Why do they say John Edwards is a 'lame-duck' senator? Won't he be up
for re-election in 2006?

Edwards' Senate seat was up for grabs this year. Edwards decided in
the fall of 2003 not to seek re-election. Erskine Bowles ran in his
stead, losing to Republican Richard Burr. When Edwards announced that
he would not run for the Senate, he became a "lame duck" (a politician
whose term of office is nearing an end).

"Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) announced yesterday [September 7, 2003]
that he will not seek reelection to a second term in the Senate next
year and will devote all his efforts to winning the Democratic
presidential nomination."

The Command Post: Edwards Declines Senate Reelection Bid
http://www.command-post.org/2004/2_archives/008404.html

"Edwards entered the Democratic presidential race with much fanfare at
the start of 2003, and he held open the possibility that he would run
for re-election to his Senate seat in 2004. By September of that year,
Edwards decided he would not run for re-election, betting his
political future on the presidential race."

WBNS-TV: Biography of John Edwards
http://www.10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2002209

"Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Burr grasped victory Tuesday night,
defeating former White House chief of staff, Democrat Erskine Bowles,
in a bid for Sen. John Edwards' former North Carolina Senate seat, the
Associated Press reported."

PBS Online NewsHour: Burr Scores Win over Bowles in N.C. Senate Race
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/key-races/nc_senate.html

While it is possible that Edwards might try to reclaim his seat in the
Senate, he may be a viable candidate for the Presidency in 2008, and
it seems likely that he'll set his sights on that goal.

I hope this is helpful. If anything is unclear, please request
clarification; I'll be glad to offer further assistance before you
rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

Good answer, thanks! Do you know, by any chance, do senate seats in
the same state always expire at different times? One of those articles
said Burr ran in '02 also, but that was only 2 yrs ago. Just curious -
wondering if you happen to know the answer...

Regarding the question you posed in the ratings section, you're right:
Senate seats are staggered in such a way as to expire at different
times.

"The Congress itself is divided into two chambers, the House of
Representatives and the Senate. Representatives are elected for
two-year terms with elections held in even-numbered years. Senators
serve six year terms, with elections staggered so that one-third of
the Senate is up for election every two years."

http://www.nvfc.org/leg/wunderstanding.html 

In 1998, John Edwards, a political newcomer, unseated the incumbent
Senator, Lauch Faircloth.

When Richard Burr ran for the Senate in 2002 (and lost to Elizabeth
Dole), North Carolina's other Senate seat was the prize. That was the
position formerly held by Jesse Helms, who retired.