Edwin Edwards Says Democrats Need To Be More Moderate

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, a longtime Democrat, says he tells state Democratic leaders that the party needs to move to the center and persuade people that it doesn't advocate socialized government.

Though the Democratic Party has faced a string of losses in Louisiana and hasn't attracted well-known candidates for any statewide elections this fall, Edwards says he believes the party will attract people again. He compared politics in Louisiana and the nation to the swing of a pendulum, saying no one party stays victorious forever.

Edwards, who recently completed a more than eight-year prison sentence on federal corruption charges, spoke about politics and his legacy Monday to the Press Club of Baton Rouge.

When asked how the Democratic Party can re-brand itself, Edwards first quipped, "Change the name."