Don't tell me Edwards can't win the general election

[cali]

and don't tell be Obama or Clinton can't either. They all can. I wish people would just dump this lousy excuse for an argument against them.

The repuke field may well be the weakest most damaged group of candidates that any party has put up.... ever.

They can all win over Giuliani or Huckabee or Romney or Grandpa Fred or John McCain.

There are no guarantees, but whoever we nominate stands an excellent chance of winning.

[maddiejoan]

1. agree

I think any of them could win. Even in the second tier.

[EV_Ares]

2. No disagreement on that; yes, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, any of them should be

able to win over what the other side has got out there. I am really going to be disappointed if we blow this election because we have all of the reasons for this country to vote for the democratic nominee.

[MethuenProgressive]

3. Edwards can't win the general election.

I'll vote for him anyway, hoping Hell freezes over, but he'll get torn up by the MSM and the GOP.
It'll be sad watching another Mike Dukakis type lamb being fed to the lions.

[cali]

5. Ridiculous.

Yes, I think Edwards is the weakest of the top three in the general, and the easiest for the pukes to frame and beat the shit out of. I still think he could win handily, despite that. He'd win in all the states Kerry/Edwards did, and I think he actually has a better shot in Ohio than either Clinton or Obama. I also can see New Mexico going blue.

[MethuenProgressive]

8. I agree with this part of your post:

Edwards is the weakest of the top three in the general, and the easiest for the pukes to frame and beat the shit out of.

If Richardson joins him, he wins NM.
I commend you for the honest optimism of your post, cali.
We need more optimistic posts here on DU.

[Virginia Dare]

9. I don't think so..

he's not a Dukakis by any stretch. If he got the nomination, the media couldn't ignore him anymore. Edwards/Obama would be formidable. They're both intelligent, attractive men and brilliant speakers. The GOP doesn't have any strong candidates, Edwards and/or Obama will tear any one of them apart in debate, and that's when people start paying attention.

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Edwards = Dukakis

The media didn't "ignore" the Duke.

"They're both intelligent, attractive men and brilliant speakers."
Dukakis wasn't?

"Edwards and/or Obama will tear any one of them apart in debate"
Dukakis did very well in his debates, with one major trip-up on a death penalty question.

The GOP attacked the Duke with Willie Horton and the Tank photo.
They've got *lots* more to hit Edwards with, and since then they've perfected their craft.

[Virginia Dare]

16. I saw Dukakis speak in person..

and with all due respect no he wasn't. I haven't seen Edwards, but I know people who have, and also those who have seen Obama, and from what I understand, they've both got the ability to give you the chills.

Dukakis did well in the debates, that's true, of course Poppy was no brilliant speaker himself.

I hope the Democrats have learned and have also have had the opportunity to perfect their craft. I suppose time will tell.

Your points are well taken, however I just can't make the Dukakis/Edwards connection.

[Uben]

4. There's no way Edwards wins in the general election

.........until at least November of next year! Everybody has a shot at this point.

[Benhurst]

6. All of them can win the general election.

But what has been done to make sure this isn't the third stolen presidential election in a row?

And once the fix is in, we will be told by the talking heads that "America wasn't ready for a woman," "America wasn't ready for an African American," or some other patently false explanation of why all the exit polls were incorrect which will be impossible to disprove.

Crimes and treason have been committed. The Republicans cannot afford to lose the election. And just how are we going to prevent them from stealing it once again?

[cali]

7. That's a concern, but I believe that the upcoming election

will have far more in common with 2006 than either 2004 or 2000. And all the trends point to that.

[Renew Deal]

10. In general, I think all three can beat all of their candidates.

I think Hillary is our weakest and Huckabee is their strongest. I have a hard time figuring out who's our strongest.

[cali]

12. I think Huckabee will be destroyed by his own party

before the end of January. Dumond and his record of corruption in Arkansas, plus his unpopular stance on immigration, doom him.

[Renew Deal]

13. Maybe

That's definitely possible. I wonder how much the rank and file will care about that. One of the things to watch for in the republican primary is any subtle signals as to who the RNC supports. Republicans don't make a choice. They are told who to vote for. I guess it hurts less thank thinking.

[cali]

14. I think the RNC is high on Mittens

and that his "big" speech today at the bush library in College Station TX, is solid evidence for that.

[Renew Deal]

15. I agree completely

I think it's very subtle and very poignant. The Bush-Neocon wing don't seem to like Huckabee. I think they preferred Guiliani, but he's too tainted. I don't think McCain would fall in line. That leaves say anything Romney.