Accounts of Edwards Electoral Death Are Perhaps Premature

Perhaps all the folks who keep wanting to count Edwards out, should note this poll on Nevada (hat tip David Sirota):

Barack Obama: 32 percent

Hillary Clinton: 30 percent

John Edwards: 27 percent

It's still close, and Edwards' delegate count is just fine, thanks. He's in the running to be kingmaker at the convention, and if something unpredictable happens, he's still within distance to win it all. He'd be a fool to step out now. Nor does the fact that South Carolina is polling badly for him mean much--it's only one state.

Next, a word for Obama supporters who want Edwards to step out, from Krugman:

Anyway, on Sunday Mr. Obama came out with a real stimulus plan. As was the case with his health care plan, which fell short of universal coverage, his stimulus proposal is similar to those of the other Democratic candidates, but tilted to the right.

For example, the Obama plan appears to contain none of the alternative energy initiatives that are in both the Edwards and Clinton proposals, and emphasizes across-the-board tax cuts over both aid to the hardest-hit families and help for state and local governments. I know that Mr. Obama's supporters hate to hear this, but he really is less progressive than his rivals on matters of domestic policy.

I would add that he also uses right wing frames far more often that the other two, his senior economic advisers are virtually reactionaries and talk of "hope" doesn't make you a progressive. (Remember Mr. "Morning in America" Reagan if you are inclined to disagree.)

It remains unclear to me that Edwards' supporters would go to Obama if Edwards dropped out, but the bottom line is simpler--there is no reason for Edwards to drop out. He's still in the running, and if he wants to choose which of the other candidates wins if he doesn't, walking into the convention with a block of delegates large enough to do it is the best way.

And Obama isn't Edwards--he is significantly to the right of Edwards and on the fight/compromise spectrum he is actually the most conciliatory of the three candidates. Edwards supporters want a fighter; that isn't Obama.

Edwards is alive and kicking, and a force to be reckoned with. There's no good reason for him to ever drop out of the nomination contest. Time for Obama supporters to tend to their own campaign, not to Edwards.

Comments

[AnninCA]

Has Edwards said anything lately other than some kissing Obama's *whatever*?

If so, I missed it.

[JoAnnCr]

The media may well be trying to kill the Democrats however with their stupid reporting. How much do they make by this silly news?

Edwards still beats the Republicans except Giuliani whom he ties in match up polls. After all, we want someone who can win!!

Check it out:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/favorables/election_2008_democratic_candidates_running_in_2008_presidential_election

[earling]

I think Edwards should drop out, then the other dems. would be out of ideas. They steal the guy blind, they're stepping on his coat tails, but they're getting the royal media massage, while he sits at the back of the bus. He was the first to boycott Fox news--then look who followed suit (after, of course, focus groups and high-level strategy meetings to see if such a "radical" move would tarnish their middlebrow images). And he's still the only one who isn't lecturing in mealy mouthed bromides about working with, instead of against, vested interests. It's like when you call Verizon, and they won't fix your bill, which they completely made up out of whole cloth, or replace the p.o.s. flip phone that their testing no doubt showed would break in six months, and the only thing that breaks into their pre-scripted chatter is a screaming, crying fit. So let it happen. He's the only one who's facing OUR middle class reality.

[fvscvte]

Despite all the Main Stream Media's ignoring of JOhn Edwards, he keeps plugging away. I have supported him from the start and find it disgusting that the media plays games with people and pick and promote who they want to win or will make the best story. They don't like Edwards because they are corporate whores and despite their rhetoric that they want change, they really want more of the same.
Middle class, the uninsured, the labor unions, and people who care about the future of their children, should stick with and support John Edwards, our only true candidate who is looking out for the welfare of this country. He promises to bring home the troops asap which the other two don't profess to do.
Go Edwards! We are with you all the way!

[caliwmn760]

All I know is if EDWARDS is not on the ticket, this may be my first time that I am not voting for a President, and that disheartens me.

[Tellmethetruth]

Please check out who owns the media - we now have in the past 7 years a world wide oligopoly of six major media conglomerates who control the news on a world wide basis.

http://www.freepress.net/content/ownership

If Edwards threatens to use anti-trust laws to break up the media - well it's a no brainer why he is getting no press.

[aznurse]

Thank you! After reading this, I can go to sleep now. Edwards 08.

[AsaNisMasa]

Michigan could have been an interesting way to see how people feel about Edwards/Obama or Obama/Edwards by using an "undecided" vote to basically say "anyone but Clinton"

[DonRoberto]

Look, folks:

There are committed Democrats, and there are committed Republicans. The committed Dems will vote for their party's candidate, and the committed Republicans will vote for their own party's candidate.

That leaves the middle, the undecided/crossover voters --- those who don't care about party affiliation, those disillusioned with their own party's candidate, those who identify with some perceived trait of a specific candidate, etc. ***These undecided/crossover voters are the individuals who will determine the next President of the United States in the general election.***

By definition these people are not progressive Democrats and liberal "true believers" --- so they do not automatically share our more enlightened views towards gender and race. Many (if not most) will identify themselves as "conservatives", though they may find it difficult to articulate exactly why.

If we Democrats want to win the Presidency, we need to do two things. First, we need to reduce the level of rancor and sniping between Democratic candidates during the primary process. If we don't, we run the risk of doing the GOP's job for them.

The second and most important thing we must do is support and work to nominate a candidate with whom those undecided/crossover voters can identify. Popularity of a candidate amongst Democrats or those strongly leaning that way is irrelevant; Dems and others who believe in our party's ideals will already vote for our party's candidate.

Democrats and progressives can always vote their hearts in the general election, but in the primaries, we'd be best served by voting with our heads. In that context John Edwards' candidacy is still very much alive and his viability as a Presidential nominee can be argued legitimately.

[daybranch]

Finally the message comes out. We Edwards supporters are progressives that want our country to move to democratic ideals far more than Hillary or Obama would propose unless pushed. Obama, fifteen years ago, would be seen as a moderate republican with his views. Lets not stay back in republican dominated policy where Bush and the majority republicans in congress put us, lets move forward with strong policies. Go Edwards- you are driving the debates, you are driving the agenda, do not stop. No matter how the nomination turns out your willingness to challenge big business will have benefitted the common man. Thank you John.

[Nutcase]

If Edwards can go to a convention where no candidate has a majority, he can hold out until, as usually happened in the old days, the top contenders were abandoned. He could, alternatively, play the role of kingmaker. I would recommend that his camp put on a great push to influence the super delegates. They are, for the most part, capable of seeing political trends and seeing the possibilities of a stalemate. Such an effort needs to be very creative as these super delegates are, for the most part, corporatists. The unions need to be united behind Edwards in such an effort at the convention, regardless of whom they have signed up with during the campaign. I apologize for such a sketchy post on a matter that is extremely complex. I've omitted a lot.

[doitright]

Obama lost me when he cozied up too the homophobes. Have you read his statement on civil unions/gay marriage? Separate but equal is evil for Blacks - but OK for gays.

[AdLib]

I had thought about how a novel maneuver by Obama and Edwards to join as a ticket DURING the primary might galvanize the Dems...of course, who is VP would be an obstacle since both would understandably want the top job.

However, I see the wisdom in letting it all play out and (hopefully) come down to the convention which, if Edwards is in the position of Kingmaker instead of nominee, would give him leverage to move the platform and Obama closer to his position (and maybe sign on as VP as well if he and Obama would want that).

This is not to diss Edwards' prospects of being the nominee, even though it is unlikely as of today, so was Hillary being in the running the day before NH.

Here's hoping for the good guys to end up on top.

[PeterM]

I would say!
Glad to there is a viable progressive candidate ready to take on sleazy vested corporate criminals. THAT is the CHANGE this country needs else, nothing makes any difference under fascist rule.
Go EDWARDS!!!

[LyricalLexicon]

I am voting in the Florida primary and I will be casting my vote for John Edwards. As far as Edwards being the "angry" candidate. Who can look at what is going on in America and not get angry? I'm sure the working and middle class folks are angry as hell that they are working harder yet sinking faster economically than ever before while CEOs are living like fat cats. I'm sure those homeless veterans are angry that they served their country and now have to sleep under bridges due to the long processing times for VA claims. I'm sure the parents who have to watch their child die from some terminal illness because some insurance company decided their child's life cost to much money are pretty damn angry. I want a candidate who looks at what is going on in America and gets a little pissed off. I want someone who doesn't mind taking the fight to these corporate interests to win back our government for the average person. The only candidate that fits that bill is John Edwards and that is who belongs in the White House.