Political Teaser [Edwards/Dean Arranging NYC Endorsement Meeting this Weekend]

CNN 'Morning Grind' ^ | Feb. 19, 2004 | John Mercurio

[chucknun]

A fascinating mating dance is taking place off camera between US Senator John Edwards and Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, who seldom shades his disdain for his fellow New Englander, and sources say, has made overtures to Edwards since he left the 2004 Democratic Primary.

Dean and Edwards spoke cordially by phone yesterday morning, and we hear, are trying to arrange a face to face meeting in the run up to Super Tuesday March 2.

Such a meeting could take place as early as this weekend in New York City.

Few things would upend this race more than Dean's decision to back Edwards, who without the endorsement remains a decided longshot today.

Most importantly for Edwards: The Senator badly needs money to make a solid showing on Super Tuesday, and Dean, if he endorses, would presumably transfer his vast network of donors capable of raising large sums within hours.

[chucknun]

Dean said he wasn't going third party, this Edwards move is the only one Dr. Dimented has left to be a factor in the race.

[Richard Axtell]

Edwards/Dean vs. Kerry/Clinton?

[Carolinamom]

You're right about Dean's donor list....I read that every dem was panting to get it. It was to be his bargaining chip, a gold mine of donors supposedly. (One thing is sure: MY name is not on it. LOL)

[sarasota]

How so? That combination doesn't worry me one bit but I'm open to your response.

[chucknun]

This endorsement would get the DNC/Hellary raising mega bucks for Kerry.

[rabidralph]

would presumably transfer his vast network of donors capable of raising large sums within hours.

Why didn't these "capable" donors raise money for Dean so he could stay in the race?

[chucknun]

They did! Dean raised something like $50 million from those internet fools.

[barkingdog]

For Clinton to have a clear shot in 08, Dubya needs to win in 04. Bill ordained Clark, then Clark gave his support to Kerry. Does this mean that Bill thinks Kerry can't win?

[chucknun]

According to the American Spectator, Bill is using the DNC fundraising as a lever to lauch Hellary on to the VP ticket.

[George W. Bush]

Howie should trade the donor list for the VP slot.

Then crank up the fundraising machine and go after Kerry full-bore.

[chucknun]

Good idea, its practically the only political leverage Howie has left.

[finnman69]

Interesting, I am starting to see Kerry posters up in NYC now. Saw one this am at the 86th st B-way station entrance.

My this would shake things up.

[dpwiener]

Independents and Republicans heavily favored Edwards. I think Republicans ought to back off and let Kerry get the nomination and then we have 9 months to pound him. Edwards is a lot less vulnerable to attack, IMHO.

You're thinking like a political junkie, and most voters aren't political junkies. Most voters don't engage in gamesmanship to try to influence who their political party's opponent will be. If Independents and Republicans heavily favored Edwards in Wisconsin, it's because they really preferred him to Kerry. That's a fact and it won't go away. Overall, Edwards is a more formidable candidate (even though he brings his own set of weaknesses), because he will appeal to the undecided / middle-of-the-road / moderate / independent voters who ultimately decide reasonably close elections.

[pgkdan]

You're thinking like a political junkie, and most voters aren't political junkies.

True, but many primary voters are political junkies. Most voters don't care about primaries at all.

If Independents and Republicans heavily favored Edwards in Wisconsin, it's because they really preferred him to Kerry.

I completely disagree. Edwards may be the more attractive candidate on the surface, but believe me, it's only skin deep. My wive thought she liked Edwards until he started running commercials here in VA during the run up to our primary. He ran a commercial about 2 America's one rich one poor...blah blah blah and that turned her off. Then they ran the commercial about 2 America's one white and priveldged and 1 black and poor and that infuriated her. Me too, BTW. Edwards is a sleazy trial lawyer, ambulance chasing slime ball. But I don't think he'd make a tough opponent. He's all fluff and no substance.

[FairOpinion]

"Edwards/Dean vs. Kerry/Clinton?"

===

Either Dem ticket vs. Bush should make all conservatives, moderates and even any sensible liberals crawl over broken glass to the polls to VOTE FOR BUSH.

[George W. Bush]

If Independents and Republicans heavily favored Edwards in Wisconsin, it's because they really preferred him to Kerry. That's a fact and it won't go away. Overall, Edwards is a more formidable candidate (even though he brings his own set of weaknesses), because he will appeal to the undecided / middle-of-the-road / moderate / independent voters who ultimately decide reasonably close elections.

Good points. Lurch just isn't an attractive candidate. There is something more appealing about Edwards. At least, Edwards doesn't remind me of Night of the Living Dead like Lurch does.

I think Edwards might be able to recapture a lot of Clinton's independent voters and liberal Republicans. And I think the Clintons prefer Edwards. There are signs with Kerry, just like with Dean, that he'll try to take over the party from Clinton control. So Edwards is still Hillary's stalking horse in this race.

[George W. Bush]

My wive thought she liked Edwards until he started running commercials here in VA during the run up to our primary. He ran a commercial about 2 America's one rich one poor...blah blah blah and that turned her off. Then they ran the commercial about 2 America's one white and priveldged and 1 black and poor and that infuriated her. Me too, BTW.

Susan Estrich ran these types of campaigns for years. She told Brit Hume in an interview yesterday that the rhetoric is really good but it never wins elections. I guess she lost enough campaigns that she's an expert.

Mort Kondracke weighed in later in Brit's round table segment and said it's just silly because America is a middle class country. Mort managed to get a little angry about Edwards using this tactic. He said it could only be effective in places where people see outsourcing and the loss of manufacturing as a threat to their middle class income.

[pgkdan]

Mort Kondracke weighed in later ...

I saw that segment last night, although I didn't catch Susan Estrich, thank goodness, and agreed whole heartedly with Mort. But Edward's economic class warfare is only half his game plan...his racial class warfare act is even more offensive.

[dpwiener]

At least, Edwards doesn't remind me of Night of the Living Dead like Lurch does.

I still don't know that much about Edwards. The possibility that an opportunistic trial lawyer might gain the Democratic nomination and perhaps the Presidency used to disturb me a lot. But measured against a borderline mental case like Dean, an over-the-line mental case like Clark, and an all-sides-of-the-line resort-to-anything-to-get-elected case like Kerry, Edwards looks sane and middling-honest by comparison. That's how bad things have gotten.

I know I'm not going to like the policies of any Democrat, but some Democrat is going to get the nomination, and that Democrat could win the election (even though the odds remain heavily in Bush's favor). I prefer a sane alternative to Bush as the Democratic nominee. I think the country could survive an Edwards Presidency, even if I didn't like the direction it took. I think the country could have survived a Gephardt or Lieberman Presidency. But I'm not so sure about a Kerry or Dean or Clark Presidency.

So at this point, for the sake of the country, I'm kind of hoping that Edwards will overtake Kerry. Yes, Edwards will be a tougher opponent for Bush, but Bush needs a tough opponent. Bush has some failures of his own to answer for, and he shouldn't get a free pass.

I like the fact that Edwards has so far run a relatively clean and upbeat campaign, with no vicious attacks on his opponents. He'll be tough for the Republicans to demonize, and he may find it politically advantageous to not demonize Bush. I would dearly love to see a contest in which the candidates are forced to debate real issues instead of spending all their time mudslinging. If Bush can't beat Edwards based on the issues, then he doesn't deserve to be President.

[Viet Vet in Augusta GA]

Oh pleasepleaseplease...the longer it takes for the Dems to settle on a nominee, the more money they will have to spend and the more they will go negative on each other, both developments very much to W's advantage.