EDWARDS: I can't tell from the way you're describing [Reid-Feingold]enough of the specifics. I can tell you what I support, if Bush vetoes a bill, we should send him a bill that forces a drawdown of troops.

Ben Smith at Politico asked the Edwards campaign to elaborate on Edwards' view of Reid-Feingold. Smith reports:

"EDWARDS: Spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield emails, "I wouldn't say he supports Reid-Feingold. He supports defunding as a policy and applauds Reid and Feingold for putting it on the table, but the plan he supports is his own -- which would force a drawdown of 40-50,000 immediately and have all combat troops out in 12-18 months." UPDATE: That is to say, says Bedingfield, his only quarrel with the bill is it doesn't go far enough, but he has no problem with the methods."

UPDATE: Feingold aide Zach Lowe emails the current list of supporters, including only Dodd among the candidates: Feingold, Reid, Dodd, Kerry, Leahy, Boxer.

EDWARDS: Spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield emails, "I wouldn't say he supports Reid-Feingold. He supports defunding as a policy and applauds Reid and Feingold for putting it on the table, but the plan he supports is his own -- which would force a drawdown of 40-50,000 immediately and have all combat troops out in 12-18 months." UPDATE: That is to say, says Bedingfield, his only quarrel with the bill is it doesn't go far enough, but he has no problem with the methods.

OBAMA: Spokesman Bill Burton: "Still looking at it."
BIDEN: Spokeswoman Marion Steinfels: "He is still focused on the supplemental."

I agree with this, Noonan. Wonder if Gore has taken a stand? Clark?

Thanks. I've added Talkleft to my blog bookmarks.

John Edwards Should Support Reid-Feingold

His supporters will say, indeed have said, that John Edwards supports the goals of Reid-Feingold, but that it does not go far enough:
This is nice and all, but Edwards can and should make it simple - he should say he supports Reid-Feingold and advocates for even TOUGHER measures. But this is too cute by half. KISS Senator Edwards. Keep it simple.

Politico's Scorecard on Reid-Feingold:

I think Edwards is on the right side of this debate. It seems perfectly reasonable to me for him to say he appaulds Reid-Feingold but ultimately supports "his own" plan.

Edwards is clearly on our side. He supports defunding the troops and would like an even stronger bill than Reid-Feingold. I don't think it's particularly helpful to try to "force" his hand on this point, when he's already with us. I could see it if he was still in the Senate and had to cast a vote.