It didn't take long for the speculation to begin about where supporters of John Edwards will end up on Super Tuesday and beyond: with Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Based on where Edwards began and ended his bid for the presidency -- the Ninth Ward of New Orleans - and the kind of campaign he ran, it seems to me that his supporters already have a home with the Democratic community service organization, Democrats Work.
Senator Edwards and his campaign had a deep and genuine commitment to making community service an integral part of political activism. It was embodied in Edwards' connection to New Orleans and his -- and his supporter's -- service work across the country.
With the innovative One Corps model, the campaign created a new way of engaging volunteers and supporters through service -- not as an afterthought or a political ploy, but as a central premise of the Edwards candidacy and the embodiment of the type of politics he wanted to build.
It was an admirable and worthy effort. And it doesn't need to -- and shouldn't -- end.
For over a year, Democrats Work has been connecting grassroots Democrats with service projects in their communities -- cleaning up parks and neighborhoods, planting trees, supporting schools, building houses, honoring veterans. We've helped mobilize over 1,400 volunteers at 55 service events in 10 states since we started. We even mobilized a group of Democratic volunteers to work with Senator Edwards in New Orleans last November. (We have the pictures to prove it!)
Like One Corps, Democrats Work asks people to do something a little different. We are asking Democrats to put their values into action in visible, tangible ways throughout the year. And Democrats are responding.
To all of you who have been part of this new service-based approach to politics: We need your help to continue building a new "politics of service" across the country. I hope you'll sign up and stay active.
No matter where you end up, you will always be welcome here.
Thomas Bates is the co-founder and executive director of Democrats Work.