>I know you are mainly talking about Edwards, not Obama, but as you can tell i am stuck on Obama ;-) The "inexperienced" label still dogs him, and there is a certain amount of truth to it.

FWIW, of the remaining Democrats, Obama has the _most_ experience in elective office. Hillary and Edwards both used the US Senate as an entry-level position.

I've been uncomfortable with Hillary claiming lots of experience by virtue of having been first lady. But I should pass along a story I heard the other day. I was talking to a friend the other day, who told me that her son had gone to Oxford with Chelsea Clinton. (Her son was one of those wonderful kids where you know as you watch them grow that someday, you'll be able to say "I knew him when ...")

In class one day, a professor was talking about some event in the Middle East peace process, telling what he said really happened there. Chelsea raised her hand and say, "I hate to correct you, but this is what really happened." The professor claimed his version was correct, and Chelsea responded with "I was there."

The point is, I guess, that having been present as a witness to history, does have some value. Do I think it gives Hillary the experience level she's claiming? No.

Tamar