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Edwards Redoubles Electability Argument
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ShareOctober 19, 2007 3:08 PM
ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: The Edwards campaign is making a big push to convince voters this week that the former North Carolina senator is the only candidate who can unite the country and perform well in the general election.
It's called the "electability argument."
"We believe there's an historic opportunity for Democrats in this election that not only is to win the White House but to win big even super majorities in the House and the Senate because there is such an unbelievable desire and passion and change," said Edwards' Deputy Campaign Manager Jonathan Prince, in a conference call with supporters this afternoon. "Unlike other candidates, John has committed to campaign in all 50 states when he wins this nomination," said Campaign Manager David Bonior, supporting his belief that Edwards can put more states in play than any other Democratic candidate. Bonior added, "Woody Allen once said that 90 percent of life is just showing up, and showing up with a good strong message is probably as good a formula for winning anywhere in this country as there is."
On Thursday, state representatives for the Edwards campaign helped launch Edwards' "True Blue Majority" campaign. The representatives held various press conferences across the country to rally support for the Democratic candidate. Several of those supporters, representing North Dakota, Texas, Oregon, Maine, Indiana and Missouri, joined Friday's conference call to offer their views on why Edwards is more electable that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.,and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Texas State Representative Garnet Coleman said he is willing to take a risk on Edwards because of the policies he embraces. "As an African America man, everyone would suspect that I support Obama," said Coleman. "But, I support John Edwards because of polices and issues that he brings forward that work for my constituents."
Of all the states on the call, Missouri officials were most outspoken.
Missouri House Minority Whip Connie Johnson noted that even though she is an African American woman, "it's not about race or gender, but it's truly about who is the best candidate."
"If we don't have a good person at the top of the ticket, someone who can help stop the hemorrhaging in Missouri, we'll go red," said Johnson, adding, "If Hilary comes to a state like Missouri we can write it off."
Missouri State Senator Wes Shoemyer added, "Sen. Clinton presents somewhat of a lightening rod effect that John does not bring with him to the state of Missouri. And I think that having that on the top of the ballot, we’ll move right down."
October 19, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (6)
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Why would anyone think Mr. Edwards would
be more electable than Senator Clinton?
Mr. Edwards didn't carry either of the
Carolina's in the last Presidential
election, if he had delivered the south in 04 John Kerry would be running as the incumbent; but we all know Mr.Edwards did not deliver. He has a 3
year head start on all the other candidates; but is trailing badly in all
the southern states to Clinton and Obama. He decided not to run for a 2nd
term in the Senate in 04; partly to make a 4 year run for President; but also because he didn't have enough support to win. In my opinion Electability is not his strongest characterisic.
Posted by: CMETCALF | Oct 20, 2007 7:56:57 AM
Polls of head-to-head match-ups between each of the leading Dem candidates and each of the leading Rep candidates in Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, and Alabama to date (that I've heard of) show that Edwards is right -- he does far better in purple and Southern states than either Clinton or Obama against Rudy and moreso against the other Rep. candidates. Is the exalted mainstream media ever going to cover these and similar polls that will emerge, so that the rank-and-file will know of them and factor them in? They should, to be fair, but don't bet the barn!
Posted by: JamesHufferd | Oct 20, 2007 11:27:36 AM
John Edwards didn't carry the Carolina's last election because he was not the Presidential candidate, he was running with quite possibly the worst candidate ever- John Kerry. That's just not a valid argument that Edwards didn't carry the Carolina's running as VP, so why would he running as President. Edwards at the top of the ticket would be a completely different story.
If we want to make this country better, if we want real change like health care for every man, women and child, we want to see an end to Iraq, we want to see global warming really addressed, then we need to elect a Democrat that can take on the Republicans. That's why John Edwards is our best choice and best hope of taking back our country!
Posted by: Will | Oct 20, 2007 12:16:39 PM
While the national media fixate on the first African American candidate and the first woman candidate who have raised large war chests for the campaign, John Edwards remains the ONLY viable Democrat for 2008. He has all of Bill Clinton's strengths and none of his weaknesses. He is Southern-born (as were our last Demo Presidents LNJ, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton). He can relate to the NASCAR crowd. He is an articulate, accessible, VERY intelligent man who I think is really this generation's Bobby Kennedy. He has a rags-to-riches story and despite being very successful financially, is the ONLY candidate of either party who has tangible proposals for helping the poor and middle class. Hillary feeds at the same trough as the Bushites. Obama has only been a Senator 2-1/2 years, and for reasons of inexperience and racial bigotry, will NEVER get the nomination. So if you don't want Hillary, John Edwards deserves a second look.
Posted by: Neal Lawrence | Oct 20, 2007 1:03:12 PM
Clinton is not a "Bushlite"! According to National polls and southern state polls she does far better than Edwards in republican match ups because she is not an Ultra Liberal like Edwards. This is another negative attack on a candidate Edwards promised not to attack.
Posted by: Sam | Oct 21, 2007 6:05:14 PM
Sam,
like it or not, the Heartland doesn't like Northeastern big-city liberals.
It is no coincidence that the last three Democrats in the White House were Southerners.
Posted by: Andreas | Oct 22, 2007 11:37:50 AM
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