Charlotte Observer:Democrats have more testing to do

[surfermaw]

Democrats have more testing to do
DON HUDSON

COLUMBIA - Unfortunately for John Edwards, Howard Dean and Wesley Clark, the presidential primary is not like NASCAR's championship.

You don't win the season title finishing second or third every week.

You've got to win races.

After comeback wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has huge momentum going into Tuesday's Democratic primaries in seven states -- including South Carolina.

Tonight's debate in Greenville is window dressing -- at this stage Kerry is at least as big a favorite as his New England Patriots.

With Dean imploding in Iowa and Clark finishing virtually tied for third in New Hampshire, Edwards and Tuesday's vote in South Carolina could be the last obstacles between Kerry and the nomination.

Yet an extended primary season is important if the Democrats want to test Kerry before he faces President Bush.

Democrats concerned about Kerry's electability need to see if a man perceived as a Yankee liberal can play well enough in the South and West to challenge the incumbent.

"The Democrats don't want it to be over this quick," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist.

"That is the argument Edwards has to make to the people of South Carolina."



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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/7821849.htm

[asjr]

1. I really wish

pundits and reporters would stop telling us what to do and what our strategy should be. I am at least as smart as they and can make up my mind. What these people are doing is trying to influence the vote.

[surfermaw]

2. You have it right

Remember before Iowa, when they wouldn't give Edwards the time of day, sometimes wouldn't even mention his name in the group of candidates.

Edwards just kelp on doing his thing and trying not to harm the other candidates, and Iowa Caucus paid off.