granite idealism

Ending where and how it began, former U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) will serve in New Orleans’ lower 9th ward immediately after withdrawing from the 2008 race for President of the United States.  Edwards announced his White House bid nearly 13 months ago and then rolled up his sleeves, volunteering alongside residents to refurbish a hurricane-ravished part of the Crescent City.  

Edwards planned to announce his campaign was ending with his wife and three children at his side. Then he planned to work with Habitat for Humanity at the volunteer-fueled rebuilding project Musicians’ Village, the adviser said.

With that, Edwards’ campaign will end the way it began 13 months ago – with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol of what he described as a Washington that didn’t hear the cries of the downtrodden.

In October, Edwards signed the ServeNext Pledge to expand AmeriCorps by 100,000 members and told Granite State voters that he would announce a comprehensive National Service plan “before the New Hampshire Primary.“  Sadly, the plan never saw the light of day.