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Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Democratic vice presidential cand

Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry’s selection of John Edwards as his vice presidential running mate last week has stirred strong reaction from student groups on campus.

“Our club is very enthusiastic about the pick. Edwards brings a great deal to the ticket, and I have personally seen a great many more students become interested in the presidential race. He has brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Democratic Party,” said Kristina Doan, president of the Bruin Democrats.

The Bruin Democrats’ enthusiasm also was heard in Kerry’s voice as he announced his choice of Edwards in Pittsburgh on July 6.

At the rally, Kerry said, “I have chosen a man who understands and defends the values of America, a man who has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle-class Americans.”

Edwards’ political career started only six years ago when he became a senator for North Carolina, and, accordingly, Republicans have questioned whether Edwards has the experience to be vice president.

Bruin Republicans also have stated their opposition to the Kerry and Edwards duo.

Matthew Knee, executive director of the Bruin Republicans, said, “His charisma and geography make him a logical choice, but he is unprepared for the office.” 

Vice President Dick Cheney, in comparison, was a five-term congressman and a defense secretary before serving under President Bush.

Even Kerry questioned Edwards' experience during the presidential primary.

Kerry said of Edwards to The New York Times: He was “in the Senate four years – and that is the full extent of public life – no international experience, no military experience.”

He then added, “When I came back from Vietnam in 1969, I don’t know if John Edwards was out of diapers then.”

Kerry later called Edwards to reconcile their differences.

The reasons for Kerry’s selection of Edwards are numerous. Matthew Baum, an assistant professor of political science at UCLA, said Edwards helps give the Democrats a chance to win North Carolina in the November election.

“If there’s a close race, having a Southerner on the ticket is better than not. North Carolina seems to be reasonably close, which suggests that it’s in play,” Baum said.

Adding Southern states to the Democratic column on election night would prove valuable to the Kerry campaign. In the 2000 election, Bush won every Southern state, including then-Vice President and presidential candidate Al Gore’s home state of Tennessee.

Traditionally the vice president has served to provide balance on the ticket. Cheney was said during the 2000 election to add gravitas to the Republican ticket because of his many years of political experience.

Baum also said Edwards’ charisma provides a counterpoint to Kerry’s persona, and the fact he has been through the presidential primary lessens the chance of negative information coming out on Edwards.

The vice presidential candidate also has served as the more partisan member on the ticket in the past, leveling attacks against opponents.

During the Democratic presidential primary, Edwards carefully crafted his image as a positive campaigner. Whether he will go negative is yet to be seen.

“Someone has to be responsible for going after the opposition more directly, and usually that falls to the vice president,” Baum said.

Another important job of the vice president is to perform well in the vice presidential debate.

“Edwards is a gifted speaker, but it’s hard to say what will happen in debates. There is no reason he ought not to be able to hold his own,” Baum said.

The Democratic duo has been touring the country, questioning President Bush’s record on Iraq and the economy.

Polls over the weekend show that Kerry’s pick did not give a surge to his ticket, though other polls show most people believe Edwards would do a better job than Cheney.

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll released July 9 showed that Bush had a slight lead over Kerry with Bush at 49 percent, Kerry at 45 percent and independent Ralph Nader at 3 percent, according to the poll conducted for the AP by Ipsos-Public Affairs.

A Time-CNN poll showed that 47 percent believed Edwards would make a better vice president than current Vice President Dick Cheney, while 38 percent said Cheney would be better for the job. A Newsweek poll also showed that Edwards would receive more votes than Cheney if respondents could vote separately for vice president.

With reports from wire services.