Edwards Blasts Alito Nomination

Perhaps forgetting momentarily that he is no longer a member of the Senate, John Edwards came out against the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel Alito in an e-mail to supporters today.

"President Bush is making yet another divisive choice nominating Judge Samuel Alito to the highest court in the land," Edwards wrote in an e-mail sent from his One America Committee.  Edwards  describes Alito as someone "who threatens our most basic rights and freedoms." (Text is available on the committee's blog.)

The former North Carolina senator/2004 Democratic VP nominee also used the message to make a fundraising request: "Our nation has gone dangerously off course, and it is abundantly clear that change will not come from the top down," he wrote, adding that his "Raise the States" program is an effort to rebuild the party from the bottom up. "I need your help to succeed," he wrote, offering a link to make a donation.

No sitting Democratic senator has yet come out in opposition to Alito, although several -- including Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) -- have expressed  concerns.

Edwards served for a single term in the Senate before retiring from the seat in 2004 to concentrate on running for president full time. He was ultimately selected by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) as the party's vice presidential nominee.  Since last November, Edwards has focused on highlighting the issue of poverty through a partnership with the University of North Carolina Law School.