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A Tale of 2 (Rich) Candidates

Edwards, Romney draw different lessons from good fortune

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Dec 23, 2007 11:52 AM CST

(Newser) – John Edwards and Mitt Romney are both self-made millionaires who used their wealth to climb the political ladder, the New York Times reports. But Edwards is an old-school populist who chalks up the current 1920s-level income gap to Reaganesque policies eroding the middle class, while Romney thinks the key to growth is laissez-faire economics.

Edwards says he wants to slash Bush tax cuts as president; Romney wants to extend the free market to health care. Their diverging views reflect their career paths: Romney made his $350 million fortune making smart investments as the head of a consulting firm, while Edwards amassed his $30 million by going after big business as a lawyer.

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks to supporters during a campaign visit to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office in Spartanburg, S.C., Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007.  (AP Photo/Patrick Collard)
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, speaks to supporters during a campaign visit to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office in Spartanburg, S.C., Tuesday, Dec. 18,...   (Associated Press)
Mitt Romney (L) John Edwards (R)in a composite of separate presidential campaign 2008 appearances (AP Photos; Robert F. Bukaty (Romney) and M. Spencer Green (Edwards))
Mitt Romney (L) John Edwards (R)in a composite of separate presidential campaign 2008 appearances (AP Photos; Robert F. Bukaty (Romney) and M. Spencer Green (Edwards))   (AP)
Democratic presidential hopeful, former Sen. John Edwards D-NC., speaks at a campaign stop Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007 in Lisbon, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Democratic presidential hopeful, former Sen. John Edwards D-NC., speaks at a campaign stop Saturday, Dec. 22, 2007 in Lisbon, Iowa. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)   (Associated Press)
Democratic presidential hopeful, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, speaks at a campaign stop, Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Democratic presidential hopeful, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, speaks at a campaign stop, Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)   (Associated Press)
Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, speaks at a town-hall style meeting at the American Legion Hall, Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, in Rochester, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, speaks at a town-hall style meeting at the American Legion Hall, Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, in Rochester, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)   (Associated Press)
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