EDWARDS SURPRISE

New York Post ^ | 2/18/04 | DEBORAH ORIN

[kattracks]

February 18, 2004 -- WASHINGTON - Democratic front-runner John Kerry narrowly won last night's Wisconsin primary - but underdog John Edwards was right behind in a strong second-place showing that shook up the race. Edwards rode a late surge to the surprise finish that turned the contest into a John vs. John battle - which means the March 2 Super Tuesday votes in New York, California and eight other states loom as the deciding moment.

[Republican Red]

I'm in Georgia too. I was just going to ask the same question. Who should I vote for? I was ready to vote for Dean but that's obviously a waste.

I think I must hold my nose and vote for Kerry. He really would be the best candidate for President Bush to run against.

[David]

Does anyone happen to know how the delegate count from Wisconsin works?

CNN reports last night that Kerry, by virtue of his narrow win, got all the delegates from Wisconsin. I doubt they are correct but do not know.

In light of hindsight, thinking about the three real contenders as they have played out, Howard Dean might well have proved to be the strongest; and Kerry may well prove the weakest. On the current record, Kerry has many more problems than any of the others and will spend the campaign explaining votes on a number of issues; he will explain the consequences of his Vietnam and post Vietnam positions and footage of things he did and said during the period. End of the day, Kerry would have a great deal of trouble beating Bush.

In addition, he has a major problem hanging over his head that is not going away in Ms. Polier.

Dean is the smartest of the group--he was damaged by his arogant treatment of the elderly gentlemen in Iowa; by his Confederate flag pickup remark; by bad campaign management and poor advice. The Dem primary voters thought he would have trouble with Bush on those issues, not his Liberal politics--observe that Kerry is probably further left than Dean is.

I doubt that Kerry will get the nomination and at the end of the day expect Mrs. Clinton to be the outcome of a deadlock.

[prairiebreeze]

"There's a chance Howard will endorse Edwards, a chance that he stays in, which would help Kerry, and a chance that he gets out and lets the chips fall where they may - and those three chances are about even," said a Dean source.

The first two possibilities are real. There is no chance an ego-consumed Howard Dean will "let the chips fall where they may".

Prairie

[steveegg]

Update from CNN ('tis a bit hard to find and collate, made harder because one of the two main sources has bad math and the other makes assumptions regarding "superdelegates"); they estimate that Kerry took 26 delegates from Wisconsin (plus 4 of the 15 "superdelegates"), while Edwards got 24 (and no "superdelegates" as of yet) and Dean got the other 11 (plus 2 "superdelegates").

[Constitution Day]

Indexing to Edwards Watch...

[steveegg]

The LA Times (this version through MyWay News via Reuters) is reporting that Dean will end his campaign but stay on the ballot to keep control of and accumulating delegates.

[xzins]

I wouldn't be so sure. Wesley Clark's endorsement of Kerry says that the Clinton's, who created Clark, tossed in their lot with the presumptive frontrunner.

Edwards is a maverick.

The truth is that Edwards will do better in the South, better with independents and rino republicans, and better in terms of attacks by the republicans -- he really has no major gaffes or outrageous positions in his history.

Vietnam will HAUNT Kerry.

[steveegg]

Clark and the Clintons may be rethinking that Ketchup endorsement after Edwards showed that he just might be around long enough to force a brokered convention.

[xzins]

They have room to maneuver...I agree. Neither Bill or Hill have endorsed a particular candidate yet have they?

[NativeNewYorker]

Sharpton!!

[BlueLancer]

"Kerry aides argued that close only counts in horseshoes ..."

Well, hand grenades and tactical nuclear weapons count as well ...

[deport]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/gen/feb04/exitpoll.asp

Of all the voters today ..... exit polling indicates 9% thought of themselves as Republicans of which 44% voted for Edwards and 18% voted for Kerry......

[thesummerwind]

"Objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear." >>>> Edwards delivered that line quite well. You gotta give it to him, the guy is cool!

[thesummerwind]

so very true. I spoke to my father last night--he's 69 and is not connected to the Internet. He reads the paper but is an "average American" in the sense that he's not really tuned into politics in the way that the average freeper is. :) My father had NO idea of Kerry's anti-war involvement, which I think is a huge negative for Kerry.

That story just shows how it is a possibility that G.W. will lose this election. I pray he doesn't, but the mainstream media is acting as the devil, and keeps guys like "father" in the dark!

Every one of us has to work in our individual neighborhoods and at our work sites to calmly and rationally influence Democrat and fence-sitting voters. If we don't do it, we and the country lose, and lose BIG!!!

There is a thread on here I think called, "An Open Letter th John F. Kerry". That letter, if copied and shown to and explained to every voter in the country could assure a victory.

THE KEY is to DO IT!. Copy it (and other items) and get people HIP before they vote!!!

[thesummerwind]

This is it.

Open Letter to Senator John F.Kerry ........ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1079110/posts

[Uncle Hal]

Edwards has to win some big southern states and a couple of Midwestern states to be viable. It is still a long shot for him. The media is solidly behind Kerry.

[L,TOWM]

Just the TacNucs? Not the big strategic types, too?

[BlueLancer]

Nope ... they don't HAVE to be even close ... just in the same time-zone.