Why was John Edwards considered a rising star?

From the material available to me, it seems as though John Edwards was thought of in political circles as something of a rising star and events seem to reflect that. His Senate career ended with a run for president in 2004, which eventually led to him being tapped by the Kerry team for the Vice Presidency and even receiving a vote in the electoral college (albeit written as "John Ewards"). In 2008, both the Clinton and Obama teams saw him as the one to beat and, though he placed third in Iowa, was a front runner for the VP nomination yet again prior to the news of his affair breaking.

So why was John Edwards seen as such a hot commodity in the 2000s? Sure, he was young and relatively attractive with some bold-ish ideas regarding poverty in America, but his oratory skills are nothing to be envious of and he comes across as an empty suit. Anyone care to explain the attraction?

TL;DR: What made John Edwards such a standout in the early 2000s?