I'm beginning to like this new Politico.Com for inside political analysis and an alternative to the phat WashingPost.Com.

They ask in a story today:

Is John Edwards playing possum to hide the strength of his fundraising operation?

That's the betting inside Democratic political circles as the overheated 2008 presidential primary races toward its first critical deadline: the March 31 financial disclosure reports.

Unlike other campaigns, Edwards hasn't released the names of fundraising team members, and the campaign demurs when asked its quarterly goal, saying only that it intends to exceed the $7.4 million Edwards raised in the 2003 first quarter.
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The Edwards camp is getting (attention) because he has pulled off a March surprise before. In 2003, Edwards held 175 fundraising events in the first quarter and stunned the political community by posting $7.4 million in donations. That sum set a first-quarter record and bested the front-runner, Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.), by about $400,000. It also catapulted Edwards to the top tier of a crowded primary field and contributed to Kerry's decision to make Edwards, then a North Carolina senator, his vice presidential running mate.

Edwards Keeps the Bottom Line a Secret

Have you seen the new stamp? Somebody screwed up.

As we have been saying since meeting him at his announcement in New Orleans, Edwards is running a smart third in the race while Hillary and Obama get most of the media spotlight, where potentially campaign damaging mistakes can be made, as Hillary has found out of late.

Clinton Trips Up Over Charity

Black Voters Begin to Shift To Obama Over Hillary, Poll Finds: Gore and Edwards A Close Third and Fourth

Looks like Edwards is going to run close to the rail and make a March surprise move around the 31st, when the campaign finance reports are due. If Gore were to be recruited into the race by his new Hollywood connections, that would cause Edwards' campaign some trouble. But most experts think Gore will stay on the sidelines.

We doubt either one would be satisfied with the Veep spot, so no chance for a Gore-Edwards ticket. But think about it. That would be a winner over any poltergeist the Republicans could raise to run, including Ronald Reagan.

McCain is still suffering from war-itis, while Guliani continues to climb in the polls. Could Hillary or Obama beat Giuliani? Many pundits say any Democrat will win this one, since Bush has screwed everything up so badly.

Is it really time to take a chance on a woman or a black candidate? We will see. If things go well, we'll be in Selma Sunday to do some reporting.