John Edwards Courts Local Media

Mar. 26 - KGO (KGO) -- In San Francisco today, Democrat John Edwards applauds California's green energy goals. His campaign gets back into gear today following his wife's new cancer diagnosis.

Edwards came to California today to call for a ban on coal-fired power plants. The former North Carolina senator met with reporters today to talk about his plans to combat global warming.

Edwards said he wanted to talk about global warming, but the subtext may have been warming up the local media.

Former Senator John Ewards walked into a small room at the Palace Hotel filled with local reporters. He announced a new addition to his clean energy proposal -- a ban on construction of old-style coal-fired power plants.

John Edwards, (D) Presidential Candidate: "Since we know we're going to be using coal, certainly for a period of decades in this transformation, we want the coal-fired plants to be clean."

He also took questions on Iraq, advocating a pull-out by this time next year.

John Edwards: "But that has to be combined with engagement of other countries in the region and specifically the Syrians and the Iranians who have an incentive to help stabilize Iraq."

On health care, he advocates a government-run system to compete with private providers.

John Edwards: "It covers every single American. There's a requirement that employers either cover their employees or pay into a fund for coverage."

And on his wife's cancer diagnosis and his decision to continue campaigning...

John Edwards: "I will be there when she needs me. The great thing about Elizabeth, though, is that both of us, the reason we do this, is because we love our country so much and we want to serve our country."

For half an hour, Edwards answered every question until there weren't any more. It's not the kind of time local reporters generally get with a presidential contender. It's reminiscent of sit-around and talk about anything sessions that candidates have at high school gyms in Iowa or at soda shops in New Hampshire.

Now that California has an early primary, are we going to see this kind of retail campaigning?

ABC7's political analyst believes there's another explanation -- what he calls the invisible campaign.

Prof. Bruce Cain, Ph.D., ABC7 Political Analyst: "It's winning over the people that can give money, and it's winning over the reporters because the reporters are part of the free media."

The more free media you get, the less campaign advertising you have to buy. And when you're up against a fund-raising juggernaut like Hillary Clinton, free is very good.

Prof. Bruce Cain: "And one way to get that is to spend a lot of time in each one of the media markets getting to know the reporters and giving them as much access as possible."

Later this week, the numbers will be out and we'll see how all the candidates have done in their fund-raising.

As for winning over reporters, I'm sure candidates try, I'm not convinced it works.

ABC7 Extra:

Watch raw video of John Edwards' interview with reporters below.

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