At the end of July, I predicted that the Edwards affair might turn out to be the dominant news story for August. It turns out I was wrong, but very close, and it was only a very strategic and effective crisis communication effort on the part of Edwards that helped stave off a media tsunami.
Still as Pew reports , despite Edwards best attempts to downplay attention, his affair for the second straight week remained the #4 most covered news story filling 4% of the newshole and trailing only the Olympics at 14% of total coverage, the general election at 22%, and the invasion of Georgia at 26% of the news hole.
More like this
You all know that I've been a big Edwards supporter since he first ran for Senate. I have met Elizabeth enough times to consider her a friend. I am clumsy when it comes to describing my emotions. So, I'll do what I do best - collect the best and most important links for you to read:
On Thursday night, I posted a large linkfest about the press-conference by John and Elizabeth Edwards and the revelation that her cancer has returned. Those were mostly first responses.
After the New Hampshire primary, I wrote:
Zack Exley: The Revolution misses you
Aldon Hynes: A different focus
On what grounds can you possibly conclude this? I expect things would have been very different without the Olympics and Georgia.
Lets not forget the fact that it is non-issue with a substantial portion of the population. Yes there is a large segment of the population(and the media) that prefer scandal substantive issues but his presidential bid was already torpedoed by his own ineffectiveness as a candidate. He was an unlikely VP choice. John Edwards days as a rising star were over before the scandal hit. The affair just keeps him in the news longer than he deserves to be.