Edwards Again Hits Clinton On Electability

Marc Ambinder:

Sen. John Edwards knows that Sen. Hillary Clinton's biggest vulnerability among Democrats is the perception that she is not electable. A polling memo prepared for internal campaign consumption but obtained by this semi-checked out column shows the reasons why.

Pollster Harrison Hickman summarizes the national numbers:

Nationwide general election polling shows John Edwards is the Democrat with the best chance of defeating the Republican candidate in the 2008 general election for President. Edwards is the only Democrat with a significant lead in a head-to-head match-up against Republican frontrunner Giuliani.

Against the other three major Republican candidates, Edwards' average margin of victory is virtually identical to that of Barack Obama, and significantly higher than Hillary Clinton's average margin. Edwards also outperforms the other Democratic candidates in match-ups with Republican candidates in key battleground states including Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Further, unlike other Democrats who must "run the table" in states where Democrats have been competitive in recent elections, Edwards brings new states into play. This provides alternate scenarios - and a margin for error - when it comes to amassing 270 electoral votes.

Read the whole story: Marc Ambinder

Comments

[VOTER]

06:42 PM on 08/29/2007

Edwards and Obama's popularity is important and

with strong campaign policies will, in fact, change

Sen. Clinton's chances of getting the nomination.

Get to work fellas, no one is going to hand this to you!

[OneVoiceInACrowd]

01:50 PM on 08/29/2007

I agree, Edwards shouldn't feel confident with the electability judgement alone. Undoubtedly this is part of a larger strategy. He needs to move the masses and is fighting an uphill battle on the financing side to boot. Let's see if his campaign is creative enough to grab the stage.

[FlowerGirl]

01:46 PM on 08/29/2007

The issue I care for most is getting rid of Neoconism. And unfortunately Hillary is another Neocon. She will back their agenda to the hilt. You might even sometimes look back lonmgingly to little Bush's time.

[Kenedeno]

01:14 PM on 08/29/2007

Right now, it appears there is only one candidate who can take more than half of the cake.

In seniority, Edwards was an eloquent second fiddle / wing man. Humbled he stands.

Hillary?

Is she the preferred candidate here with this publication?

Guilliani?

Carpetbaggers Candidate?

"Middle Aisled"?

[daniel155]

01:08 PM on 08/29/2007

I doubt the effectiveness of this electability argument but what else does he have? Historically the candidate that was perceived as being more electable has often not won the nomination.

1964R-Rockefeller more electable than Goldwater
1968R-Romney (Mitt's dad) and Rockefeller more electable than Nixon.
1972D-Muskie more electable than McGovern
1984D-Hart more electable than Mondale
1988R-Dole more electable than Bush I
1988D-Gephardt more electable than Dukakis
2000R-McCain more electable than Bush II
2004D-Edwards more electable than Kerry

Also Edwards and Obama have not been fully vetted so their negatives are lower than Hilary Clinton who has had everything thrown at her. As more becomes known about them, their negatives will rise and their poll numbers will decline.

I think this electability argument is a loser for Edwards but everything else he has bombed for him so you can't blame him for trying.

[Smokey]

04:36 PM on 08/29/2007

Also Edwards and Obama have not been fully vetted so their negatives are lower than Hilary Clinton who has had everything thrown at her.
***

Anyone that believes Hillary has been fully vetted please contact me ASAP regarding a bridge.

The Repubs have a back room deal to hold the dirt they have against Hillary until she wins the nomination. They will go after HRC so hard we will long for the halcyon days of Kerry and the swiftboaters.

Hillary, the Republican choice for the Democratic nominee.

[daniel155]

06:01 PM on 08/29/2007

Pardon me, but there have been at least three anti-Hilary biographies that have been published in the last few years. They accuse her of all sorts of things.

Also, she is better at responding to negative attacks than John "deer in the headlights" Edwards and Barack "If I were any greener I would have leaves" Obama.

[ctbutte]

12:36 PM on 08/29/2007

Poor Silky Pony.

Nobody luvs him

[citizenofmars]

12:26 PM on 08/29/2007

John Edwards is actually sort of creepy. He's like a "cured" gay "christian" who still lisps. He's more of a "cured" creepy person who is still creepy.

[Rebelfriend]

01:21 PM on 08/29/2007

Who's paying you? As a caring American, you might want to consider another job. Your silly, juvenile attacks waste everybody's time.

[citizenofmars]

06:01 PM on 08/29/2007

I'm silly? I LOVE silly. Now which goose of YOURS have I cooked lately? You're new name to me.