Senator from North Carolina John Edwards
Played his signature anti-poverty card early and often, but didn't trot out the "they haven't led, I will" mantra that he employed against Clinton and Obama in the last debate. Tried hard to imbue his stump speech with some fiery oomph, but never quite took control of the stage. Perspiration spots on his forehead were exceptionally distracting — at least to this observer.
— By Mark Halperin