WASHINGTON (AP) -- An upcoming memoir by one of his top consultants says Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards was pushed into voting for the war in Iraq by advisers concerned about his political future.
In his autobiography, which is due out in June, Democratic strategist Bob Shrum says the then-North Carolina senator likely would have been a stronger presidential candidate in 2004 if he had been allowed to follow his own instincts about the matter.
Edwards ultimately became John Kerry's running mate on the Democratic ticket that lost to Bush and Vice President Cheney.
But a spokesman says Edwards made his decision after hearing from national security advisers and based on the intelligence he was provided, and that he didn't base his ultimate vote on any political calculation.
