Barack Obama is out to steal the mantle of optimism from John Edwards.

In 2004, Edwards ran with a smile. He positioned himself as the positive, uplifting, optimistic candidate. He has even called his political committee the New American Optimists.

But the stagecraft and tone of Obama’s announcement hit the very note that served Edwards so well four years ago. Obama deliberately draws a contrast: I’m the candidate of hope, change and new politics. The rest of the crowd represents old, tired partisan bickering.

That very same message won Edwards a Senate seat in 1998. But his message this year sometimes borders on anger. Justified anger, for sure – at poverty, injustice, discrimination and neglect.

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