The former North Carolina senator's chosen profession alone
raises the hackles of business people. Before entering
politics, he made a fortune as a trial lawyer.
In litigious America, trial lawyers bring lawsuits against
companies on behalf of aggrieved individuals and sometimes win
multimillion-dollar settlements. Edwards won several.
But beyond his profession, Edwards' tone and language on
the campaign trail have increased business antipathy toward
him. His stump speeches are peppered with attacks on "corporate
greed" and warnings of "the destruction of the middle class."
He accuses lobbyists of "corrupting the government" and
says Americans lack universal health care because of "drug
companies, insurance companies and their lobbyists."
Despite not winning the two state nominating contests
completed so far, with 48 to go, Edwards insists he is in the
race to stay. An Edwards campaign spokesman said on Thursday
that inside-the-Beltway operatives who fight to defend the
powerful and the privileged should be afraid.
"The lobbyists and special interests who abuse the system
in Washington have good reason to fear John Edwards.
"Once he is president, the interests of middle class
families will never again take a back seat to corporate greed
in Washington," said campaign spokesman Eric Schultz.
