Edwardses backtrack to repay debt

Here's a great story in the N&O.

The Edwards family gave up a day of campaigning with John Kerry in New Mexico to hold a rally in Kansas--a state that is locked into the red column.

Of course, it was Elizabeth Edwards' idea. Apparently, a dedicated crowd of supporters gathered around the train tracks in Kansas on Friday to wave at the Democratic candidates as they went through. The train didn't stop however, and rather than disappoint the several hundred people hoping to see the Johns, Mrs. E made a promise that her family would be back.

For almost anyone else, this makes little or no sense. You don't spend time or money in places you can't win. But thanks to Mrs. E, what would otherwise be a puzzling day of campaigning is now going to pay off. Several thousand people showed up in the pouring rain to hear the vice presidential nominee. Oh, and lest I forget to mention it, the press showed up too. I'm willing to bet the news coverage of the event alone will make up for any lost time or cost. But if the campaign reaches out to Kansas, I'm willing to bet the Democrats of that state will come to the Kerry website and make a donation.