The proposal drew decidedly unenthusiastic responses from potential Democratic presidential candidates appearing Saturday in Lake Buena Vista , Fla. '' I think it 's important for Iowa and New Hampshire to maintain their status because having lived through this , I know how important the grass-roots campaigning is in both places to strengthening candidates and making them better for the general election , '' John Edwards , the former North Carolina senator and 2004 vice-presidential candidate , told reporters after a speech there .