The national broadcast news media continued its focus over the weekend on North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, after his announcement Thursday that he would seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

Edwards was a featured topic of discussion on most cable and over-the-air news programs, with conservative and liberal pundits gauging his potential. Also, Time magazine’s website tabbed Edwards as its “Person of the Week.”

Time reporter Jessica Reaves, after describing Edwards’s background as a trial lawyer, wrote that he “has since built a reputation for moderate political views…” The article also painted Edwards as a Democrat from conservative Southern states, in the mold of Clinton, Carter and Johnson, “which seems to help deflate Republican charges of Democrats’ rampant liberalism.”

An analysis by the conservative Media Research Center rebutted the theory, maintaining that Edwards rating with the American Conservative Union was “a measly 12 percent.” Likewise MRC asserted that in 2001 Edwards was viewed favorably by the liberal Americans for Democratic Action on 95 percent of their issues.

“That’s the same rating assessed to Senators even reporters usually concede are liberals: Barbara Boxer, Chris Dodd, Barbara Mikulski, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton,” MRC reported.

MRC also noted that on the Jan. 2 “Special Report with Brit Hume” (with substitute host Tony Snow), Fox News Channel reporter James Rosen identifed Edwards as a moderate who “bucked his state’s textile lobby and voted for permanent trade relations with China.”

But Edwards’s voting record didn’t escape CNN’s Candy Crowley, who hosted “Inside Politics” Jan. 3. In an interview with Edwards, she asked where he placed on the political spectrum.

“The liberal groups tend to give you high ratings,” Crowley said. “The conservative groups give you low ratings. Are you a liberal Democrat?”

Edwards responded, “I’m a mainstream North Carolinian. I think my views and my values represent the values of most people in this country.”

Conservative pundits on CNN and MSNBC, emphasizing Edwards’s support from the nation’s trial lawyers, challenged Edwards’s claim to represent America’s “regular” voters.

“Now, this is a multimillionaire,” said conservative columnist Robert Novak on CNN’s “Crossfire” Jan. 2, “who lives in mansions in North Carolina and in Washington. How the hell is he close to the regular people?”

Novak also cited a report in the Washington newspaper Roll Call which said Edwards’s political action committee received $1.19 million, or 86 percent, of its $1.39 million in contributions from trial lawyers.

“When you have nearly 90 percent of your contributions from one economic class,” said Novak, “you are in their pocket.”

Democratic strategist Vic Kamber, on the same program, defended Edwards as a professional who has succeeded, much like the new Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is a surgeon. On MSNBC’s “Hardball,” Democratic operative Donna Brazile, said Edwards had“a humble beginning,” who worked hard to get through law school.

But Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway, on CNN Jan. 3, likened Edwards’s political views to those of liberal activist Al Sharpton, who also recently announced plans to run for president.

“You have Al Sharpton, in just the last day or so, saying he wants to reclaim the liberal wing of the Democratic Party,” Conway said. “John Edwards, someone like that, already votes that way.”

Conway also cited Edwards’s limited support in his home state, as exemplified in November’s elections.

“Edwards did very little to help that Senate seat being vacated by Jesse Helms in North Carolina to go in Democratic hands,” she said. “Elizabeth Dole won the seat.”

Chesser is associate editor of Carolina Journal