Kerry’s running mate choice sends mixed message to bureaucracy

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Tuesday selected North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who mounted a strong bid for the Democratic presidential nomination after less than six years in public office, as his running mate.

During his career in the Senate and his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, Edwards called for a smaller government, but one more focused on homeland security.

In his campaign, Edwards proposed eliminating 10 percent of non-security-related government jobs, amounting to 97,000 positions. His proposal included cuts for both federal employees and contractors-a divergence from the Bush administration's "competitive sourcing" policy.

Under competitive sourcing, agencies allow contractors to bid on federal jobs considered commercial in nature. But the initiative doesn't target a set number of positions for outright elimination.

Kerry himself has proposed cutting 100,000 federal contractors and putting a lid on agencies' travel budgets to cut costs.

While Edwards has said he would like to see the government shrink, he has also called for a larger homeland security workforce. During his campaign, he said the government should hire 10,000 more border security officials.

Kerry's running mate has advocated several other management reforms, including the creation of a new agency to assume domestic intelligence-gathering duties from the FBI.

John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, applauded Kerry's choice, calling Edwards a "stalwart friend" of federal workers. "During his six years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Edwards has compiled a 98-percent voting record on issues of importance to members of the AFGE," he said. "You can't ask for any better than that." AFGE has endorsed Kerry for president. In announcing his selection of Edwards at a rally in Pittsburgh, Kerry ended months of speculation. He said he picked the North Carolina senator because of the "guts and determination and political skills" exhibited in his primary bid.

Before his election to the Senate in 1998, Edwards became wealthy as a personal injury lawyer. In contrast to Kerry's patrician background, Edwards grew up in modest circumstances and his bid for the presidency was enveloped in a strongly populist appeal.

Kerry alluded to that Tuesday. He told supporters in an e-mail message that Edwards "has shown courage and conviction as a champion for middle-class Americans and those struggling to reach the middle class. ... Throughout his own campaign for president, John spoke about the great divide in this country -- the 'Two Americas' that exist between those who are doing well today and those that are struggling to make it from day to day."

Kerry and Edwards will appear together Wednesday in the battleground state of Ohio. In addition to providing regional balance, the choice of the youthful-looking 51-year-old North Carolinian provides a balance of personalities as well: Edwards is regarded as a more engaging and energizing campaigner than Kerry. And Edwards' skill in the courtroom is expected to serve him well in general election debates against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Kerry and Edwards appear to have few differences on major issues -- although among them is the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Kerry voted for a decade ago but which Edwards campaigned against this year.

In choosing Edwards, Kerry passed over at least two other contenders, Missouri Rep. Richard Gephardt and Florida Sen. Bob Graham, who would have brought more experience -- but arguably less excitement -- to the Democratic ticket.

There are also questions about how much Edwards will boost the ticket in the South. Before he opted not to run for re-election to concentrate on his bid for the presidency, polls in his home state showed Edwards in a close contest to hold onto his Senate seat. For Gephardt and Graham, Kerry's decision appears to mark the end of national political careers that each span more than a quarter of a century; both men had previously announced they would not seek re-election to their current jobs.

Kerry was reported to have considered as many as 25 candidates for the vice presidential nomination.

Jason Peckenpaugh and Amelia Gruber contributed to this report.