The following is an excerpt from our June issue:

By Nicholas Carraway

For those of you who do not know Nicholas Carraway (I assume everyone does), he has spent the better part of the last twenty-one years traveling the country in a renovated R.V., working as a freelance reporter for a number of wonderful publications. His recent kick has been one-on-one interviews. Mr. Carraway has agreed to send the Main Street Journal his notes. Since he does not believe in the use of computers, the notes come in a large Federal Express envelope and are usually jumbled. The quotes you find in this article are mostly accurate; however, the questions may be somewhat out of place. This interview took place with Presidential candidate John Edwards at the Pink Sapphire Spa & Boutique in Manchester, New Hampshire.

NC Senator, thank you for taking the time to sit down.

JE Nick, the pleasure is all mine.

NC Senator, you are running as an Everyman in this race. Do you think that is an accurate label?

JE Look Nick, I own a truck. Probably a Ford or a Chevrolet. It is white, and it is sitting in front of my house.

NC I see. But during the 2004 campaign, you received two haircuts from celebrity stylist Joseph Torrenueva for $400 each.

JE That was a bit much, I agree. Today, my haircut will cost $225.

(Edwards turns to his stylist and asks her to ‘feather-the-sides’)

NC But do you see how people would have a hard time relating to that?

JE Nick, sometimes people just need a breather.

(Edwards lays back and places two cucumber slices over his eyes)

NC Let’s talk about Iraq.

JE Nick, there are sixty countries who have members of Al Qaida. How many of those countries are we going to invade?

NC And yet five years ago, you were strongly in favor of invading Iraq.

JE Let’s don’t go there.

NC But Senator, these are your words spoken on the U.S. Senate Floor. “As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I firmly believe that the issue of Iraq is not about politics. It is about national security. He (Saddam) has chemical and biological weapons today. We cannot wait for a terrible event – or if weapons of mass destruction are used, one far worse . . . (we must) address the clear and present danger posed by Saddam Hussein.”

JE (lifts the cucumber slices off his eyes) Tell me Nick, do I look young? You have probably heard me say my scars are all on the inside.

NC Trust me, I have never heard anyone say that.

JE (holds out hand to be manicured) Let’s talk about poverty Nick. Poverty is an issue I know plenty about.

NC I can see that.

JE See, I want to be a champion for the people I have fought for all my life – regular people.

NC Regular people?

JE (examines a nail on his hand) For instance – we have two public school systems in this country. We have one for the most affluent communities and one for everyone else. That is wrong.

NC And how do you plan to solve this problem?

JE I think an Edwards – Kerry ticket would be strong.

NC We have been down that road before. It didn’t turn out well.

(stylist cracks open and egg and begins rubbing mayonnaise and lemon juice on his face)

JE Nick, I’m a regular guy. I have a red Ford Focus parked in my driveway. Or is it an aqua colored Chevrolet Gallant?

NC No one seems to know.

JE Now, if you can wait about five minutes, I’m about to have my lips covered with avocado and guava juice. We can finish this interview when I’m done.

NC Guava juice? Maybe we should do this another time.

JE Whatever works for you Nick. Whatever. I’m just a regular guy.