It doesn't matter who the Dem nominee is, the GE will be a referendum

[milkyway]

on bush*. People will go to the polls to either vote for bush* or against him. The "electability" issue is way overrated. If the GE were tomorrow, all the major Dem candidates would be elected.

Biggest problem facing Dems is repugs' ability to control events and control the media. Osama will be delivered only when Rove thinks they need to. If bush* looks to be in deep trouble, don't be surprised to see a Wag the Dog war. Or even another mass slaughter of civilians on American soil that bush* once again turns into a big positive for him.

So why not vote for the Dem you would really want to see in the White House? :)

[patricia92243]

1. Good advise

[ShaneGR]

3. Advice

I'd most like to see Edwards, so I'll vote for him.

[mohc]

2. I agree to a point

There is still a wide spectrum of possible scenarios for the coming election. It could simply come down to a referendum of Bush if things go particularly bad or good for him. In that event the Democrat would almost certainly lose or win respectively. But there is that chance that it hits somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, where middle America has to weigh the candidates against each other. In that event we need to pick the candidate that will be weighed most favorably. I happen to think Edwards fits that, but I have to admit there are so many variables that its really anyones guess at this point. Turnout of the base is important in a polarized public, but swing voters are always key. Add in electoral math, potential running mates, media focus, voting records, convention bumps......you get the point.

[MurikanDemocrat]

4. I tend to agree that, at least if the election were held now

it would be a referendum on Bush. People are not happy with him. There are, however some recent numbers available that show not all of the candidates would come out a winner in a head to head match up against Bush.

But I do take issue with your last statement. There seems to be a presumption among supporters of your candidate that if one supports Kerry it's only because he's "electable" as opposed to being the candidate they really want to see in the White House. That's an erroneous and arrogant assumption.

Perhaps it has not occurred to you that some people here, and obviously a good portion of the voting public, would really like to see Kerry in the White House, and Dean is really, really, truly, not their choice.

[milkyway]

5. Of course there are some Kerry supporters that really prefer him, but

electability has been Kerry's biggest selling point. Exit polls in New Hampshire showed that in every single category the voters preferred Dean to Kerry except electability. Clearly a substantial number of Kerry voters are voting for him only because they think he'll do the best against bush.

[MurikanDemocrat]

6. Got a link to that info?

I'd like to see the entire poll in context before I comment. And that's not how I remember it being reported.