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Earlier today, John Kerry announced that North Carolina Senator John Edwards will be his running mate. KSMU's Missy Shelton got local reaction to the news. (Part 1)
EARLIER TODAY, MASSACHUSETTS SENATOR JOHN KERRY ANNOUNCED THAT NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS WILL BE HIS RUNNING MATE.
KERRY IS THE PRESUMPTIVE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE.
JOE CARMICHAEL IS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE WHO LIVES HERE IN SPRINGFIELD.
HE SAYS EDWARDS WILL HELP KERRY WIN VOTES IN MISSOURI, WHICH IS CONSIDERED BY MANY POLITICAL OBSERVERS TO BE A KEY SWING STATE.
THOUGH CARMICHAEL SERVES ON THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, HE SAYS HE AND OTHER PARTY MEMBERS HAD LIMITED INFLUENCE OVER WHO KERRY CHOSE AS HIS RUNNING MATE.
THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WASN'T CLOSELY INVOLVED IN KERRY'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS DOESN'T SURPRISE DR. GEORGE CONNOR.
HE'S A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY.
CONNOR SAYS FROM A POLITICAL SCIENTIST'S POINT OF VIEW, EDWARDS IS AN INTERESTING CHOICE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
INSTEAD OF BALANCING THE TICKET, CONNOR SAYS EDWARDS ENHANCES THE TICKET.
CONNOR SAYS REGARDLESS OF WHAT EDWARDS BRINGS TO THE TICKET, TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT ISN'T LIKELY TO PHASE THE BUSH CAMPAIGN.
AND IF YOU ASK BILL MAUK, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GREENE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE DOESN'T THINK TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT MATTERS TO SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT BUSH.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT JOHN EDWARDS WILL BE KERRY'S RUNNING MATE CAME AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING. THE SHORT LIST OF POTENTIAL RUNNING MATES FOR JOHN KERRY INCLUDED MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN DICK GEPHARDT.
