What do you credit Edwards momentum to ...

[Taeger]

I think Edwards ravenous anti-NAFTA rhetoric (along with Clark dropping out) is giving him all the recent momentum.

After Dean drops out, I believe most of his folks will go over to Edwards.

We are looking at a two horse race and Edwards is talking up the #1 issue in America. Who wants to bet that Edwards wins big on super tuesday becomes he takes a SOLID position on ending free trade?????

[spooky3]

1. my guesses: your factors plus news. endorsements, he spent a lot of

time and $ campaigning there, crossover and/or nuisance votes from independents and Republicans, the dropping out of a highly competitive Gen. Clark, and last but not least--he is an excellent candidate with an excellent platform that is just beginning to get some of the media attention he deserves--i.e., he should have been doing better before but was dismissed lightly.

[arewethereyet]

2. NAFTA is the silver bullet and Edwards owns it

and if that supposed interview with the "intern" really DOES come out to see the light of day, so much the better and quicker.

[Taeger]

9. BTW ...

If Edwards "owns" anti-NAFTA, he must have stolen it from Kucinich. Kucinich is the guy that pushed free trade into the debate. Edwards VERY SMARTLY was listening and picked up on this powerful message.

[BringEmOn]

21. I suspect we haven't heard the last of Alex Polier

I was just reading her statement and wondering why an intelligent reporter, a journalism graduate, would think that the rumors, if ignored, would just go away?? Rumors about a possible affair during a presidential campaign?

Asked why it took her so long to speak out, she said: "Because these stories were false, I assumed the media would ignore them. It seems that efforts to peddle these lies continue, so I feel compelled to address them."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,1271,-3756005,00.html

[eileen_d]

3. I am so tempted to say "Skull and Bones"

please forgive me O8)

I think Edwards' strong anti-NAFTA position is certainly getting results for him. It is an important issue, but is it the most imporant issue for voters? that's what I'm not sure about.

I hesistate to make any predictions until a few more primaries roll by. After all, Kerry did beat him by at least 5 points.

[MurikanDemocrat]

13. LOL! You got me started doing that tonight too!

:D

[auburnblu]

4. Kerry may have Bob Dole syndrome

While Dean is too energetic sometimes, Kerry gives Bob Dole a run for his money seeming like he's in slow motion.

Edwards appears to be someone with passion.

[SangamonTaylor]

5. local media

The local newspapers have made significant impact on late coming voters in both Iowa and Wisconsin.

[David Dunham]

6. AFL-CIO Endorsement Will Put Kerry Over

Every Dem candidate who gets this endorsement has won the nomination.

[spooky3]

16. Unfortunately, the private sector labor force is only 8% organized

these days. In the 1930s this % was much higher. It has declined steadily since, and it no longer has the political clout it once had. And, unions and their members do not all unite around one candidate. Witness what happened in Iowa.

So while all endorsements are nice to have, you're implying that it will have a significant impact on getting the nomination, and the evidence just does not support that.

[IndianaGreen]

7. ABK and Edwards's charisma

Charisma is something that Kerry does not have. Edwards has less baggage than Kerry.

'Objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear.'

-- John Edwards

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/17/elec04.prez.edwards/index.html

[PurityOfEssence]

8. His personality and directness

He's got charisma to burn, and he's so thoroughly prepared and thought-through that many are simply wowed by him when they finally see him.

He's a straight arrow without being a mama's boy or a snit about it, and he embodies the deepest hope of iconic America: that anybody can make it.

One of the advantages of a short political career is less baggage and unfortunate votes to have to explain away. He's also fought like hell, while still being civil and upbeat.

[no name no slogan]

10. He's cute, not controversial

and his position statements are so full of vagueness and policy-wonkery that you can easily find him supporting just about anything you want to project onto him.

The media also loves him for this, too. He's photogenic. He's not controversial. He has no vision beyond the end of his nose. This makes it easier to parse him into tidy soundbites for the six o'clock news.

He's the perfect candidate for the media to digest-- no bones, no warts, nothing to get hung up on.

[DjTj]

11. credibility on NAFTA...

...he has been able to work it right into his whole "son of a millworker" theme.

Edwards has always been able to present a remarkably consistent message so it sounds very credible when he says, "When I go into the White House I will wake up every day and fight for working Americans."

[Mick Knox]

12. Open Primary = edwards close .... n/t

[WilliamPitt]

14. Republicans

[spooky3]

18. The numbers do not support this claim.

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

Those satisfied with or enthusiastic about * were less than 17% of tonight's voters. Of them substantially less than half chose Edwards. So while the crossover is a factor, it clearly is not the only factor or even the most important one.

[atre]

19. Republicans will vote in the GE, too.... The GE is like an "open primary."

nm

[Shanty Oilish]

15. Contrast

1. Youthful vs. weathered
2. Positive vs. stern
3. Clark endorsed Kerry
4. "Not so fast, John Kerry"

[corporatewhore]

17. its the jobs,stupid edwards is speaking out against it if DK got equal

media time and they regarded him with seriousness he would be on top

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

20. He's from the south, compassionate, conservative...

kind of like the guy he supported when he voted for the war. Nice and safe and pure vanilla. Warm, fuzzy, and cute. Nicely packaged by the DLC.

Kerry sold out. Edwards didn't need to.

[DemDogs]

22. Conservative? "Not so fast, bandera"

You use the word to slay Edwards, but it simply isn't true. Kerry has a much more DLC friendly voting record. Find me votes where Kerry is to the left of Edwards. And then remember that Edwards has to defend those votes in the South. He doesn't have the luxury of a Massachusetts constituency.
Edwards has been a truly courageous Senator.