Who has run the cleanest campaign so far?

[quinnox]

Question about the major candidates please, otherwise I know Braun or Kucinich would probably win in a walk.

[Catch22Dem]

1. DK wouldn't win even if he was a major candidate

He's gone on the offensive more than a few times. Clark, on the other hand, has not. I really haven't seen Edwards attack either.

[joeybee12]

2. I'd vote for Braun in this poll but won't vote for her in a primary!

Can't recall anything nasty or mean she's done or said.

But I do remember her lousy tenure in the US Senate.

[mzmolly]

4. Braun, yes she deserves mention.

:)

[mzmolly]

3. Clark frankly. He's had the luxury because he's polling well with so

little effort

And, as they say, "people who live in glass houses"...well you know the rest ;)

[Capn Sunshine]

12. Who's Clark Frankly?

and have you noticed none of the "get Howard " posts from Clark supporters here on DU almost hourly?

[Catch22Dem]

25. Clark supporters, yes

But Clark himself, no.

[CWebster]

42. Clark did finally announce his candidacy

and knock Edward's official announcement out of the news at the opportune moment.

[Cocoa]

5. Edwards

he doesn't seem to be very involved in any attacking, other than against Bush.

[Khephra]

6. Edwards

If we want to take things too far like some here do (and I'm not, I'm only being a bit sarcastic ;-) ), you could read some of Baun's comments as being "anti-male", so only Edwards is safe...and that's pretty much because he's not getting much screen time. Graham could count too.

(For those who need a chart to understand a joke: Braun has made some comments about it being time for women to take over, or close to that. I'm joking about it being anti-male, ok? Some people take things too far and I'm just pointing that out in my own way. ;-) )

[cavebat2000]

8. Edwards

Id say a tie between Carol and Edwards

[newyawker99]

41. Hi cavebat2000!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[chimpymustgo]

9. Edwards for sure. Unfortunately, it's kept him out of the headlines.

But slow and steady (and clean) wins the race.

[AP]

18. He never gets the "pile on Dean" five minutes the others get at debates

That must be a huge temptation. But he has resisted the easy way to get coverage.

[CWebster]

43. Edwards did attack Dean

on discussions of race in campaigns.

[PurityOfEssence]

26. And with typical Democratic Party practicality, he's dismissed out of hand

It's flabbergasting: not only does he have the best chance against Junior in the general election, but he could be a true statesman for the ages while bringing forth as liberal (oh, say "progressive" if you have to) an agendum as is possible in this somewhat-right-of-center country.

He just can't get a break. Kutcher can't get a flight in to the fundraiser he organized and all CNN can run is "Edwards stood up by celebrity". He sells his house to some American, and suddenly it's some kind of Saudisucking. All I can think is that he's had such a run of dreadful luck that probability must be stacked up on his side.

He's a truly good, warm and decent person. The only ones who seem to see what a threat he is to the neo-cons are the neo-cons themselves.

[KittyWampus]

7. What Do You Mean By Clean?

???

[maha]

10. Braun wins for cleanest campaign n/t

[quinnox]

11. Seems the consensus is Edwards

Somewhat surprising to me, I would have expected more votes for Clark.

Edit for spelling boo-boo.

[roughsatori]

13. Edwards NT

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. Braun...hands down

eom.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. adding here that Braun is a major candidate in my opinion. It

would be helpful if some of the spotlight were placed upon other "major" candidates. Just my opinion.

[Justice]

15. Clark

[WindRavenX]

16. Edwards

To be honest, I haven't heard him really say anything bad about the others...he's kinda lumped along with the other canidates and really doesn't stand out from the crowd, IMHO.

[quam]

19. Edwards, Easily.

Watch the debates, review the ads and compare with the other candidates - clean; the cleanest.

Oh, I would say Clark, but haven't seen his ads and have only seen him in a couple of debates. Not many opportunities to attack, like the other candidates, including Edwards. I like Edwards and support Clark, so far...

[WindRavenX]

20. Heh..

IMO, I think he's one of the weaker public speakers. Kinda of a nicer looking, better sounding Bush. I know that sounds REALLY harsh, but that's just what I've been getting from watching him. He's improved, that's for sure, but he isn't no where NEAR the level of Kerry when it comes to speaking...

[JohnKleeb]

21. John Edwards or Carol Mosely-Braun

[genius]

22. Dennis is running the cleanest campaign

At his speaking engagements, people frequently try to bait him with questions about the other candidates and he makes it clear he won't say anything negative aout the other candidates.

[Rooktoven]

23. Edwards hands down --nt

[David Zephyr]

24. Carol Mosely-Braun.

No question.

[Bread and Circus]

27. Clark -- has repeatedly complemented the other dems....

and has avoided being baited into attacking or lying
about the others.

[juajen]

28. Clark

N/T

[mrgorth]

29. Dean

Just kidding. Clark.

[RandomUser]

31. lol

I like your sense of humor.

:toast:

[tedoll78]

30. Braun.

Definitely.

Clark is excellent also, for not taking certain bait when he could have.

[curse10]

32. Edwards

he's a good guy

[ShaneGR]

33. Edwards, in a landslide

I can't recall him directly attacking anyone.

[FrenchieCat]

34. I'll say Clark...

Based on the number of times and the ferocity of the attacks, he has had more reasons and opportunity than Edwards has. Yet he has stayed clean, and in fact praises the other candidates. In SF at the luncheon yesterday, he complimented Dean for what he has done with his campaign and bringing new voters on board. He also said that they were all good guys and extremely talented. And it was a sincere complement. Now that's what you call Squeeky clean.

[maggrwaggr]

35. Clark, but not his supporters.

on DU the Clark supporters are like attack dogs.

(not me, of course. I'm a Dean/Clark guy)

[Rowdyboy]

38. Exactly, Clark but not his supporters

I'm a Clark/Dean guy

[sandnsea]

36. Not Dennis, he's actually made alot of swipes

They usually go unanswered because there's really no point, and his supporters don't notice because they're cheering. The cleanest campaigner is Carol or Edwards.

[JohnKleeb]

40. Youre right about that I think

and I agree: Carol or John Edwards.

[Adjoran]

37. Still undecided

so I think I'm objective.

I think it has been an extraordinarily clean campaign so far. All the candidates deserve compliments on this.

Attacking each other's positions and past statements isn't dirty. That's what they are supposed to do, after advancing their own agenda, they need to draw the lines of difference. You can campaign vigorously and fight hard without being dirty.

The closest thing to "dirty" campaigning I've seen (by the candidates themselves) is the sudden attack on Dean over the Confederate flag. He's said the same lines at the NAACP, and in front of other minority audiences, and been applauded for it. I wouldn't use the flag as a point of reference, and I think it is unfortunate that Dean did, but to portray him as anti-civil rights because of it is over the top, and reeks of desperation.

Dean is the clear frontrunner right now. That's a long way from being the nominee, but candidates should avoid taking cheap shots on others who might win the nomination, lest those tapes make it to Rove's databases.

[Doomsayer13]

39. Braun by far

[DrFunkenstein]

44. Dean

O8)