Debate Raises Doubts for Kerry-Edwards Run

[kskiska]

Different Personalities May Not Mesh Well

NEW YORK, Feb. 29 -- Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) played predictable roles in the final debate before Tuesday's 10-state round of primaries and caucuses that could effectively decide the Democratic presidential race: Edwards sought to shake things up and Kerry played it safe.

(snip)

For many weeks now, Democratic activists and party leaders have talked openly about the attractiveness of such a ticket, and by his performance this year, Edwards has certainly earned himself a spot high up on Kerry's short list of possible running mates. But Democrats watching Sunday's debate may wonder whether the chemistry between the two men would allow that, even if practical political considerations and pressures inside the party argue for it.

Kerry allies say privately that the Massachusetts senator is not a particular fan of Edwards, and a question to Kerry about what he has learned from Edwards about how to be a more likable candidate must have rankled the man who is in control of the Democratic race.

Kerry made no bow to Edwards's talents as a candidate in his answer. What he learned, he said, came from the voters he has encountered along the campaign trail. "I learned it in Iowa, and I learned it in New Hampshire," Kerry said. "And I think the reason I've won 18 or 20 contests so far, and I'm now campaigning hard to win others, is that give me a living room, give me a barn, give me a VFW hall, give me a one-on-one, and I think I can talk to anybody in this country."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17527-2004Feb29.html

[Eric J in MN]

1. Does one agressive debate cancel out all the times they got along? (nt)

nt

[JoFerret]

5. Silly media driven controversy

to avoid doing their work. That said - I don't see what Edwards has to offer except being ingratitiating and grating.

[Leilani]

6. According to the article,

Kerry does not like Edwards.

I posted in the last few days, that I heard several discussions on CNN, that Kerry does not like Edwards.

Well, I was put in my place by many DUers, who said this is not true.

Seems to me, they are both trying very, very hard to be gracious towards each other. Does not mean they like each other.

[surfermaw]

26. Remember back a bout two weeks ago,

When CNN, was reporting the facts that the democrats wanted Edwards and the others to stay in...and that is the true story think man ,kerry is getting a chance to bash Bush, saving money to compaign on ..Edwards in the race gave him a months free air time...It has been Edwards and Kerry and in fact the whold Democrat bunch working togeather to beat Bush....It is Kerry / Edwards or Edwards /Kerry, not going to give up on John just yet...We are going to beat Bush, Edwards has been the choice all the time....

[JoFerret]

13. Edwards phoniness begins to wear thin

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpdol0301,0,2200519.column?coll=ny-viewpoints-headlines

Agree with that. Phony as a clockwork orange.

[Dagaz]

2. I never saw this as a good fit

I hear the Reagan and Bush analogy and at the time it was to unify the party but this isn't needed here. The party will unify behind the winner and Kerry needs a second banana, not someone with real future Presidential ambitions. I really think Bill Richardson is the best fit..Gov, Hispanic, western state and excellent foreign policy experience. I think Kerry was right when he said he could win without the south or at least realistic that Bush will win the south anyway.

[Leilani]

4. Bill Richardson has Presidential Ambitions

Big time!

But not right now...he wants to remain gov. for now.

[Dagaz]

10. That's fine

He has enough of a resume that he won't try to upstage Kerry, plus he could continue to build as VP. What does Edwrds do as VP or in the campaign but try to make it about him?

[baby_bear]

3. So what?

Kennedy and Johnson...Reagan and Bush 41...
they teamed up because it was the best for winning the White House, period. They obviously didn't like each other.

And that's only a couple of examples. There are plenty of others, no doubt.

s_m

[Auntie Bush]

7. Like Bob Dole and what's his face who wanted a flat tax.

What's his name?

[Leilani]

8. Jack Kemp

Dole was trying to bring in more conservative support from the Reagan wing.

It didn't work because Kemp was a lousy candidate, & the true conservatives didn't like Dole.

And they didn't win.

[rednek_Liberal]

14. Forbes ....

I believe.

[newyawker99]

21. Hi rednek_Liberal!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Jackpine Radical]

22. I had that immediate association too--

Flat tax:Forbes

but Forbes was just another Repug primary candidate who got nowhere, and another poster had it right. Kemp was Dole's VP candidate against Clinton in '96.

[Leilani]

11. But look what those Veeps did for the ticket

Johnson brought Texas, & was Master of the Senate.

Bush brought CIA director, Congressman, Ambassador to China, Head of Republican party to Reagan who was a Cal. Governor.

[Sugarbleus]

9. I thought the debates tonight were

Tension filled and irritating. Everybody pushing to speak first, the panel contiued to talk over everyone. It was uninspiring to watch. Maybe thats normal; I don't know, just thought it didn't "push" anyone to the head of the line. :shrug:

[Leilani]

12. Actually, I didn't get to watch it.

It wasn't carried in Hawaii on CBS.

Does anyone know if C-Span will show it?

[Sugarbleus]

15. Honestly, I don't know. Thrilled to hear from Hawaii though =o) eom

[mountainvue]

16. I have to agree with this.

They just don't seem to mesh.

[ngGale]

17. Just what the media and the party want...

kick Edwards out the door. Watched the debate and knew this was going to happen. All wanted Edwards to argue with Kerry. Reminded me of the Dean and 'scream speech' media made up bunch of bullcrap.
All knew if Edwards was even a little aggressive--out the door. No win situation--I really thought they complimented each other before.

[SilasSoule]

18. Edwards as Kerry's Attorney General???

[ngGale]

19. Kerry is going to have to have a killer Vice to...

compete with Bush especially is Bush drops Cheney off the ticket and picks up a stronger Vice. I think this is going to happen because Cheney has more excess baggage than a freight train.

[Voltaire99]

20. Kerry-Lieberman in '04!

Apparently Edwards has had an epiphany. Took him long enough!

Pity he didn't hammer away sooner at Kerry's trade record or his allegiance to the status quo. What is the point of being a progressive, as Edwards purports to be, if you're going to be nice and let the DLC candidate sew up the nomination?

CBS anchor Dan Rather then put the question to Edwards in what he said was a Texas vernacular: "Does Senator Kerry have enough Elvis to beat George Bush?"

Elvis? Please. I prefer Gore Vidal's assessment: Kerry looks like Lincoln...after the assassination.

[surfermaw]

28. Edwards is hammering away at What Kerry wants him to hammer on

This has been a cut deal along time ago...You can see Kerry, and Edwards always working together, Edwards can persuade the people that Kerry can't ...Kerry is conservative in his manner, Edwards is exciting..And don't for get this, the high up in the Democrat party has said Edwards is our best young man coming up in the democrat party. So get used to it Kerry & Edwards or Edwards and Kerry....But you want find out until the convention.....

[surfermaw]

29. Gore would have won with Edwards instead of Lieberman in 2000

Liberman, would be a sure way to loose another election.

[Crachet2004]

23. Edwards=AG, nothing more...

But I think he should get that. We can't afford to worry too much about the South, because it might be a waste of time! And we cannot waste our VP spot!

We need to concentrate where we have better odds of actually carrying states-like OHIO! Even with Edwards on the ticket, we might not get North Carolina. Al Gore didn't even carry Tennessee! No. Kerry is right. The Southern strategy is just too risky. That's what it IS. It's not that he doesn't "like" John Edwards! What's "like" got to do with anything? It doesn't!

Tomorrow will tell us a lot about John Edwards appeal, nationally. But I'll tell you one thing, a lot of people I talk to really like Clark for VP...and I really didn't, but I'm taking a second look. I think Clark would help in WV-BIGTIME.

But I don't think Edwards will be much help...we'll see tomorrow.

[ngGale]

30. You can't forget the South unless you want to...

lose the election to Bush. I live in the South and Bush has it in the bag except for the Edwards factor. You have to win at least 5 states in the South to Beat Bush. Thus the fear about Edwards--Edwards can take away N.C. and S.C. and Georgia from Bush. Forget the South that Bush has been pandering too for years and he wins the election. Not counting the 'Diebold' factor.

[JoFerret]

24. No doubts here

poorly run debate with Elizabeth Bumiller of the NYTimes proving herself arrogant with her annoying and poorly timed interuptions. Edwards repeated his phony mantras; Sharpton got in a few good zingers; Kucinich struggled to get attention, and Kerry cut off at the wrong points.

[surfermaw]

25. The decision on Edwards was made months ago

This thing going on with Kerry , Sharpton,
Dennis and Kerry, is to keep the democrat party in the news ...saving as much as possible toward the campaign...and it also keep the policies of both before the news, and helps out if Edwards is the VP. to gain more votes..today Kerry and Edwards according to CBS is running 10 points ahead of Bush and Cheney...

[surfermaw]

27. Forget the Clark

Clark, isn't going to be the VP...he said and every one remembers he was bragging on how excellent Bush was for the office of President...Clark couldn't beat Edwards in primaries...The line up is going to be Kerry or Edwards for president,or viseverser and Clark for Sec. of State.

[lumpy]

31. Clark would make an excellent Sec.

of State. Actually Dennis Kucinich is closer to my kind of Democrat. Unfortuately he doesn't have a chance because of media bias. Apparentely the US and DLC is not ready for a true progressive; maybe when the going gets tougher and tougher the voters will be crying for real democratic change.