He did so a few days before March 2, “Super Tuesday,” a clutch of primaries that ended his bid for the top slot on the Democratic presidential ticket.
The decision by Sen. John Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, to add Edwards to his ticket was immediately welcomed by Stella O’Leary, who chairs the lobby group Irish American Democrats.
“I’m very enthusiastic, thrilled with the choice of Edwards,” she said. “I think that Edwards’ kind of populism will appeal to Irish Americans.”
O’Leary said that the Irish American Democrats were planning a forum in Cleveland on Oct. 2, a month before the presidential election but just a few days before the vice presidential debate in the Ohio city.
She said that the group was going to invite Edwards to attend the event.
In his statement on Ireland, issued at the end of February, Edwards pledged his support for the Good Friday agreement and described Ireland as one of America’s most critical allies in Europe.
The statement came in response to a call by the Irish Echo seeking details of the North Carolina senator’s views on Ireland in general, and the Northern Ireland peace process in particular.
Referring to the then Irish presidency of the European Union, Edwards said in his statement that Ireland had been given an historic opportunity to help set the direction for Europe for years to come.
“I will work hard to support a strong U.S.-Ireland relationship, and look forward to making an official visit to Ireland,” Edwards said in the statement released at the time by his campaign headquarters.
“I am a strong supporter of the Northern Ireland peace process, and believe that the U.S. has a vital role to play,” he said.
Edwards, in his statement, pointed to “historic strides” by the Clinton administration in helping the peace process move forward, an effort that had culminated with the peace talks “so ably” chaired by former Sen. George Mitchell and the Good Friday agreement of 1998.
“The Good Friday agreement provides the framework for the way forward for all the people of Northern Ireland and I support its full implementation,” Edwards said.
He added that he regretted that the agreement had stalled, a situation that has changed little in the intervening months.
“Trust has broken down. With negotiations between the two sides under way, including the participation of Tony Blair, I am hopeful that the parties are on a path to get the process moving again,” the senator said.
The positions on Ireland expressed by Edwards came a couple of weeks after a broad ranging statement on Ireland from Sen. Kerry.
Kerry, whose confirmation as presidential candidate at the upcoming Democratic Party Convention in Boston is all but certain, had issued an initial statement last November.
The subsequent Kerry statement was longer and more pointed and took particular aim at President Bush’s handling of the peace process, which, according to Kerry, did not match up well with President Clinton’s record.
The Kerry campaign issued a third, brief, statement on Ireland just prior to President Bush’s recent visit to the Republic.
In it, Kerry urged “presidential leadership” with regard to the stalled peace process.
The U.S. had a strong interest in promoting peace and, as president, Kerry said, he would be ready to assist the British and Irish governments and all of those who worked for peace.