How much did Clark not running help Kerry?

[ButterflyBlood]

Kerry appears to be the second choice of most Clark supporters, and thus who most Clark supporters in Iowa went to (that also explains how Kerry led among anti-IWR voters). While Kerry still did magnificantely well getting twice as much as Dean, in NH he'll have Clark taking away votes from him, as well as the most DLC candidate in the race whereareas Kerry was the most DLC in Iowa (he's arguably more liberal than Dean, but the DLC sure as hell isn't backing Dean). So Kerry is going to have a much tougher time in NH, but do you think he can pull this off again?

[BeatleBoot]

1. I Give Up

How Much?

:7

[funky_bug]

2. Don't take it personally, k?

Hey, we concede... among most of us Clark supporters, our second choices are either Kerry or Edwards. We ain't knocking... 'cept maybe a little in our boots.

We're just curious :) Y'all got a serious jump last night (and again, Congratulations)!

[Snivi Yllom]

3. Kerry's gain is Clark's loss

I predict Kerry gets more votes from Clark than from Dean in NH.

[Qutzupalotl]

4. I sensed a last-minute reaction

going toward a candidate with national security credentials. I admit I had all but written off Kerry. What an astounding comeback. I will certainly support him if he's the nominee.

I see Clark as being even more solid in that area, and a force to be reckoned with. He doesn't have Kerry's track record, though. On the other hand, Clark can be billed as an outsider with new ideas. I'm guessing that Dean's lower-than-expected performance in Iowa will hurt him going into New Hampshire. If NH voters have the same motivations as I think the Iowans do--that is, we need national security to beat Bush--then I think we'll see a slight dropoff in Dean's numbers and a boost for Kerry and Clark. Clark especially should do well--they've gotten to know him over these last few weeks.

[bearfartinthewoods]

5. check out the exit polls

national security is passe with everyone but hard core freeps.

'it's the economy stupid'

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Granted

but even more important (and for some reason not polled) is beating Bush. That's the one thing everyone agrees on. I've also heard people say they wanted a positive campaign, which explains Edwards. Kerry has toned down his criticisms of Dean lately, and so he got a big bump too.

For some reason, when Kerry would bash Dean in the debates, my opinion of him went down; it looked pathetic. But when Dean bashed Kerry and the others, the way he did it appealed to me. So I guess I have a double standard there. I like Dean when he's criticizing. He can definitely rally our base. But the Iowa media played that one clip of Dean telling a questioner to sit down, which hurt him. They got tired of any negative campaigning.

[Bread and Circus]

7. Polls schmolls...

Kerry winning in Iowa last night is a testament that
smart Dems know we needs someone w/ FP XP to challenge Bush.
FP is an issue.

The fact that Kerry and Clark's numbers in New Hampshire together
add up to a lot also tend to indicate that.

We know that beating Bush is going to be about beating him
both at home and abroad, not just one or the other.