Regarding your May 15 article "Edwards says Obama is the one": It is not surprising that John Edwards, the North Carolina senator who never was, would endorse Barack Obama, the Illinois senator who is not. They have so much in common. They both went to Washington with great fanfare but few accomplishments, and they did nothing to embellish their resumes other than talk big and position themselves to run for higher office.

Remember when, in 1998, John Edwards looked into the camera and promised us, "I don't want to be [the lobbyists'] senator; I want to be your senator"? Then he scurried around Washington trying to get the vice presidential spot in 2000 and managed to get it in 2004. He went to Washington to be his own senator.

Obama was elected to the Senate in 2004; it took him a little longer, three years, to bail out for higher office. So much for grand talk.

On the other hand, when Hillary Clinton was urged to seek the presidency in 2004, she declined, noting that she had promised the people of New York State that she would serve out at least one term. She fulfilled that promise and, by all accounts, has done an exceptional job.

Elizabeth G. McCrodden, Raleigh

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