Edwards can beat Hillary or Kerry with ease.

[Clarkie1]

I say this as a Clark supporter. If Clark and Gore both do not enter the race, it is obvious that Kerry certainly cannot compete with Edwards, Obama, or Hillary.

Hillary will be a tougher challenge, but I believe that either Edwards or Obama can and probably will beat her (if they don't split the anti-Hillary vote between themselves)

If Gore enters the race but Clark doesn't, Gore wins.

If Clark enters the race but Gore doesn't, I think Clark will certainly beat Kerry, and be competitive with Edwards, Hillary, and Obama.

If both Clark and Gore enter the race, I think Gore, Edwards, Obama, Clark, and Hillary will be the top tier.


That's my analysis tonight of 08' for what it's worth. Or not.

[Common Sense Party]

1. Let's say it comes down to Edwards and Obama. Who wins? n/t

[Clarkie1]

2. Really tough call.

It's possible the split the "anti-Hillary" vote between them, depending on who else runs.

I hope that doesn't happen; I'd prefer Clark as my first choice if he runs but Obama or Edwards over any of the others except for Gore.

Edit: if it came down to having to choose between Obama and Edwards I'd choose Obama because of the IWR vote.

[Erika]

4. Obama is young

Give him another four years.

[Clarkie1]

6. So is Edwards.

Edwards doesn't have significantly more international or foreign policy expereince than Obama. For that reason, I would strongly prefer Clark over either, but Obama wins because of Edward's IWR vote.

[Nedsdag]

27. So what you are saying

is that the Democrats will lose in 2008? Interesting.

As for the "no-experience-wait-your-turn" crowd, how long is long for someone to run? If he wants to run, let him run! Last I checked it was still a free country and he is qualified and eligible to run for President.

[Infinite Hope]

34. Edwards. Obama is repeating Edwards' message only Edwards has more experience...

...and credibility based on long term commitment to his cause. While Obama is very interesting, I have yet to see anything to back up his rhetoric. To me, he seems more the opportunist. If he runs this time, which I don't believe he will, it'll ruin his chances of running in the future because his skeletons will come out and he'll be branded an opportunist who was state senator two years ago, ran for senate and put out books, then runs for president. Trust me, that won't play well in rural states. They don't like someone who so much as appears opportunistic.

[knowledgeispwr]

35. Good post

I agree that Edwards would come out on top and that Obama would be foolish to run this go-around.

[Imagevision]

38. I saw Edwards do a speech, he was using a script, haven't seen Obama use one yet...

They're both very good, but Obama hasn't had half the exposure Edwards has experienced. too early to call...

[Erika]

3. We need to go for Gore/Edwards

Gore for his intellectualism and Edwards for his optimism.

[tritsofme]

22. Edwards can't be the VP candidate again

He starts to look like the Dems perennial #2 guy, and it will be the fourth set of possibly conflicting campaign talking points he'll have to go on the trail with.

Its either all or nothing for Edwards at this point.

[Speck Tater]

5. Oh Yeah? Well Superman could be Edwards and Batman put together. n/t

[Superman Returns]

18. true

[antiimperialist]

7. Hillary will win easily

Hillary will devastatingly beat anyone including Obama.
She has the money and the votes.

[Clarkie1]

8. I don't believe that. If you asked me that a month ago I would have said probably so.

But not now.

[antiimperialist]

12. I hope you are right

Because Hillary is at the bottom of my favorite among the Democratic candidates.
But since 1/3 of Democrats voted for warmongering Joe Liberman, who is 10 times worse than Hillary, I don't see Democrats not electing Hillary based on her vote for the Iraq war.

[Clarkie1]

13. 1/3 of Democrats nationally did not vote for Lieberman,

Not even by a long shot!

[antiimperialist]

14. I'm referring to CT.

A blue state.

[Clarkie1]

20. A popular incumbent senator won.

That has nothing to do with Lieberman's popularity nationally with Dems. You are comparing apples and mangoes.

[antiimperialist]

36. I didn't say he's popular with Dems in CT

I said 33% support him in CT.
He's popular among moderates and Republicans.

[MannyGoldstein]

11. The Vote On AUMF...

Redefining bankruptcy... two "Patriot" acts... sole sponsor of a bill to criminalize flag burning... yeah, she has the votes...

And she's still defending the war... proxy attacks on Dean... fleeing from her duty to censure Bush... etc.

[dsc]

23. she didn't vote at all on the bankruptcy bill

and given her past votes against similar bills it seems logical she would have voted against it. In short, stop telling stories about her record.

[MannyGoldstein]

24. There Were Two Bankruptcy Bills

She voted for the awful one in 2001 (e.g., http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/37479/). She missed/skipped the vote on the slightly-more-awful one in 2005.

I don't think that I'm telling stories about her record - her record tells its own story.

[Hardrada]

21. We are not wowed by her here in Iowa.

And she has to wow us to get anywhere.

[dailykoff]

9. Like he did in '04?

When he actually held an elected office?

[Clarkie1]

10. No, like he will in 08'

It's clear to me Edwards is a stonger candidate than Kerry, and will pull in more votes than Kerry. I also think he will be competitive with Hillary and Obama.

Of all of these mentioned, I prefer Obama.

If Gore runs, I prefer Gore.

If Gore and Clark run, I prefer Clark.

[blm]

29. Then he will prove that during the debates where he will easily dominate.

Right? So let's let them all have at it. And we'll see.

[TomInTib]

15. Whatever. We need to have a broadened target field.

Float all manner of possibilities out there.

Just do not give them a long-range target.

[Clarkie1]

19. Good idea. nt

[MannyGoldstein]

16. Hillary/Zell - Unstoppable

'nuff said.

[AJH032]

17. are you equating the two?

I certainly hope not.

[nuxvomica]

25. Why not Gore/Clark?

That would probably be my dream ticket and it seems they would be unstoppable. Don't forget that Gore has already proven he can win the presidency.

[IndianaGreen]

26. I don't care who beats Hillary, as long as she is stopped on her tracks

Hillary is a disaster for Democrats and for the country!

[blm]

28. Why? Have you heard that there will be NO DEM PARTY DEBATES for this primary?

I guess you never heard about the large and hush--hush focus group from last June that showed the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you state?

[zulchzulu]

30. Edwards' stellar record as Senator...er, uh...

How do you back up your theory with anything other than just, um, your, um, Sears crystal ball? I'm curious. What's the matchup?

Does Edwards have more experience than Kerry? More ideas about _______? Inform me...say I'm just curious.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. Yes Edwards couldn't beat Kerry in 2004

What has changed?

[wisteria]

32. If Edward's couldn't beat Kerry in 04, what makes you think he could in 08?

Edward's has been out of office for a while and has limited experience. Kerry can not be beat on experience, knowledge and passion. I will not bash Edwards, I just think he offers a very limited package. I want real experience leadership this time.

[Realist2008]

37. hahaha

its funny you think kerry has a shot. the man is as exciting as box of sticks. clark or edwards would have won in 04.

[cadmium]

41. Yes they would have -- if they had more votes.

It's a glitch. It's like saying that if I could speak Chinese I could certainly speak it better than you

[politicasista]

39. delete, wrong spot n/t

[Infinite Hope]

33. Well, not Hillary with "ease," but I believe he'll beat her. n/t

[politicasista]

40. It's is too early

How about waiting until the primary debates. Your posts make it seem like you speak for the average voter.

Oh, you think the media is going to go easy on Edwards? The unfortunate incidents involving Democrats show that NO candidate is above swiftboating. If you don't think that, then you're in for a rude awakening.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

42. You're absolutely right.

At this point we have no way of predicting what might happen. There are always surprises: somebody has an unfortunate slip of the tongue; a previously-unknown skeleton falls out of a closet; the situation in the country or the world changes; the Republicans' candidate turns out to be somebody we never expected; a dark-horse candidate shows up and grabs everybody's attention. To limit the possibilities to Hillary, Edwards and Obama, and to assume the nominee will be one of them, is just ridiculous at this stage. Many unexpected things can happen before a nominee is selected.

And as far as swiftboating is concerned -- it will happen no matter who the nominee is. We've already seen that if the Republicans can't find any dirt on somebody they will just make shit up. The thing is that all the candidates have to be ready for it.