I'm not sure if I can really fulfill Josh Marshall's request to explain the Chet Edwards boomlet, but here are a few data points:1) In a meeting with The American Prospect, Rep. Artur Davis, who's one of the Democratic Party's more promising young politicians and is also a key player in the DCCC's Southern efforts, said, unprompted, that he thought Edwards was the best southern politician in the country.2) Edwards serves a more Republican district than any other Democratic congressman in the country. According to the Cook Political Report, his district is +17.7 Republican. Bush carried it with 70 percent of the vote. Edwards held it, even after DeLay specifically targeted him in the midterm redistricting and redrew the lines to force him out of office. Edwards doesn't come from a famed political family, isn't a celebrity, and isn't extremely wealthy. The guy is just a really, really good politician.3) Members of Congress love Edwards. I don't know why this is, really, but Davis signs his praises without prompting, Pelosi has pushed him for the vice presidency -- the guy clearly makes a good impression, and has strong relationships with his fellow legislators.4) Edwards is extremely well-networked with the liberal intellectual class in DC. He's the sort of Congressman who drops by think tank lunches and maintains continual relationships -- not as a source but as an interlocutor -- with interesting, influential folks around town. I've been at some lunches with him, and he's an impressively smart guy. On the other hand, representing one of the most conservative districts in the country doesn't lead to a terribly progressive voting record. And as Dylan Matthews explained at Tapped, Edwards' voting record isn't the sort of thing that really fits with Obama's message. So I'd be surprised to see him get the veep nod. THE CHET EDWARDS BOOMLET.
I'm not sure if I can really fulfill Josh Marshall's request to explain the Chet Edwards boomlet, but here are a few data points:1) In a meeting with The American Prospect, Rep. Artur Davis, who's one of the Democratic Party's more promising young politicians and is also a key player in the DCCC's Southern efforts, said, unprompted, that he thought Edwards was the best southern politician in the country.2) Edwards serves a more Republican district than any other Democratic congressman in the country. According to the Cook Political Report, his district is +17.7 Republican. Bush carried it with 70 percent of the vote. Edwards held it, even after DeLay specifically targeted him in the midterm redistricting and redrew the lines to force him out of office. Edwards doesn't come from a famed political family, isn't a celebrity, and isn't extremely wealthy. The guy is just a really, really good politician.3) Members of Congress love Edwards. I don't know why this is, really, but Davis signs his praises without prompting, Pelosi has pushed him for the vice presidency -- the guy clearly makes a good impression, and has strong relationships with his fellow legislators.4) Edwards is extremely well-networked with the liberal intellectual class in DC. He's the sort of Congressman who drops by think tank lunches and maintains continual relationships -- not as a source but as an interlocutor -- with interesting, influential folks around town. I've been at some lunches with him, and he's an impressively smart guy. On the other hand, representing one of the most conservative districts in the country doesn't lead to a terribly progressive voting record. And as Dylan Matthews explained at Tapped, Edwards' voting record isn't the sort of thing that really fits with Obama's message. So I'd be surprised to see him get the veep nod. 
