Can Edwards bring together both Dean and Clark supporters?

[rumguy]

It seems that everyone likes Johnny.

[chimpymustgo]

1. Nobody doesn't like Johnny Reid. I am so proud of his campaign.

It has been rather demoralizing to see this great candidate and great campaign going nowhere, just as it's wonderful to watch his unexpected rise now.

Maybe he will be the guy to unite the party and the nation.

[Maddy McCall]

2. I would leave Clark to support Edwards before I would ever support Dean

Edwards is third on my list anyway, right behind Kerry. I would have no problem supporting Edwards, or Kerry.

If Clark tanks (which won't happen), I will glad to throw my support behind Edwards.

[funky_bug]

4. He's my #2

I have always loved John Edwards. I'll support Clark as far as he goes, but if he goes, Edwards has my full support and backing.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. Same here

on all points!

[liberalnurse]

15. I'm sorry to hear that.

I'm here in Des Moines at the Dean Head Quarters...there are thousands of "on the ground supporters", from all over America. I hope you take anther look at Dean in the future as his campaign is one mighty force of Americans wanting to take back theit country.

Today was a dynamic adventure.

[maddezmom]

18. to be honest

after your comments about Clark's health, if I was you I wouldn't be looking for Clark folks to change votes based on your opinion. I'll vote Dean if he wins the nomination.

[mikehiggins]

21. I would never base a decision like that

on the actions of some misguided volunteers.

The problem with "grass roots" campaigns is that you have no control over what someone with a campaign button does while they are out of your sight.

The person you refer to is NOT Howard Dean, just someone who wants to see him in the White House.

And while it might be difficult to work as hard for Dean as I would for Clark, if Dean is the nominee we all have to work as hard as we can to get him into the White House.

ABB!

[maddezmom]

22. yes, and you noticed I said

I'll vote for Dean if he gets the nomination. I understand the differences between the supporters and the candidate. Bur, I also have a long memory when someone wants to convince me to work for their guy after making derogatory statements about my guy. I'm sure you agree. :) at least a little

[DjTj]

3. Edwards is the outsider/southerner

...best of both worlds...

[candy331]

5. Time will tell what will need to be done

but for now since not one vote has been cast I will be with Dean until the end either inauguration or his dropping out.

[Maddy McCall]

6. How is he an outsider?

He is a senator.

His status as a Southerner is indisputable, though. :-)

[DjTj]

11. He has been in politics only 6 years.

...which is shorter than any other candidate, except Clark, although his position was arguably more politically high-profile than others.

But really, the Dean-Edwards outsider connection can be seen by reading these two links:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/cg/index.html?type=page&pagename=policy_policy_campaignfinance

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/page.asp?id=409

[quaker bill]

7. It will be a very large task.

Edwards is a great guy but he has not shown any skill for supernatural feats. If he gets the nomination, I wish him all the luck in the world, he will need it to accomplish this.

[beaconess]

12. Au contraire

Supernatural feats:

1. First in his family to go to college

2. Became a lawyer, with no family or political connections, built up a successful legal career that earned him millions

3. As a complete unknown, with no political experience, not only beat a field of Democratic primary candidates, but unseated an established Republican senator

4. Stood his ground and stared down Jesse Helms, Orrin Hatch and George Bush to keep bad judges off the bench.

I think John Edwards has alread shown some pretty remarkable political skill in a very short time. Do not sell this man short.

[RafterMan]

8. Not sure

How has he distanced himself from his IWR vote? How has he distanced himself from his involvement with the PATRIOT act? How does he plan to compensate for his lack of executive experience? How does he plan to compensate for his lack of foreign policy experience?

He might answer all of these questiions to my satisfaction -- I just don't know.

I think Edwards is a likeable guy who has avoided the hard-core scrutiny some of the others have had due to his low poll numbers. I'd vote for him in the GE, but I'm happy with my candidate in the primaries.

[beaconess]

13. One of his strong suits - he DIDN'T distance himself from these votes

He stood by his vote rather than flipflop and wiggle when the heat came down. Regardless of what you think of his vote, he deserves respect for taking ownership of his actions.

[RafterMan]

19. Some form of credit

...but then so does Lieberman.

I guess if he really stands by the war and the PATRIOT act, I'd have a tough time voting for him. If he's not even saying "In light of what has happened, I'd reconsider," he becomes problematic for me.

[Shanty Oilish]

10. He's not getting near enough credit

Edwards has a future. He probably won't get the nomination this year, but even if he got it and lost in November, I have no doubt he'd be president someday.
I don't think this year is John Edwards' time. The mood isn't receptive. He's still too fresh a face. We have an incumbent wartime president and an apparently thriving economy, it'll take more than Edwards yet has to pry affections off Bush.
But I look at some of the other candidates and I see that if they don't make the cut this year, they're finished for all time. They're stale or they're discredited or both. Edwards, however, is laying a solid foundation for the future.

[Clark4Prez]

14. I signed up with Edwards before Clark entered the race.

I switched to Clark, so switching back, if we wins the nomination, I will have no issue supporting him with everything I have.

[kodi]

16. yes, he can.

edwards has progressed farther than any other candidate over the last 6 months in his speaking style, his policies and the way he handles and articulates his mind to the public and press, and he is just fresh to many people who have finally tuned in to the primaries.

he knows now what he wants, and that is the white house, and better yet, he appeals to more people than any other candidate in that as mentioned in an earlier post, he is the 2nd choice for many who will not vote for the other major candidates.

i think edwards can get more people to vote for him than any other democratic candidate, so in this he would have the best chance to beat bush.

bill clinton mentioned this last year when asked about edwards.

and i would relish an edwards bush debate. edwards would eat bush alive.

[Jerseycoa]

17. No problem here

If I can't have Clark, Edwards (or Kerry) gets my complete support. Beyond that, ABB.

[arewethereyet]

20. he's the only one who can

way too many scars left over among the others to allow true support.

It pays to play nice.

[Walt Starr]

23. Edwards would get my vote

As long as it is NOT Edwards/Clark. If Edwards was nominated and he chose Clark as his running mate, I would not vote for him.

[Kathleen04]

24. I think that..

he can be unifying. John Edwards stood out to me before Clark got into the race. Edwards is my #2 now, but I think that he would make an excellent nominee...he's the only other candidate that I am POSITIVE could beat Bush handily.

(edit: meant to respond to the main post.)

[arewethereyet]

25. I agree but Clark brings nothing as VP so he wont be there

and I believe he already said he's not interested in 2nd fiddle.