Edwards softens rhetoric

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who has been most vocal among the top Democratic presidential hopefuls in attacking frontrunner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), softened his rhetoric Sunday before a national audience.

{mosads}Edwards appeared on CBS’s Face the Nation three days after he was booed at the Nevada Democratic debate for criticizing Clinton. Earlier in the week, Edwards had made some waves when he did not answer the question of whether he would support the former first lady if she won the nomination.

Edwards softened his tone noticeably Sunday.

When asked if he thought Clinton was not electable or should not be president, Edwards responded that he “wouldn’t say either one of those things,” adding that Democratic voters will have “real choices in this election.”

The former senator pointed out some of the policy differences between his campaign and that of Clinton, especially on how they would deal with Iran and withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

Asked about a Senate measure designating part of the Iranian military as a terrorist organization, Edwards only said that he has a strong disagreement with Clinton on her decision to back the legislation but added that she is entitled to her position.