The Crimson’s Javier C. Hernandez had a chance to sit down with 2004 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate John Edwards yesterday morning.

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN EDWARDS

April 13, 10:05 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

The Harvard Crimson (THC): Have you made a decision about or contemplated the idea of running for the presidency in 2008?

John Edwards (JE): Well, we’ve got an immediate family health situation that we have to deal with. My wife, as you know, was diagnosed with breast cancer, actually in Boston the day after the election. We’ve been very focused on getting her treated and well. That’s our priority right now. In addition to that I’ve started a poverty work and opportunity center at UNC Chapel Hill which you’ve probably already heard about, which we’re also getting geared up, so I’ve been down there doing a lot of work. My campaign right now is a campaign against poverty in America and that’s where I’m putting my passion and energy so we’ll just have to see where that leads.

THC: So at this point you haven’t committed one way or another to running?

JE: No.

THC: Some have said that your employment at UNC and recent travel engagements are an attempt to stay in the public eye for some sort of run for the presidency. How do you respond to those critics?

JE: I’m trying with everything I’ve got to shine a bright light on poverty. Every place I go I’ve talked about it. Whether it’s in a political setting or a nonpolitical setting. Because what I’m trying to do is start a serious movement against poverty in this country. There has been some good work done over the last 30 to 40 years, but there’s certainly not been a coordinated national effort to fight poverty, which is what I’m spending my time on.

THC: Your running mate, John Kerry, has alleged that some voters in the November election were intimidated or tricked in some instances around the country. Do you agree with that?

JE: I think there were some things that happened to voters around the country that are very troublesome, and that’s why going forward, it’s important for us to make a commitment as a nation, I’ve said this a number of times since the election. It’s important to promote freedom around the world. It’s also important to make sure that our democracy is working the way it’s supposed to work. There should never be any reason for any American to have an actual reason to doubt their vote. Unfortunately, they do today. So, I think we ought to be building the best election system in the world. I think we are on the road to accomplishing that. But we have work to do.

THC: Do you think any of this supposed voter disenfranchisement contributed to a win for the Republicans?

JE: I don’t think there’s any way to measure it. I think most of the information is anecdotal. When you have people in Ohio standing in line for 10 hours to vote, while others are able to vote in 15 or 20 minutes, something’s wrong. I think some of it was completely predictable. But this idea that in today’s America we have vote challengers and vote protectors influence, goes completely contrary to our tradition that everybody has the right to vote and everybody exercising that right and every vote being counted and we have to restore confidence to the American people about their vote.

THC: Rev. Al Sharpton, as you might know, is under investigation by the FBI for allegedly not reporting all of his campaign donations accurately.