https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2008-06-24/639641/

(Chet) Edwards for Veep?

By Lee Nichols, June 24, 2008, 3:20pm, Newsdesk

That's right, Chet Edwards, not John, is a name currently buzzing about the blogosphere as a possible vice presidential candidate for Barack Obama. The name of the conservative Waco congressman is being advanced by none other than Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who told Newsweek today:

“Anyone that Barack Obama wants is my choice for vice president. But I do think in the list of considerations there should be somebody from the House of Representatives and Chet Edwards is a person that many of us think would be a good person to be in the mix.”

See click here to see video of Pelosi going on the record in favor of Chet.

Edwards is a nine-term congressman who represented Texas' 11th District – which then included Fort Hood – from 1991 to 2005 and built a loyal following among military families. But in 2003, the now-disgraced, then-majority leader Tom DeLay targeted Edwards in his re-redistricting scheme and drew Edwards out of the 11th district and into the 17th, which stretches from south of Fort Worth, through Waco, and down past College Station.

Despite DeLay's efforts to make the district solidly Republican, Edwards' reputation for moderation helped him narrowly defeat right-wing crazy state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth in 2004, and a 2006 challenge from Van Taylor went nowhere.

UPDATE – Statement from Edwards: “It has been a privilege for me to work closely with Speaker Pelosi in behalf of our nation’s veterans, and I am humbled that she and others would suggest that the Obama campaign consider me for their vice presidential list. Given that I have not met with the Obama campaign regarding the vice presidential nomination, I would not want to speculate on the names being considered.

“My focus will continue to be serving my district and passing a VA-Military Construction Appropriations bill that respects the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans and our military families."