TIME FOR EDWARDS TO BUST OUT. So John Edwards picked up two key union endorsements (steelworkers, mine workers) over Labor Day weekend, and good for him. He’’s worked hard to appeal to the union base of the party, and his domestic themes are the strongest, most pro-labor of any candidate in the field except Dennis Kucinich. He’’ll need to squeeze every last dollar and field organizing hour from these
endorsements, and try to line up others.

Edwards, IMHO, enters a crucial period between now and Halloween. He somehow needs to shake things up. He should take some chances — —perhaps a junket to Afghanistan to remind Americans about our abandoned efforts there and that what’s-his-name who masterminded the September 11 attacks, or he might pair up now with a vice presidential running mate to earn some free media. There’’s not room in the Democratic primary for two Hillary-alternative candidates, and if Edwards wants to steal that mantle from the far better funded Barack Obama, now’’s the time for him bust some moves.

–Tom Schaller

Ann Friedman is a columnist for New York magazine’s website and for the Columbia Journalism Review. She also makes pie charts for The Hairpin and Los Angeles magazine. Her work has appeared in ELLE, Esquire, Newsweek, The Observer, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and many other outlets. She lives in Los Angeles, but travels so often the best place to find her is online at annfriedman.com. Follow @annfriedman