Edwards vows a fight for New York

[maddezmom]

North Carolina senator, in Buffalo visit, says Kerry shouldn't be too confident

By ROBERT J. McCARTHY
News Political Reporter 2/21/2004


Trailing by more than 50 points in the latest poll of New York Democrats, Sen. John Edwards vowed in Buffalo on Friday night to "fight for every vote" at stake in the March 2 presidential primary, even as Sen. John F. Kerry was shifting his campaign focus to more competitive states.

The North Carolina senator, posing the only obstacle in Kerry's effort to wrap up the nomination on Super Tuesday, told reporters following a rousing speech at the Polish Cadets Hall on Grant Street that Kerry should not consider New York locked up after a Marist College Institute for Public Opinion poll showed the Massachusetts senator leading, 66 to 14 percent.

"If he is, he's making a mistake," Edwards said. "I intend to fight for every vote I can get in New York."

Indeed, Kerry's populist message seemed to impress an overflow crowd jammed into a small and stifling meeting room. But even while hammering home his stock message blasting President Bush for economic policies creating "two Americas," Edwards could not escape developments that showed him facing an extremely steep uphill battle.

~snip~

more: http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20040221/1052376.asp


"Indeed, Kerry's populist message seemed to impress an overflow crowd jammed into a small and stifling meeting room." Think the author, subbed Kerry's name for Edwards. Honest mistake??

[AP]

1. Cute typo: "indeed Kerry's message"

[JohnLocke]

13. Skepticism about poll

From the article:

Sources within the Edwards campaign said they did not believe the Marist poll, which surveyed 404 Democrats likely to vote. It was conducted Tuesday through Thursday, and has a margin for error of plus or minus 5 percent. The poll also showed the Rev. Al Sharpton of Brooklyn at 7 percent and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio at 3 percent.

Edwards, meanwhile, reminded reporters that polls in Wisconsin showed him trailing by 30 points just before primary day. He garnered 34 percent of the vote to Kerry's 40...

:wtf:

[patricia92243]

2. How long does Edwards think he will be able to compete

[AP]

4. Probably at least through March 9.

He's going to do well in TX and FL.

If he gets his four TV debates, he'll probably do pretty well everywhere else.

[seaglass]

3. Kerry hasn't taken a single vote for granted.

He is not reveling in his front-runner status as was Dean. He knows it is not over yet and he'll be in NY on Monday.

[AP]

5. He took yesterday and today off.

Something's up with him.

Either he's overconfident, or they're retooling because something isn't working and they're trying to fix it.

[seaglass]

7. Maybe he needed a break.

He's done a lot of traveling, tell me which of these states Edwards has traveled to:

Arizona
Delaware
Missouri
New Mexico
North Dakota
South Carolina
Oklahoma

Michigan
Washington

Maine

District of Columbia
Nevada

He's not overconfident. Even if the numbers look good for him right now, he does not dismiss Edwards nor how Dean may take his revenge. If he is retooling, that is a good thing. Campaigns do not remain static, which I know you know, and all campaigns need to adjust to facts on the ground. Something that Clark admitted he did not do and something that Dean also did not do.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. He did not take today off.

I just heard on CNN that he had PLANNED to take today off, but is traveling around the country campaigning instead.

[PATRICK]

6. Our nervous NY establishment

hasn't been very effective at anything lately. However, Edwards is likely not to have the time or ability to reach a winning number- which he might have done under different circumstances. I think he will close the gap significantly, but in order to win the nomination, something has to break into the winning column on Super Tuesday or his real momentum and superior campaigning or better message will simply be reduced to hypotheticals at best.

IF Kerry were to debate Edwards one on one and that were seen by voters here, that would seem the most likely possibility for Edwards to win. He is asking for such a debate.

New York does like getting ornery about things and will vote for Southerners and perceived winners, something different and shaking especially in times like these. Carter, Clinton, Jesse Jackson, Kennedys.

As for the "soft" poll, you'd better believe it! most of it is due entirely for the "inevitability" factor. Once it dawns on people it is a horse race it may change significantly especially with people giving Edwards a serious consideration.

[PurityOfEssence]

9. He needs to contest California too

It's disturbing to think that he's not going to really give it a try here; this state is still largely ignorant on the candidates. Most of us out here, even the moderately politically aware ones, were fairly convinced that our vote wouldn't matter in the primary season. As a result, polls are based on absolute ignorance, which always benefits the bandwagon.

[dawn]

10. He is.

He's coming out here next week. This weekend, Elizabeth is campaigning in Northern Calif. on his behalf.

And us volunteers are working our butts off as well. Which reminds me, time to stop ranting on DU and get to work! :)

[DjTj]

11. There's a lot going on in CA

http://wincalifornia.org/

[Kathleen04]

12. Thanks for the link! n/t

[spooky3]

15. way to go Dawn!

[arewethereyet]

14. stop making fun of northerners

they can't help it