Politics on the Hudson

Presidential candidate John Edwards not only walked “in the shoes” of a local health care professional, he did some of her work – including dressing and shaving residents at the Sarah Neuman Center for Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Mamaroneck.

“He is a very personable person,” nursing assistant Elaine Ellis, who was chosen to be Edwards’ partner for the morning, said afterward. “He was very easy to talk to, not intimidating.”

Coverage of Edwards’ work at Sarah Neuman was provided by a press pool, and according to a report from the Associated Press’ Beth Fouhy, the candidate at one point donned rubber gloves to rub moisturizer on 83-year-old Irving Zywoto’s legs and then gave him his morning shave.

Edwards also wheeled another resident, Toby Allan, to the cafeteria and greeted others as they ate breakfast.

The former North Carolina senator’s visit was part of the “Work a Day in My Shoesâ€? program initiated by the influential Service Employees International Union to have presidential candidates spend time its members to understand their jobs. Edwards was the first of the major presidential candidates to take part in the program.

“I want to applaud (Local) 1199 and SEIU for pushing this idea that the president of the United States should actually understand the kind of difficulties and struggles and the importance of workers like Elaine,” Edwards said at a press briefing that wrapped up his visit.

(Photo by Stuart Bayer/Journal News)