Pros, Cons Besiege Edwards Over Ashcroft Vote

WASHINGTON — Tar Heels on both sides of the confirmation battle over John Ashcroft say it provides a telling test of Democratic Sen. John Edwards’ political allegiances.

Civil-rights groups and pro-choice organizations – key Democratic constituencies – are counting on Edwards to stand with them against Ashcroft, President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, whose views they consider extreme.

But Ashcroft’s supporters in North Carolina argue that Edwards should be mindful of Bush’s strong performance in the state on Election Day. Voting against Ashcroft, they argue, would signal that Edwards is more concerned about pleasing special-interest groups that could help him in future political endeavors.

“I don’t think the people of North Carolina want to see North Carolina values sacrificed for national political ambitions,” said Bill Cobey, chairman of the state Republican Party.

Edwards, who has been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2004, said again Thursday that he has “serious reservations” about Ashcroft but that he still hasn’t decided how to vote.

He bristled at the suggestion that interest groups on either side of the issue would determine his decision.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, but whatever I do will be based on what I think is best for the country,” Edwards said.

A full Senate vote could come as early next week, but delays are likely. While a large number of Democrats are expected to oppose the nomination, most analysts predict that Ashcroft will be confirmed.

North Carolina’s senior senator, Republican Jesse Helms, is a strong Ashcroft supporter.

Edwards has had no shortage of advice about which way to go.

Ashcroft’s supporters and detractors alike are waging e-mail and letter-writing campaigns, letting Edwards know they’re watching him.

If Edwards winds up supporting Ashcroft, “a lot of people in North Carolina will be extremely disappointed,” said Chris Kromm of Durham, who has organized an anti-Ashcroft coalition in the state. “This is one of those litmus-test votes that is going to get raised again and again. You don’t want to disappoint the Democratic base.”

Kromm, director of the Institute for Southern Studies in Durham, said he has forwarded more than 100 letters to Edwards from civil-rights lawyers, academics and others from across North Carolina.

“A lot of these are key supporters of Edwards,” he said. “These are names he’s going to recognize.”

Conservatives have mobilized as well. One group, the North Carolina chapter of Citizens for a Sound Economy, claims to have forwarded Edwards more than 600 e-mail messages from Ashcroft supporters.

Among those who’ve written is U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, a Farmville Republican.

Under the Constitution, House members have no formal say over a president’s Cabinet picks. But Jones said he feels so strongly about Ashcroft that he had to act.

On Thursday, he said he sent e-mail messages to 20,000 people in North Carolina, asking them to let Edwards know of their support for Ashcroft.

“John Ashcroft represents the values of the majority of the people in this state,” Jones said. “He is a man of character and integrity, and a man of faith. He will be a breath of fresh air after eight years of Janet Reno.”

Joyce Krawiec, a Republican activist from Kernersville, tried to impress some of the same points upon Edwards last weekend while in town for Bush’s inauguration.

Krawiec cornered Edwards at a ball sponsored by the bipartisan N.C. Washington Society. She said a spirited discussion followed.

“He was sort of in my face and pointing his finger,” Krawiec said. “He proceeded to say that we had been through a divisive election and that Ashcroft is very divisive. He was very passionate about it. It left me with no reason to believe whatsoever that he’s going to vote to confirm Ashcroft.”

Edwards said he has had several conversations about Ashcroft in recent weeks with constituents on both sides. “Nobody has been belligerent or obnoxious,” he said.

Although Edwards has not announced a position, he has had plenty to say about Ashcroft.

This week, he appeared on a Fox News Channel talk show and called Ashcroft “a polarizing figure.”

“My dealings with him would lead me to believe he’s a very straightforward, decent, honorable man,” Edwards said. “But whatever you believe about him, the one thing there’s nearly no question about is that he’s very much a polarizing figure in this country.”

Ashcroft’s opponents have questioned whether he can enforce the law in matters such as abortion and civil liberties where he holds very strong, conservative views.

“He also has to make very difficult calls, priority calls, about where resources go and what cases are to be pursued,” Edwards said. “It’s not quite as simple as, ‘Will he enforce the law?’ “

Edwards is certainly not the only Democratic senator who has been hesitant to announce a position. A handful of other Southern senators with large Republican constituencies also face a difficult choice.

Bush carried North Carolina with 56 percent of the vote.

Republicans apparently believe it’s smart politics to highlight Edwards’ difficulty, said Andrew Taylor, a political science professor at N.C. State University.

Although Edwards has been touted as a possible presidential candidate in 2004, he’s probably more likely to seek re-election to the Senate that year.

To win back Edwards’ Senate seat, Taylor said, “Republicans need to start eating away at the guy’s popularity.”