, indicating a breakdown in trust and a lingering negative perception of his former partner's character and judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
John Kerry has publicly expressed regret over his decision to select John Edwards as his running mate in the 2004 presidential election. According to reports about his memoir, Kerry felt he had 'picked a lemon' due to concerns about Edwards's loyalty and performance.
John Kerry expressed frustration with John Edwards's post-election commentary, which Kerry described as offering dishonest assessments of what went wrong during the campaign. This contributed to Kerry's negative overall view of his former running mate.
Yes, John Kerry harbored early doubts about John Edwards before making him the vice-presidential nominee, based on Senate colleagues' warnings about his ambition and perceived lack of team spirit. Kerry stated that 'Something made me uncertain whether I could count on him for an eight-year partnership.'
Sources5
John Kerry Admits John Edwards Was a Bad Pick
Opinion: John Kerry on John Edwards: 'shocked'
John Edwards - Wikipedia
Editorial: John Edwards: The wrong prescription for ob/gyns!!!
John Kerry and John Edwards, laden with mutual dislike, couldn't agree on a slogan during the 2004 election.
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.