Most important state after New Hampshire?

[funkyflathead]

What state do you think it is (primary)?

[deminflorida]

1. South Carolina, because of the substantial African American

vote there.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Yes.

And we will see how the top candidate fares with southerners.

[WindRavenX]

6. yeah, Edwards is probably going to win

Edwards strong showing in Iowa REALLY impressed me- if he can do well in Iowa and then do well in the south (which he should!), he's gonna be someone's running mate...

[jmaier]

3. I assume that you are limiting the discussion

to Feb 3rd states?

I'd say SC because of a presumed Edwards victory. If he can't win it, he'll lose some luster.

Missouri is also VERY interesting with Gep. It has the most delegates and it's going to be a challenge for the campaigns to see who can scramble there the firstest with the mostest. It's a good test for a winning campaign.

[Renew Deal]

4. On Feb. 3 SC and

AZ and NM are important too. If Clark pulls the west and Edwards the east, we have a race.

[cprise]

5. The U.K. !

New Labour allies of Tony Blair are becoming alarmed at the prospect of a Howard Dean US presidential candidacy, fearing it will create formidable tensions in the traditional transatlantic Democrat-Labour alliance.Amid concerns that a Dean presidential campaign would be dominated by attacks on the Bush-Blair invasion of Iraq, one ally of the prime minister has suggested that he would prefer anyone but Mr Dean as president, although in public Mr Blair will be careful to ensure Labour and Downing Street are seen as neutral in the Democrat race.

Downing Street's leading advisers have long-standing links with Clintonite Democrats on the Democratic leadership council (DLC).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1121816,00.html

[copithorne]

7. Another one

Don't forget Missouri now that Gephardt is out.

It was off everybody's map so now it's a fair race between the candidates. Nobody has a lead or has been advertising there.

I think South Carolina is a little more mixed. Since Edwards was born there, a strong showing by him could be explained away.

Mostly it is going to be an overall impression of Clark victory, Dean a fading second, Edwards with a reasonable excuse for staying in and Kerry falling off the table. If Lieberman isn't out after New Hampshire, he'll be out after Feb 3rd.

[paulk]

8. South Carolina is the obvious choice

But Missouri interests me. SC will go Republican in the GE - MO is in play. I'd like to know who voters in a state we can win think our candidate should be.

[Liberate]

9. The Most Important States

I think the most important states in this primary after New Hampshire, is definetly South Carolina, and perhaps Florida and California. Im new to this whole process so im not sure which states vote first or why, so here is why I think the states I chose are important.
South Carolina is obviously apart of the southern vote and if the party leaders were smart they would pay attention to the top three candidates in this state to get an idea of what southern voters favor, being that the majority of the south went to bush the last time. I think both Edwards and Clark will do well being that the south is there turf, and I also think Sharpton might shock alot of people because he has strong support there from the black community.
California I think is important because of its popularity and population, Im guessing theres more democrats there, then in any other state. Im guessing Florida to because its a moderate state that can swing either republican or democrat, and the democrats really want to please florida voters next time around.
On a side note I think after New Hampshire, Lieberman will probraly drop out due to him being in single digits there for the last month or so while he took the time to even move there. Im afraid if Dean doesnt finish in the top two in New Hampshire that, that could hurt him nationally. I think Clark and Edwards will still fight on even if they dont finish in the top three there, same with Kerry.

[DoctorBombay]

10. Michigan

Four reasons:

1. It's early, February 7

2. Lots of delegates up for grabs (128 that night, 154 total)

3. It's not in either New England (Kerry, Dean home country) or the South (Clark, Edwards). None of the four heavy hitters has a distinct advantage up there.

4. Michigan is extremely important to us in the general, probably a must win state. Important to do well there.

[overground1]

11. California, because that is where the race is decided n/t