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Though I'm sure the politic hounds among you already know, John Edwards has once again thrown his hat in the presidential ring. The candidate announced his bid for the presidency at a press conference held in the now infamous lower ninth ward of New Orleans saying "no place better demonstrates the two Americas I've talked about for a long time".

While the former Senator was dutiful in outlining his plan for Iraq, his campaign is centered on lessening the gap between the upper and lower classes. Edwards has set a bold 30 year goal for eradicating poverty, and though the budgeting for the social programs required to meet that goal haven't yet been fleshed out, I'm sure we can all feel the collective shudder coming from fiscal conservatives on both sides of the party line.

Last election cycle this strategy didn't play too well, but footage of Katrina's devastation (and of the ruble that still compromises much of the lower income sections) should serve as a perfect illustration for his platform. Pictures speak louder than words, as his campaign manager clearly understands, and I strongly suspect that Edwards' "Two Americas" will be more than just a late night punch line this time around. There are a few minor points that may play in the presidential hopeful's favor as well:

Having been Kerry's vice presidential pick he's well known to the American public.

He escaped much of the previous primary's mud slinging, simply having been labeled "unexperienced" - a label that may not stick so well four years of public service, several diplomatic visits, and one anti-poverty center later.

He's a Southerner. Democrats have a hard game in the South, and a home town advantage may be the only way for a Democrat to win.

He's made up for past "sins", playing up to both the antiwar crowds that attacked him for his original support for the war in Iraq and to the organized labor groups that largely ignored him last go round.

Lastly - he's still cute, and he's not Hillary.

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