I expect to see Edwards drop even further in the polls

[cali]

in the next week or so. Yes, I thought he did a good job in the debate, but I'm not sure I'm representative of much. He's going all out on the attack dog trail, and I don't think it fits with his image. It'll do damage. I just saw his mail out in Iowa, and I think that's going to turn voters off. He's starting to emanate an odor of desperation. It's too bad, but I'm having trouble seeing him as a viable candidate at this point. His money problems and his attack strategy are deficits.

[quinnox]

1. Agree completely

From what I understand Iowans don't like the kind of tactics and negative campaign Edwards has embarked upon.

I think Edwards support is going to crumble and Obama will strengthen.

Edwards now can play a spoiler role, but that is about it. He can be the sleaze machine and attack while Obama is more nuanced in his criticisms of Hillary.

I still think Hillary is a rather strong favorite to win, but Obama may have a chance here.

[KittyWampus]

4. IMO, Biden might just pull a rabbit out of the hat. Don't discount that possibility.

While Edwards and Obama take on Hillary and receive barbs for being top-tier frontrunners- Biden can perform relatively free of those problems. For a while.

I've heard that Biden is quite a few Dems "second choice" and in Iowa, that's very important.

[cali]

5. I agree. I think it's possible that Biden

could catch on. He's a good campaigner and an appealing candidate.

[quinnox]

6. this is true, Biden could make a move

I'm a little surprised he hasn't picked up more support yet, but he has done well in the debates and he had the best line of the night for sure.

Biden certainly has some potential to move up.
I don't discount Biden at all, and he may become a serious threat to "my girl".

[surfermaw]

27. Biden enter the race a few years back

And If can remember correctly, got in a mess over plagiarism at the beginning, he didn't last long. It's been a long time.

[xultar]

2. I agree and it will lessen his chances for the second seat on the ticket.

[tritsofme]

9. Edwards has zero chance to be the VP on the ticket period.

He would be derided the entire campaign as the Democrats perennial VP candidate, he is now forced to go for broke, and he seems to be realizing that.

[quinnox]

10. I agree with that

Edwards will never be considered for VP again, especially for Hillary now that he has gone negative.

Edwards political career is coming to an end, and he probably realizes that, so may as well go out fighting I guess.

[rinsd]

3. We'll have to wait and see.

Iowa typically responds negatively to negative campaigns (see the Dean'Gephardt suicide pact from 2004)

[CalebHayes]

7. I am not sure but I'm not even on of his supporters and I think...

He is showing what it takes to be the nominee. We need a damn fighter. He is the one out there looking like Big dog 92'

[jmp]

13. Exactly. We need someone who can take on and beat the GOP

Not someone who will sink into self pity when s/he gets his/her nose bloodied.

We need someone that isn't timid about throwing haymakers. :)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

16. Clinton Didn't Beat Up Other Democrats In 92

Like his wife he deflected criticism from other candidates and became a martyr...

[surfermaw]

29. Bill climbed, when the messges about him and Flowers surfaced

I think people must have seen this as a fact that he was a norman man...Is there anyone on this board that can see if his polls started to climb at the time the message of flowers surfaced, but he was scrappy, and jumped on things when they eshould have been brought out as not being true.

[Larkspur]

8. I like a fighter. I have more respect for Edwards than Obama and Hillary

Obama has been a big disappointment to me. I was born in Chicago, IL and had hoped to support a fellow Illinoisan for President, but his Liebermanesque traits, both last year with Ned Lamont's campaign and this year with his unwillingness to fight right wingers, have turned me off from him.

Hillary was never a viable candidate for me.

[cali]

11. It's not about respect. I like Edwards. I'd happily support him

but I call 'em like I see 'em. And I see him in trouble.

[ChiciB1]

12. I, For One Really Am Glad To See Some One Take Her On! Edwards

has been taking stands on many issues, just hasn't received MSM attention like Clinton and Obama have!! We SHALL see, but I do know one thing, I HAVE heard his name mentioned a lot more lately.

Maybe those in Iowa don't like a fighter, but there are other states who take a different view! I don't know Iowa and don't live anywhere near that part of the country! Just saying.

[goodgd_yall]

14. I really like Edwards' message of pulling in the reins on corporations

But I don't agree with his message of belief in the American people. I think he is the candidate most feared by the corporate media. Voters who are not political junkies (the majority) vote according to image and impressions. Those are things the media can manipulate. They'll make sure to play on the public's prejudices to ruin Edwards' chances of being elected POTUS.

[journalist3072]

15. John Edwards is a slimebag, and I won't vote for him

Under any circumstances. Any man that loses a debate to Dick Cheney, has no business on the ticket at all (either at the top or as Veep).

He and his wife have shown us who they really are, and it ain't pretty.

[w4rma]

26. Edwards beat the tar out of Cheney in their debate. (nt)

[journalist3072]

33. Sadly, no he did not. He had every fact and tool at his disposal to do so. Yet, he failed.

He let Cheney sit there at the debate with him and get away with a lie. Cheney lied about not seeing Edwards in the Senate much; Cheney was advancing the theory that Edwards is a slacker who hardly ever showed up to the Senate.

Edwards did not refute that...then sent his wife out to do his bidding instead. Much like he does today.

[MalloyLiberal]

17. asshat

[cali]

20. oh that was brilliant commentary

let me play: fu&%#tard.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. I Can Feel That All The Way In Orlando

OMG

[More Than A Feeling]

18. Wrong, his passion is one of his most attractive features.

It matches the passion of the majority of Americans who see how badly our country has gone off the rails. This is no time to be bloodless and "above it all," because the Americans who aren't super-rich don't have that luxury.

[cali]

21. then why is dropping in the polls?

Again, I like Edwards. I just think he's slipping fast.

[More Than A Feeling]

23. Edwards hasn't advertised on TV at all yet.

He just today released his first ad set to go up in Iowa. Meanwhile, Hillary and Obama and even Richardson have been advertising on TV a lot. The real question is "how has he managed to stay on the map at all" and that speaks to the passion I previously mentioned.

It's not how you start, its how you finish, and Edwards is going to win Iowa, and then you won't have to be concerned about him dropping even in meaningless national polls.

[Ninga]

24. Spot on ! Polls are a bit tricky because many are conducted on a "rolling 4 day average"

I would expect to see some positive movement for Edwards show up early next week.

[surfermaw]

30. Don't believe the polls

For about two years a certain company polled me, one that is showing Hillary ahead now, they contimually ask who I voted for in the last election. Now that Hillary is running that company hasn't polled me not ONE time, yet they are calling Hillary ahead, they haven't polled me because they know I am a certain vote for Edwards...

[rinsd]

34. What about every other company that has Hillary ahead?

:evilgrin:

[emilyg]

19. Agree.

[Hawkowl]

25. Disagree sort of

His poll numbers may drop a bit, but it doesn't matter. This is a two person race, Hillary and...everyone else. So the poll numbers are simply all relative to who is going to be the anointed anti-Hillary democrat.

In any case, I don't see Edwards changing his strategy. His personality is that of an aggressive class warrior and he has shown little tolerance for pretense. Yes, his poll numbers may drop a little, however, usually the poll sample includes non democrats, which are not relevant in the early primaries--especially the Iowa caucus, which is all hard core party loyalists. His strategy is fairly obvious, and classic. Build a good organization in Iowa and win. Build on that momentum and do a top two showing in NH and then he has a good chance to win the nomination outright.

I think the MSM media is going to portray Obama as weak, wishy-washy, not ready for prime time, and a bit of rodney king "can't we all just get along?", and portray Edwards as "too aggressive", "picking on Hilary", and stirring up class warfare. This will allow them to put Hilary right in the middle.

I think Obama needs to come out and be more aggressive against Hilary so he is not type cast. Also there is no way in effin hell he is getting on the ticket as VP with Hilary. No way the first woman candidate will pick a black man as a vp.

If Edwards manages to get some traction and pulls ahead of Obama in Iowa, look for Obama to change his strategy and perhaps tag team HRC. An Edwards/Obama ticket would be possible and quite strong.

If either Obama or Edwards drops out after Iowa and NH, look for the anti-Hilary factions to unite around the last one standing. At this point it looks to me that Obama is the one is most likely to fail.

[BeyondGeography]

28. I don't...people want a contest and Edwards is a fighter

I expect him to be rewarded with a few points in state and national polls. We'll see what happens.

[Nutmegger]

31. Disagree

Edwards showed true passion, and the people will see that. I don't think Clinton has this all tied up with a bow, and I expect many will be surprised with the results when everything is said and done.

Edwards 2008!

[FrenchieCat]

32. I disagree.....I think that the Ads in Iowa will bode well for John Edwards....HOWEVER,

I believe that when his opponents decide to get rid of John Edwards, he has given them much fodder as to how to do it.

All Biden, Kucinich, Dodd (as those below him will be most motivated) or one the frontrunners have to do is put together a flyer or make an ad against Edwards ....that quotes him in the last debate ....in where he stated, "with a question so critical, the American people deserve the real truth, not more doubletalk."...

Because they will be able to jutapox and quote Edwards saying one thing, like say......at the Herzliya Conference in Israel earlier this year talking about all options on the table, and we have not gone far enough in reference to Iran, and then show/quote him talking about Clinton's vote and words on Iran...he will look so utterly hypocritical that this will damage him and his "no more doubletalk; tell the truth" mantra in a very long term.

There are other instances of.."said one thing, then said another"
such as his refusal for public financing and then his acceptance of public financing.
Or on CHINA's Trade bill vs. what he says now
or on the Bankruptcy law that he voted for vs. what he says now
or on the Lobbying money vs. his acceptance of Bundling funds
or on the Hedgefund 1/2 million he received for part time work vs. his statement about Offshore companies, etc....
Or worse of all, his staunch words of support and co-sponsorship for the IRAQ war, and then his attacks on others for their support on the IRAQ War.

And the flyer/ad can simply say.......Sure, John Edwards has apologized for all of these initial words....but is that what a leader does, say sorry about everything he has ever stood for later on?

In other words, it will not be the fact (so much) that John Edwards attacked his opponents that will do him harm, but rather the payback that will haunt him.....and the sad fact is that it is he who has given the other campaigns little choice but to expose him as the ultimate long term/short term double talker.

Just watch.