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Forget terrorism

"One notable thing about John Edwards' now-famous 'Two Americas' speech is that it doesn't say anything -- not a word -- about terrorism," Byron York writes at National Review Online (www.nationalreview.com).

"It doesn't mention Iraq, either. In fact, the only discussion of foreign affairs at all is Edwards' pledge to restore America's image in the world, which Edwards describes as 'the image we used to have, America as the shining light on top of the hill, beacon of freedom, democracy, human rights.'

"There's a reason -- other than his lack of experience in the field -- that Edwards chooses not to emphasize the topic. A look at exit polls from the five states in which such polls were conducted on Tuesday suggests that few Democratic voters -- especially those who voted for Edwards -- care much about terrorism and national security," Mr. York said.

"Pollsters asked voters the following question: 'Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today?' Voters were given six choices: taxes, education, health care/Medicare, the war in Iraq, national security/terrorism, and the economy/jobs.

"In four of the five states for which exit polls are available -- Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma and South Carolina -- Democratic voters placed national security/terrorism at the bottom of the list. Only in tiny Delaware, on the East Coast and not far from Ground Zero, did Democrats place more emphasis on the issue -- and even then, it was in next-to-last place.

"Democrats in every state placed the economy/jobs issue in first place."

Misplaced strategy