On first brush I agreed with my friend Mark: John Edwards (aside from his hair) is a snoozer. (Check out his new blog “Leaves a Mark” and say hello.)

But I’m starting to change my mind. When Howard Dean’s bubble burst and I started to pay attention to Edwards, his “two Americas speech” resonated with me. He said so well what I believe–that those of us not born to privilege (my father is a barber, my mother a daycare manager) have to play by different rules than the rich. For those of us born working class, this is not abstract theory or “class warfare.” It’s the difference between going to college or not. It’s the difference between owning a home or not. It’s the difference between having health care or not. I resent having to live by different rules, and I will support anyone who might change this.

Edward offers other advantages too. The Edwards pick is a choice to not play on Cheney’s terms come debate time—it changes the game entirely. His “two Americas” schtick is a perfect weapon for the chinks in Cheney’s Haliburton armor. Who better than a trial lawyer to take on a corporate croney? Democrats need a Veep nominee needs who won’t play along with Scowling Dick, in contrast to Liebermann’s chummy debate performance four years ago.

For all the talk about Edward’s inexperience, he has more national political experience and more foreign policy experience than Bush did four years ago. And it’s not too much of a stretch to say he still does.