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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.

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.

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.