DEM Primaries/Candidates thread

[NorthSideSox72]

FWIW:

BTW, I can think of one thing Trippi's wrong about. In this race there's 1 endorsement that would be more coveted than Edwards.

Al Gore, you say?

 

[Texsox]

Al Gore, you say?

 

Actually three.

 

Hillary's

Obama's

[Balta1701]

Al Gore, you say?

I figured it was implied and I didn't need to point it out. After the last year or two of work he's done, if Gore endorsed, I think that ends the discussion for either of these 2.

[NorthSideSox72]

I figured it was implied and I didn't need to point it out. After the last year or two of work he's done, if Gore endorsed, I think that ends the discussion for either of these 2.

It would be big, but I am not sure it is a campaign-ender for either one. Although, if one of them managed to get Edwards AND Gore, I think that would make that candidate very, very hard to beat.

 

[Balta1701]

“John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn’t popular to do or covered in the news," he said. "At a time when our politics is too focused on who’s up and who’s down, he made a nation focus again on who matters – the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington."

 

"John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this – that two Americans can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose," Obama continued. "So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America."

Link. Haven't yet seen a statement by the Clintons.

[Balta1701]

Barack Obama has now cut the gap with Hillary Clinton to 6 percentage points among Democrats nationally in the Gallup Poll Daily tracking three-day average, and interviewing conducted Tuesday night shows the gap between the two candidates is within a few points. Obama's position has been strengthening on a day-by-day basis. As recently as Jan. 18-20, Clinton led Obama by 20 points. Today's Gallup Poll Daily tracking is based on interviews conducted Jan. 27-29, all after Obama's overwhelming victory in South Carolina on Saturday. Two out of the three nights interviewing were conducted after the high-visibility endorsement of Obama by Sen. Edward Kennedy and his niece Caroline Kennedy.

 

Clinton's lead in the three-day average is now 42% to Obama's 36%. John Edwards, who dropped out of the race Wednesday after Gallup conducted these interviews, ended his quest for the presidency with 12% support. Wednesday night's interviewing will reflect the distribution of the vote choice of former Edwards' supporters as well as the impact, if any, of Hillary Clinton's popular vote win in Florida on Tuesday.

 

These national numbers are a critically important indicator of the political environment when voters in more than 20 states go to the polls next Tuesday. At the moment, Obama has the momentum among Democrats nationally.

Hoping against hope...

[YASNY]

Edwards has not dropped out. He has 'suspended' his campaign. Which does two things. It gives the right to continue to receive funds in order to shut down his campaign. In other words, to pay for the remaining costs, which is entirely understandable. It also allows him to retain control of the 26? delegates he has control of. Interesting, but nothing wrong with it that I can see.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Edwards has not dropped out. He has 'suspended' his campaign. Which does two things. It gives the right to continue to receive funds in order to shut down his campaign. In other words, to pay for the remaining costs, which is entirely understandable. It also allows him to retain control of the 26? delegates he has control of. Interesting, but nothing wrong with it that I can see.

I bet he stays "suspended" until the convention. He'll still pick up votes in some states... ergo some delegates.

[NorthSideSox72]

I bet he stays "suspended" until the convention. He'll still pick up votes in some states... ergo some delegates.

I don't think so. By going out and announcing the suspension of the campaign, he guarantees he'll only get a very small number of delegates, which takes away any leverage or power he would have. No, I'd say he'll endorse pretty soon, either just before or just after Super Tuesday.

 

[YASNY]

I don't think so. By going out and announcing the suspension of the campaign, he guarantees he'll only get a very small number of delegates, which takes away any leverage or power he would have. No, I'd say he'll endorse pretty soon, either just before or just after Super Tuesday.

 

Don't you have to get at least 15% to get delegates? If that's the case, his delegate count is carved in stone.

[NorthSideSox72]

Don't you have to get at least 15% to get delegates? If that's the case, his delegate count is carved in stone.

Yes I believe that is the case in some states. Not sure which ones. But also keep in mind, he was running in the teens in a lot of states - he would have gotten delegates a few here and there.

 

[YASNY]

Yes I believe that is the case in some states. Not sure which ones. But also keep in mind, he was running in the teens in a lot of states - he would have gotten delegates a few here and there.

 

I thought that was an across the board rule for the Dems, but maybe not. Keep in mind, that he just suspended his campaign, so he won't get above 15% in any state now.

[NorthSideSox72]

I thought that was an across the board rule for the Dems, but maybe not. Keep in mind, that he just suspended his campaign, so he won't get above 15% in any state now.

Yeah, I said that exact thing in a response to Athomeboy earlier. That's why I think he's likely to endorse someone pretty soon.

 

[HuskyCaucasian]

I don't think so. By going out and announcing the suspension of the campaign, he guarantees he'll only get a very small number of delegates, which takes away any leverage or power he would have. No, I'd say he'll endorse pretty soon, either just before or just after Super Tuesday.

Dont get me wrong. I am not saying he'll get a lot. He might gain a handful (5 or less). Not that it'll help, but he'll take what he can get. Especially if he can then transition those over to another candidate.

[YASNY]

Yeah, I said that exact thing in a response to Athomeboy earlier. That's why I think he's likely to endorse someone pretty soon.

 

I have a gut feeling he'll endorse Obama unless Hillary ... ummm ... scratches his back.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I have a gut feeling he'll endorse Obama unless Hillary ... ummm ... scratches his back.

and dont put it past her to put a carrot in front of him and then pull it later after she is elected. she'd do it.

[YASNY]

and dont put it past her to put a carrot in front of him and then pull it later after she is elected. she'd do it.

 

LOL. I don't trust the little lady either. But then, I haven't heard anything of substance from the esteemed senator from the great state of Illinois either. Change is great ... but give me details. And I mean him, not you.

[YASNY]

Just heard, fwiw, that the powers that be in the Edwards camp are saying the health of Elizabeth Edwards had no factor in the JE's decision to 'suspend' his campaign.

[NorthSideSox72]

Just heard, fwiw, that the powers that be in the Edwards camp are saying the health of Elizabeth Edwards had no factor in the JE's decision to 'suspend' his campaign.

There is good news in that fact. If that was a reason, that would probably indicate her health was going further downhill.

 

Regardless of my lack of interest in seeing Edwards as the President, I can only imagine how much stress a Presidential campaign puts on a family, particularly with one who has cancer. This is probably better for her, even though I am sure she wouldn't say it.

 

 

[Texsox]

I have a gut feeling he'll endorse Obama unless Hillary ... ummm ... scratches his back.

 

There are a number of ways that parties keep their members in line. As you move up the food chain, you have less and less restrictions, but Edwards isn't the most powerful. He should be thinking about his next race and who will help him the most. Hint: It probably isn't Obama.

[southsideirish71]

Well Billary is back on her sympathy routine. Last night she was interviewed on CNN, and they started this conversation about how Obama slighted Clinton by not shaking her hand. She said she was shocked that he would do that and she was just trying to be a good sport. The shot is funny, because it looks like Obama is talking to someone in the front of him and didnt see her handshake. But the Clinton News Network and Billary spin artists are trying to make this into something its not. Using a still photo and a pouty look from the devil to make it look like Obama was being mean to Hill. Poor wittle BIllary, the big bad man didnt want to shake her hand, it must be because he is mean and doesnt like women. Women of the world unite for me or I may cry.

Sympathy and sadness as tricks of the Clinton campaign.

 

 

[Texsox]

Standard political fare, made worse when it involves Hillary.

[southsider2k5]

I have a gut feeling he'll endorse Obama unless Hillary ... ummm ... scratches his back.

 

Is there any doubt that both candidates are pretty much going to offer Edwards anything that they can to get him into their fold?

[NorthSideSox72]

Is there any doubt that both candidates are pretty much going to offer Edwards anything that they can to get him into their fold?

Heck, the Edwards campaign has actually said pretty much that, in public. They have both made overtures.

 

[YASNY]

There are a number of ways that parties keep their members in line. As you move up the food chain, you have less and less restrictions, but Edwards isn't the most powerful. He should be thinking about his next race and who will help him the most. Hint: It probably isn't Obama.

 

I believe the Dem party is in a transistion phase from the old guard to the new. The San Fransisco hippies of 1968 are on their way out. This is their last shot. Hillary represents them. Obama represents the Gen X democrats and they will be THE force in the party after '08. It's just a matter if the hippies can hold the fort through this election or not.