Kerry still has a tough time getting 50% of his own party, despite the

[milkyway]

best efforts of the DNC and media. Wisconsin voters were repeatedly told by the media that Kerry won the nomination and he's the one that can beat bush*, yet 60% of the voters voted No to Kerry. His support has never been strong. When the best argument his supporters make for Kerry being President is that he's the one best able to become President, it's not too inspiring. The media honeymoon is over for him, and it is just beginning for Edwards. Most voters know little about Edwards except that he sure does give a sweet speech. Let's see if after the next few days the media takes a critical look at Edwards.

Also, did the RNC screw up big time or what? It seems the candidate they wanted most was Kerry (or the post-Iowa Dean, of course). Yet they couldn't hold up a couple more weeks before going after Kerry. They have helped Edwards a lot tonight, and they may live to regret it.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Kerry is the strongest candidate that we have now!

Don't tell me about how John Kerry's support is weak.

I would choose him anyday over the rest.

:eyes:

[IndianaGreen]

35. Unlike Edwards, Kerry has zero attraction to independents and

moderate Republicans disenchanted with Bush.

Edwards can beat Bush!

[eileen_d]

"Zero attraction" - that's patently false

There's an ex-Republican for Kerry who posts here on DU, for example.

Either Edwards or Kerry could beat Bush.

[Catch22Dem]

2. I don't think that's the best argument his supporters make

Perhaps it's the only argument you hear.

[David Dunham]

3. Kerry-Clark in 2004!!

[ThomWV]

11. Absolute Agreement

An unbeatable pair

[PROGRESSIVE1]

13. Kerry/Clark 04'! Like father, like son, one term and he's done!

:kick:

[eileen_d]

4. This is a weak argument, considering there are still 5 candidates

in the race. In addition, the WI primary wasn't limited to Democrats - Independents and Republicans also voted. (Assuming your 60% is coming from the results of all voters)

[milkyway]

19. DK and Sharpton only got a few percent, and the GE will include repugs

and independents, and a lot more than tonight. The fact is, there was a constant DNC and media drumbeat for voters to jump on the Kerry bandwagon, and the majority of voters tonight said they would prefer not to.

[eileen_d]

28. The media is telling me to disagree with your premise.

The media is also telling me I should care about Janet Jackson's tit, but I don't, and I still think Kerry is a better candidate than Edwards and Dean.

Also, why would Republicans and Independents listen to some "DNC drumbeat" in the first place?

[boxster]

5. 82% of the voters voted "no" to Dean. What does that say?

Sorry for the sarcastic remark, but if you think Kerry's support - at 40% in WI and 50%+ in about half the states he's won - is weak, you aren't paying attention.

He's 15 for 17 and has won most states more than convincingly. If that isn't strong support, what is?

[OHdem10]

15. The local Media in Wi promoted Edwards just as in Iowa

He recived Newsspaper Endorsents and favorable coerage. The Media are pushing Edwards. They love his positive message and hope he would not go so hard on Bush--their real favorite. Watch to see all free Media Edwards gets the next couple of weeks. From watching and listening carefully, I get the feeling they are really pumping Edwards up so he can challenge Hillary in 08.

[milkyway]

24. Yeah, I know, Dean won't be the nominee. But the race has been reduced

to Kerry, Edwards, and a weakened post-Iowa Dean, and yet Kerry still can't get 50% of his own party in a favorable state. It seems to me that many of Kerry's votes have come from people that think they are supposed to vote for him, and once the media snowball starts turning against him those people will leave Kerry in a hurry. Kerry will probably still be the nominee, but it's not going to be easy.

[Dookus]

6. Why is 50% meaningful?

this isn't a heads-up election.

Why is 50 more meaningful than 53 or 48?

[mountainvue]

30%

of the voters in this primary were independent.

[scheming daemons]

25. Which is exactly who we need if we're going to win the GE...

[KittyWampus]

7. Dean Was The Candidate The GOP Wanted But They'll Settle For Edwards

Edwards has NEVER been subjected to the crap Clark has.

And most likely won't in the next week or so.

For instance, the major media never exposed Edwards' LIE about his father being a Mill worker.

His father was a Textile Mill Manager who went on to own a Textile Mill Consulting Business. Edwards grew up very comfortably middle class.

So Edwards' signature line was a fabrication.

And yet, Clark talked about growing up poor and working his way through (which he did) and Judy Woodruff basically called him a liar.

See the difference here?

[scheming daemons]

27. Wes is gone... give it up already... n/t

[ThomWV]

8. What A Load

Denegrating a candidate because he didn't win big enough. What a load of crap.

Do you know the difference between party loyalty going into the election once the Party has a Nominee and the process leading up to the selection of the Nominee? Get a grip .....

[MurikanDemocrat]

9. I heard it was because Skull and Bones had tonight off

[PretzelWarrior]

10. that's a pretty lame argument. look at the other side

which is that Dean is still in and has strong following. and Edwards is in and has a strong following. add to that the 2 non-candidates getting a percentage or two and you have a very split field.

You do a disservice to whoever your candidate is by making a big deal of not getting 50% this time. It was more surprising that other primaries got him above the 50% mark with so many in.

The important thing is momentum continues for Kerry, and people will give Edwards a solid look now. And Dean is out of it.

[George_Bonanza]

12. It's Kerry's fault he didn't quash the five-man field?

Oh wait, he's actually done, a couple of times. Kudos to him!

And again, if you make such unsubstantiated claims that the Democratic party and its leaders (like Gore, McGreevey, and Harkin?) subverted Dean's campaign, please back them up.

And guess what? Eighty percent of the people did not want Dean as the winner.

[BGrier]

14. MSNBC Reporting Heavy Republican Turnout For Edwards

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4297574/

What does this mean? Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary?

[mmonk]

18. yes

[BGrier]

22. Yes, but...

Why would a Republican go out and vote for any Democratic candidate in a primary? Is this good news for the Dems or did these GOP voters have some other motive?

In other words, are these guys going to vote for the Democratic candidate in November?

[Jacobin]

16. His support is a mile wide and an inch deep

or in my case, half an inch deep.

[Zomby Woof]

17. not nearly as a "tough time"

As Dean.

[XanaDUer]

23. Lol!

I suppose "tough" is subjective?

[Zomby Woof]

36. the campaign motto

It wasn't just the chair who was changed, it was the motto too...

Instead of "We Try Harder!", it became "Why Try Harder?" ;-)

[mmonk]

20. Kerry is still the best to face bush

[Catherine Vincent]

21. Don't worry. He'll get 100% in November

if he's the nominee. ABB!

[andym]

26. FYI, Exit poll says Kerry got 48% of Democrats

18% of Republicans
28% of Indpendents

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/WI/index.html

[scheming daemons]

30. We can't win in November with JUST Democrats...

Democrats will vote for either Edwards or Kerry in November in roughly the same numbers...

Independents would vote for Edwards in significantly greater numbers than they would for Kerry...

And our only way to win the election is to get 90% of the Dems (which either man would get) and at least 40% of the Indies (which only Edwards can get).

If you're strictly ABB, then Edwards HAS to be your man.

[NV1962]

29. What part of "594 delegates" don't you understand?

Here's the break down:
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/scorecard/index.html

Now don't you break down on the facts... One WI doesn't make a whole campaign. Honest.

[scheming daemons]

31. What part of 1,564 still needed don't YOU understand...

Kerry only has a quarter of the delegates he needs to win the nomination.

After tonight, Edwards needs 1,982.

That's not insurmountable.... Edwards needs to get 56% of the delegates remaining... or at least deny Kerry from getting 44% of those remaining to force a brokered convention.

Watch the newspaper endorsements in Super Tuesday states come rolling in for Edwards in large numbers.

Edwards can win this thing... and your post shows how scared the Kerry people are (and they should be).

[NV1962]

38. Suuuuuuuuuure

Dream on.

I'll be watching Super Tuesday results rolling in, and I don't need tortured maths to predict a sweeping win for Kerry there.

That isn't glee or condescendence; I've been hanging on to an incandescent nail before, myself, with the General, so I know well how looking at the numbers feels from the small odds.

But reality marches on mercilessly. On the upside, at least it's not 1979 or 1983 anymore: this year it's them sweating blood.

[tobius]

32. Don't forget BBV.

or that Clark is a right wing mole or the Clintons want to weaken Kerry or about 17 other wild eyed conspiracies.


You have to know how to accept rejection and reject acceptance.
Ray Bradbury (1920 - ), advice to writers

[TheDonkey]

33. Ridiculous, if Kerry is having problems what about the others

Dean had just as much publicity as Kerry before Iowa. He just made it very easy for the media to tear him up.

[capriccio]

34. Extremely contrary info

From CBS (report on recent poll that has Kerry beating Bush):

"One of the reasons that Kerry does so well against Bush is that he is able to keep the greatest share of Democratic voters -- he is the frontrunner for the party’s nomination both in the number of primary and caucus victories so far and in overall popular support, and as the choice of more than half the Democratic primary voters in this poll. In the General Election match-ups, Kerry would be the choice of 84 percent of Democrats, while 12 percent of Democrats would vote to re-elect the President. "

[yellowdawgdem]

37. Edwards favored by conservatives, not a surprize

It shows that with Clark out of the race now, conservatives naturally would prefer Edwards, since he is a Southern moderate. It doesn't mean that Edwards would be as strong as Kerry if he somehow got the nomination. Edwards has numerous strengths, but is inexperienced. He would do very well as vp, and that would give him the experience he needs.