This thing is not over for Edwards yet (my #2 candidate)

[bluestateguy]

There is still an Edwards wins scenario, albeit a small one. He is now within striking distance in Iowa and an Edwards win there would be treated by the media as a major upset. He would get a lot of mo for New Hampshire, and would then be in good shape to win in South Carolina, and perhaps some of the other southern primaries. Edwards is a little down, but not out yet. He would be a strong nominee in November.

[LiberalVoice]

1. I agree..

[Bombtrack]

2. The problem for him is

that he doesn't have enough support in later states. Clark and Dean I believe are the only 2 who could win in places like Arizona, California, Tennessee etc

[AP]

5. Did Clinton win CA?

If Clinton won CA, then Edwards can.

[Bombtrack]

9. don't really understand that argument

believe me, I love Edwards. More than most Clark people. But the support for him hasn't materialized in later states which he will need, i believe, BEFORE the early primaries to compete with Dean.

He still has overall the best platform. Unfortunatly it's become evident that a blowhard like Dean can use lies and emotion to beat logic.

[AP]

11. Clinton was at single digits one month before NH. At that time, nobody

would have said he had a chance to win CA. By the time CA rolled around, he won (right?).

What I'm saying is that it's hard to say based on today that Edwards can't win CA. If he builds momentum as Clinton did, he will win CA.

[Bombtrack]

13. point taken but he wasn't running against a guy like Dean

who will have plenty of sabotaging republicans, in addition to his genuine democrat big support to help him out

[AP]

16. Yes he was. Jerry Brown.

No?

[Bombtrack]

17. I don't think Brown was EVER the frontrunner

.

[AP]

18. Far left liberals (like me) were taken in by him, and the media helped...

...and didn't he win NY (or didn't he come close)?

There was almost definitely a moment when it seemed like he could have taken Clinton.

[jadesfire]

34. not an open primary in California

you can only vote for the people in your party...

[tameszu]

30. Clinton had AFSCME other unions and was the money leader

in 1992. Plus Tsongas didn't have the strength of Clark or Dean.

[Sophree]

33. Bombtrack- what happened?

You were one of Edwards' strongest supporters! Like most people on this thread, I think that Edwards and Clark are the 2 strongest candidates and Edwards/Clark has been my dream ticket for a while now, too. So I understand your supporting Clark. I'm just curious, is all.

[BobbyJay]

23. The problem with that is, CLARK is this race's Clinton.

Not Edwards (who could end up a VP candidate).

[AP]

24. Almost two years ago, Clinton was asked who he liked in 04.

His reply: there's a young Senator from the south who reminds me a lot of myself.

He wasn't talking about Clark.

I know that things have changed, and Clinton might have changed.

But I don't think you can deny that Edwards (in addition to Clark) could turn out to be the Clinton of this race.

[BobbyJay]

25. I like them both don't get me wrong.

I just don't know if I like Edwards in this climate. Clark is just as connected with Clinton as Edwards is.

In all seriousness, I like a Clark-Edwards ticket and have for months.

[Dookus]

3. Correct...

Edwards seems to be almost everybody's "second choice", which isn't a bad position to be in.

Personally, I don't think he'd be a strong candidate in November. I like him a lot, but he comes across as too young and inexperienced. In any other year, he'd be a strong candidate - however, with the focus on war and national security, I suspect people will find him a little too green.

I do expect, however, that he's on everybody's very-short list for VP.

[AP]

6. Best war time presidents ever: Lincoln and FDR. One was a laywer, and the

other was confined to a wheel chair.

[Dookus]

8. I agree entirely.

but neither was first elected DURING a war.

I'm not saying *I* believe Edwards is too green. I'm talking about the perception among most voters.

[AP]

10. They were reelected during wars.

Has a general ever been elected during a war? Grant and Eisehower were elected a couple years after their VERY successful campaigns ended as a reward for their accomplishments.

[Maddy McCall]

14. Grant being a general helped him be elected because of the frontier

Indian Wars. He had a record of fighting Indians, and sadly this was what voters wanted in the late 19th c.

So, couldn't you say that his being a general was a positive to people concerned about what they thought was Indian aggression.

(Of course I am aware that the aggression was white--crowding American Indians off their land...but we will discuss that later :-) )

[AP]

15. Interesting. But, as you suggest, I doubt many Americans thought

of Indians as a threat to domestic security. They thought of them as standing in the way of American imperialsm.

I guess that was similar to the appeal of TR. He fought the Spanish in Cuba (or, at least he created an image as a uniformed imperialist in Cuba). In the early 20th century Americans liked that image as they searched aggressively for new overseas markets. (But TR only won one election, right?)

I can see how Grant and TR might have been appealing to similar feelings.

But I still think Grant and Eisenhower had more in common in the sense that they were being rewarded for battles already fought rather than being hired to defend people during their terms as presidents. It's the calm after the storm that made people like them more.

Could be wrong.

[xray s]

4. Edwards would make a great VP

I really like his positive message. I like his background and history of fighting for the "little guy".

He would be a great camapigner in the south.

[Leilani]

7. I think Edwards has run a very honorable campaign

and his supporters should be proud.

Clark is my man, but if Edwards wins, I'm on board, big time.

Although I'm a Blue Devils fan & Dean Smith is supporting Edwards.

[BigMcLargehuge]

12. he has a good organization

and lots of support in NH.

[Kahuna]

19. If Edwards wins IA, it most definately will generate headlines...

No doubt about that. It would be a "major" upset. I always said that Edwards could be the sleeper candidate.

[helleborient]

20. Edwards does have strong face-to-face appeal (n/t)

[Kathleen04]

21. I agree..

Edwards is my #2 also, if he somehow emerges as the nominee..I'll be excited to support him in the GE.

[mlawson]

22. Over for him?? He is in good shape, IMO.

His endorsement by the Des Moines Register is one huge indication. No one has voted yet; anything is still possible. I suspect we have a big surprise in store for the caucus returns on Monday night...

[leyton]

26. My main worries

I'm an Edwards supporter, my #2 is probably Clark, then Dean. I was very pleased on Sunday to hear that Edwards was endorsed and this his poll numbers now seem to be high and stable enough to set him off from those who have little or no chance.

But my main worries are these:

1) Edwards will do well in Iowa, but when he comes to New Hampshire, he will have a bit of trouble, I think. Dean could come out of Iowa damaged, but Clark won't, and Kerry probably won't. So Edwards has to contend with Clark now. If he places behind Clark in New Hampshire, it doesn't look good for Edwards in South Carolina.

2) If Edwards emerges as the anti-Dean in the South and the rest of the primary appears to be a battle between Edwards and Dean, then there's the chance that Dean would win the nomination... and Edwards would probably not be as much of a contender for VP, since the two would have been fighting it out through the primaries. If Edwards can't make the Democratic ticket this year, I fear his political career might be over or near over. But if Clark emerged to the Southern contender for the nomination, he could get the nod and make Edwards VP, setting Edwards up either for a run for president in 2008 or 2012.

[arewethereyet]

29. you worry too much !

I really don't think he has to beat Clark in NH, just be respectable. That does NOT mean that I think he can't or won't beat him when he wins Iowa (hey, I'm a true blue Edwards guy and it COULD happen).

With a head of steam, he can come back home and make immediate ground and win there as he should.

I really believe him when he says he's not interested in VP and I don't think he worries about his "political career". The guy is a winner and if this doesn't work out, he'll set another goal and give that hell as he has done very well indeed his entire life.

Go Edwards !

[leyton]

35. heheh

thanks... I'm a bit overanalytical when it comes to these things. Despite my concerns, of course, I still want Edwards to make the best showing possible in these first three primaries.

[arewethereyet]

36. Amen to that !

And I'm convinced we'll all be tickled pink over it.

All the acrimony only helps our boy and everyone else's expense. They are charitable to a fault but I'll take it !

[DjTj]

37. ...as far as Edwards future...

...even if the Dems lose the White House (which would only happen if Edwards wasn't on the ticket) he would still have a place in the party or in the Easley administration. It certainly would not be the end of his political career. Everyone recognizes his talent and would find a place for him somewhere.

[Maddy McCall]

27. Absolutely! It's not over for him by any means...

I would gladly cast my vote for Edwards. :-)

[Clark4VotingRights]

28. Oh, it's definitely not *over* for Edwards. He's a rising star.

eom

[Aunt Eunice]

31. South Carolina..

..is make or break for Edwards.

He can flub Iowa and pull a 3rd or 4th in NH.

He has to be number 1 in SC, and his biggest obstacle may well be Al Sharpton.

Does anyone know if the SC Dem party will be able to afford to open all of the polls for the primary?

[Sophree]

32. Go Edwards!

I am so glad that people are starting to take a serious look at his candidacy.

[Name removed]

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[cosmicdot]

39. "but he is too young" ... he's 50 years old.

n/t

[mbali]

40. Bill Clinton was 46 when he became president

so how is John Edwards "too young" at 50?

[mzmolly]

41. Your right. Edwards is in this thing for a while

:hi:

[angee_is_mad]

42. that's why Clark need him

if and when Clark wins the nomination. Those two would be an awesome duo(goodlooking too) and Edwards could help to deliver the midwest and help bring the south back. Clark would take care of everything else.

Also, I feel that they would get the women's votes and the minorities would come out in fullforce for them.