Who would do best in the General Election debates? (all Dem candiates included in poll)

[Skip Intro]

Not that that's why you should vote for someone, but whoever we put up, that person has to be able to win. That means weathering, and effectively battling the repukes. Its not enough just to have the best ideas for the country, you have to be able to win, to defeat an aggressive opponent. We know how nasty, how criminal they can be. We know them. They will stop at nothing. Someone able to take a few punches and hit back is important. That's suddenly a big factor for me.

my .02...


Anyway, based on what you've seen so far, in the general election debates, who do you think would shred the repuke (that sounds like the title of a new game :evilgrin:) ?

[Mojambo]

1. Biden's the best in a formal debate.

He's slick as hell.

[polichick]

2. I agree that it has to be an ass-kicker...

Many Rep voters see nice as weak ~ if you want some of them to come over, forget nice. Even I'm sick of compromising, accommodating Dems ~ I want someone willing to really fight for Democratic principles, and not give a fig about who doesn't like him or her. (In fact, more people admire and respect that kind of person.)

[Progressive Friend]

3. Mike Gravel would kick ass in a general debate

...but I'm still voting for Kucinich.

[polichick]

5. Kucinich kicks ass just fine...

...when given a chance to speak!

[Jillian]

4. I don't think there is too much the GOP can throw at Biden

that he couldn't throw back at them.

And he would do it too. Biden does not get intimated easily.

[CTyankee]

6. It just DOESN'T MATTER! Remember how awful W was in the debates,

particularly the first one? And the walkie talkie under his shirt in the next one? A total doofus.

Yet I hate to say it but 59 million voters went and voted for the jerk anyway (I'm getting my stat from Greg Palast in "Armed Madhouse"). I doubt if any candidate, Republic or Dem, could ever equal W in sheer debate incompetency and be so downright embarrasing to the entire country.

Today on GMA, Claire Shipman flippantly said that some poll revealed that half of the American public "doesn't like Hillary." I don't know where she got her "fact." She didn't really reference it. But if true, that means that Hillary is generally disliked by lots of people (we don't know how many of this socalled "half" were even registered voters)at this point in time, Hillary will have to change lots of minds about her.

I'm looking for the Democratic candidate who can win the election, not just make me "feel good" about his/her debate performance. Kerry was stellar at that, but he sure screwed up in some very key areas...