NYT says Des Moines Register to endorse John Edwards tomorrow...

[flpoljunkie]

http://nytimes.com/2004/01/11/politics/campaigns/11DEMS.html?pagewanted=2&hp

To muddy matters more, Democrats said it has been increasingly clear that any success by Senators Kerry and Edwards at coming in second or third could draw votes from Mr. Gephardt or Dr. Dean, pulling them out of first place. That dynamic has become particularly apparent with Mr. Edwards, who is making a concerted effort to draw votes from Mr. Gephardt, to the concern of Mr. Gephardt's advisers and to the delight of the Dean camp.

And Mr. Edwards was expected to receive a big lift from the endorsement of The Des Moines Register in its Sunday edition.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

1. Wow

Edwards is going well in Iowa, I noticed that when I was there. Many people had him on their short list.

I talked to some very nice Edwards people at the Santa Cruz caucus today; they were thrilled to hear how well he's doing.

[bearfartinthewoods]

49. did you see him tonight on CSPAN?

he was on target. i've never heard him better in a speech.

does anyone know when/if it will be rerun?

[mbali]

65. And I beat 'em, and I beat 'em and I beat 'em!

[dfong63]

56. why such enthusiasm

for a senator who voted for IWR and for the patriot act?

[Closer]

2. The plan is working like a charm

for a Dean/Edwards ticket.

[anti-bush]

28. Be careful what you wish for

If Edwards takes a strong second (or first we're hoping) in Iowa, and builds momentum going into NH, wins South Carolina and wins or places second in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona then Edwards has a shot at winning this thing.

I wouldn't count him out at all. This thing is nowhere near a lock for Dean. I think Edwards is a much stronger national candidate than Gephardt, and if I were Dean I'd be much more concerned about that, then beating Gephardt.

[Closer]

43. HAHA

Keep dreaming!

LMAO!

[anti-bush]

46. I will

I will keep dreaming. Dreaming of a better America. Dreaming of a better economy, more jobs, increased safety, and all of the things John Edwards will give us as president.

If you don't think this scenario is plausible, you haven't been following this thing that closely. You have to win more than New Hampshire to get the nomination, as has been proved many times over.

[Bombtrack]

34. Edwards aint gonna get on that sinking ship

He still can return to politics.

[Closer]

44. Where?

In NC?


They hate him there.


If Edwards isn't VP, his political career is DONE!

[anti-bush]

45. Interesting

They hate him in NC? Is that why the latest NC poll shows 92% support for Edwards against GWBush?

And why do Dean supporters continue to say that JRE should go back to his senate seat in NC and wait 8 years so we don't lose the seat?

Sounds like inconsistency.

There was nothing inflamatory in my comments about Edwards possibilities to win the nomination. I wish you wouldn't bash Edwards with unfounded statements. His support continues to grow in Iowa and New Hampshire, places that are not his core constituency, and when the race turns to the South he will continue to pick up steam.

Be happy for your candidate, he's doing well, but please don't unnecessarily take out your anger on Edwards because he continues to gain support and has the possibility of winning.

[HFishbine]

3. Is this a quote?

'Cause this isn't clear:

"any success by Senators Kerry and Edwards at coming in second or third could draw votes from Mr. Gephardt or Dr. Dean, pulling them out of first place."

How does someone get pulled out of first by someone else coming in second? Is first place vacant if this happens? I'm confused.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. because the race is that tight

It could very well be 4 guys with 20% each.

[HFishbine]

17. That can't be right

Because the premise is "any success by Senators Kerry and Edwards at coming in second or third." They don't come in second or third if there are four guys with 20% each.

[anti-bush]

30. It means

if Edwards comes in second by taking votes away from Gephardt, he could finish third instead of first.

Same thing with Dean.

[blm]

4. GREAT for Edwards. WOOHOO.

Happy for all y'all.

[chimpymustgo]

9. OMG - just watched the forum in Cedar Rapids. Edwards tore the roof off

the sucker.

He was the STAR of the night.

An ESTABLISHMENT endorsement? It's hard to believe they are that smart.

Howard Dean please go away.

Let's have hope.

www.johnedwards2004.com

[Leilani]

18. I Saw it Too

He was terrific!!! IMO the best of the speakers.

He gets better & better. Good debates, & really good in town halls on C-Span.

[Leilani]

24. Also Congrats Edwards Supporters

I like Edwards...he's a good guy!

[thebigthink]

61. That was pretty great, alright.

I saw that too. Edwards really was on fire last night. Kucinich was in the zone also, and Kerry was at the top of his game.

If the Iowa race were to be decided solely on the basis of those performances, I'd have to call it almost a three-way tie between them. I would have to give Kerry a slight edge for really looking the part though. About mid-way through his speech I had the most eerie feeling that I was looking at the next President of the United States of America.

Any way you slice it, Dean looked like a distant fourth in that forum. He did suck his chin up into his neck and got red in the face and did the karate chop thing, and was in every way the Howard Dean we know and love so well, but in the presence of the other three, it came off looking like anger and indignation vs. passion and principle.

[thebigthink]

62. PS: Congrats to all Edwards Enthusiasts!

It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. The Register is a really a pretty damned good newspaper too. I think David Yepsen is a national treasure.

[sandnsea]

6. Well I'll be!

That one came out of nowhere. Good for Edwards, very good!!!

[MIMStigator]

7. Dean is finished if he doesnt win

nt

[dfong63]

55. nope - originally IA was supposed to be a lock for Gep

Dean doesn't need to win IA. and Clark isn't even competing there.

[maddezmom]

8. congrats to Edwards and his supporters n/t

[arewethereyet]

13. thank ya, thank ya very much

n/t

[spooky3]

20. hey maddezmom, aren't you one of us??? congrats to Edwards

and his staff and volunteers.

[maddezmom]

60. nope, my man is Wes

but I like Edwards, he's a good man and if he wins the nomination I'll glady support him. :)

[arewethereyet]

10. well by golly Its all coming together just as I've thought all along

hard work and clean campaigning DO make a difference.

Way to go Senator Edwards ! There's this lovely property on Pennsylvania Avenue in DC that I think you're just going to LOVE !

[jsw_81]

11. Excellent

Gephardt is finished.

[hellhathnofury]

12. Wow...Congrats to Edwards

[DeanIsAPitbull]

14. Dean-Edwards 2004

It's all coming together.

[Clark4VotingRights]

15. Well, this is big. And surprising.

I don't know anything about the Des Moines Register.
Anyone care to characterize it?

[spooky3]

26. I don't either, but here's info on their history from their website.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Companies/BBPlusDetails.asp?hhname=DesMoines&lr=cbga_dmr&cbRecursionCnt=1&cbsid=4e3c09e972f845b28683f13bd5b4d23f-127092043-xh-2

[arewethereyet]

33. Des Moines is a big city there and its their big paper

I'd say this and Harkin's semi endorsement say a great deal.

[madrchsod]

38. des moines register

is one of the best newspapers in the mid-west. thru the years they have broken many important stories and i the paper seems to be very centerist/fair in its tone.i read it every chance i get

[hellhathnofury]

16. Can Edwards catch Kerry?

[flpoljunkie]

19. Can Kerry catch Dean?

[hellhathnofury]

40. No. The question is rather, can Kerry catch Gephardt?

[Lobo_13]

21. Edwards is shaping up to be a spoiler

against Kerry/Gep. He's peeling the anti-dean vote.

On the other hand, newspaper endorsements are really not particularly valuable.

Dean/Edwards all the way.

[anti-bush]

31. But...

If you're waking up to the Sunday newspaper tomorrow in Iowa still undecided, it gives you more to think about in terms of Edwards.

You won't hear people saying "I'm voting for Edwards because the Des Moines Register endorsed him", but if they read the article that will surely be part of the endorsement, you may walk away from the article saying "I didn't know this about Edwards, and I like these positions that they point out. I think I'll vote for him".

[Lobo_13]

35. Then all they have to do is show up

Keep in mind that the caucus takes a certain amount of motivation above and beyond normal primaries.

[arewethereyet]

32. oh no, Edwards is emerging as a serious contender

solid in Iowa, respectable in NH and then he heads back home and hometowns down here just LOVE hometown heros.

Forget Dean my friend.

[xultar]

22. Congratulations Edwards Camp!!! Great Job! n/t

[cally]

23. Great news!

I like Edwards. I would love to see a surprise in Iowa and NH.

[Jerseycoa]

25. How very nice

I'm happy for the Edwards supporters and their good man :)

[Progressive420]

27. :)

I really like Edwards and I think if he doesnt get a shot this time around he will in the future.

[slinkerwink]

29. great news for edwards! He's my 2nd!

[Lefta Dissenter]

36. Congratulations, Edwards supporters!

Another guy I'd be proud to vote for! :)

[Zomby Woof]

37. Edwards was fantastic at the banquet

The best speech I have seen from him yet.

I am liking the idea of a Kucinich/Edwards ticket more and more.

(and hey, I am not just saying that because Edwards and I share a birthday!) :-)

[kayleybeth]

39. I agree- Edwards' speech was awesome

That's the first time I've really seen him speak at length. Very impressive.

[madrchsod]

41. i hope edwards

does get some boost in his caimpain. i really like his background and his outlook . if he does well it`s going to get really interesting! karl won`t know what to do!

[AP]

42. I encourage DU'ers to donate to Edwards through the link in my sig.

I've set a $250 goal. The only place I post this link is at DU. Every dollar raised for Edwards through my page on the Edwards site will be raised by a DU'er.

I honestly don't expect to get a singel dollar from DU until after Edwards places well in IA and NH. However, you all might surprise me.

[adadem]

47. Congrats to Senator Edwards

he did an excellent job in the debate. Though he's not my #1 he is certainly way up there on my list.

[bicentennial_baby]

48. Congrats to Edwards and his supporters!

He's my Number 2, so cheers all around! :toast:

[Printer70]

50. Edwards suffers from lack of experience

...in not having yet completed a single term as Senator. I just don't see him getting over the hump, in terms of voter support with all the other candidates in the field. Can he point to anything in his record that is unique from the others?

[AP]

52. His entire lifetime of fighting exactly what is going wrong with America

successfully on a retail level is pretty unique.

His optimism, his biography, his brilliant campaign strategy, freshness, committment, and refusal to take PAC and DC lobbyist money is unique. His relationship with his wife and her committment to democratic principles is unique. I think the way he looks, physically, is also kind of unique.

His vision is also unique.

There's no other candidate who has been able to explain precisely the problem in America, and has a plan to address thos problems, and then package it into a candidacy that has a real chance of winning.

[Printer70]

53. He is unique in many ways....

...but does not really have a unique value proposition to voters. I admire his contributions in the courtroom, but he's had 6 years in the Senate- what has he delivered for the American people? He's got slick presentation skills, so if he can get in front of enough people, perceptions might change.

[AP]

54. Bush had less experience. Clinton was a nobody. Carter? Nobody.

Bush I? Rewarded for service as VP.

Reagan was probably the most poltically experienced person elected president since Nixon, and what was that worth?

It's been a while since Americans have rewarded political experience when electing a president.

Notwithstanding your characterization as "slick", Edwards does have the ability to sell an idea to an audience. Fortunately, what he's selling is truth and justice.

We'll see where it takes him. I think it could take him to the white house.

[Printer70]

57. Carter and Clinton had terms as chief executive...

...in government. That's a different ball of wax. The reason trends favor former Governors, not Senators, is that people want leaders. Edwards is a one-term "participant" in government.

[spooky3]

58. Who do you think was CEO of Edwards' law career?

He obviously knows how to manage.

[mbali]

59. One would think

that, as a Dean supporter, you would have more confidence in your candidate - who, after all (as we're constantly being told) is the front runner in this race. If you did, there would be no need for you to try to trash John Edwards in the wake of a very exciting endorsement.

One would also think that supporters of Mr. "Washington Insiders are all Worthless" would not be so quick to demean a candidate because he has not spent most of his adult lives in politics.

According to your standard, the only people qualified to run for president are career politicians who have limited their political careers to state and local politics. I guess that's why George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan were such fabulous presidents while JFK and Harry Truman - both of whom were former Senators who had never been state legislators or "chief executives" - proved so unqualified for office.

[Printer70]

68. Confident to contrast

I'm confident enough in my candidate to contrast him with other candidates. I don't have anything against Washington candidates per-se, I DO have a problem with Washington candidates who talk about bold reform but did precious little in the decades they served in office. Their sudden boldness is not credible. "Career politicians" is a pejorative for someone who's served in office for a while- whether or not they deserve plaudits or criticism depends on whether they've used that time to accomplish anything or not.

[AP]

63. A Peanut Farmer and a young Governor of Ark. That's how people saw them

People will look at Edwards and Dean and not see much daylight between their experience.

They'll look at Kerry and Gephardt and think they have a ton of experience.

[Clark4VotingRights]

51. Congrats to Edwards and supporters.

Kudos.

[chocolateeater]

64. Congratulations to Senator Edwards and his supporters.

This is a good endorsement. I'm glad someone in the Media is paying attention to this man.

[OBXNCarolina]

66. BTTT

This is a good day for the Edwards' presidential campain. I hope people take the time to read the endorsement and check out his website.

www.johnedwards2004.com

[jfiling]

67. Had to give congrats to my man

Since unfortunately I can't visit this site as often as I might like, I only just found out about the endorsement. This should solidify a 3rd place finish at worst for Edwards, and possibly allow him to do even better than that.