Editorial
A strong VP candidate who is soft on trade

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John Edwards is a good choice. He is tested in political combat. He is his party's most skillful and empathetic speaker.

As a senator, Edwards is qualified but still fresh. Clearly, he would not be a co-president but the more traditional president-in-training.

In several of these aspects Edwards contrasts with Dick Cheney. Edwards brings less institutional heft than Cheney, but there is a possible presidential future in him. As a former trial lawyer, he will have sharp teeth for Cheney in any vice-presidential debate.

Critics charge that in choosing Edwards, Kerry has played it safe. So he has, and that may be the right thing. Those who ask for vice-presidential risk may recall Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 or Dan Quayle in 1988. Better yet, the hapless Rep. Richard Schweiker, picked by Ronald Reagan in his failed attempt for the nomination in 1976. In 1980, Reagan played it safe and chose the party's runner-up, which is what Kerry has now done. Edwards is a much smarter choice for Kerry than Republican Sen. John McCain, who would have caused no end of headaches in addition to severe policy differences.

Kerry and Edwards do not agree on everything. There is capital punishment, which Kerry is against and Edwards for, and fast-track trade authority, which Kerry was for and Edwards against. But they agree on most things, from abortion rights and stem-cell research to affirmative action. They are liberals who represent the core beliefs and constituencies of their Democratic Party.

Edwards has made his share of uncashable promises, such as saying that he is for "high-speed Internet access for all Americans," and that he is for "a health-care plan that would cover every child and millions of vulnerable adults, and also bring down health costs for all Americans." But if his numbers do not add up, neither do the numbers of the Republican president. It would be nice to have a majority-party ticket that represented fiscal probity, but we do not have it.

Our obvious regional problem with this ticket is international trade. Kerry, who is from the historic home state of the textile industry, has called for extending textile quotas, and Edwards, who is from a Southern textile state, voted against Rep. Jim McDermott's Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. But at least Edwards is a better choice than Richard Gephardt. And the Republican ticket has some regional problems, too, chiefly in energy, environment and social issues.

In early July with the major campaign still ahead, it is enough to say that the last major-party nominee is now apparent, and no one is running for the exits.