Any chance of another Kucinich/Edwards deal this year in Iowa?

[oberliner]

From January 2004:

Edwards, Kucinich agree to share support in Iowa caucuses

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich have struck a deal to support each other should one candidate fail to draw the minimum support needed to compete in Monday night's Iowa caucuses, Edwards campaign sources said.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/19/elec04.prez.edwards.kucinich/index.html

Does anyone think there is any chance of a similar deal happening this time around?

The deal may have helped Edwards achieve has surprisingly high finish in 2004.

If not between Kucinich and Edwards, perhaps between two other candidates?

Any thoughts?

[Adelante]

1. Don't count on it

Last time they weren't competing for the same voters.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Well there's always a chance

Last time, a lot of Gephardt people came over to the Kerry side, at least at our local caucus. And some Dean people came to the Edwards camp, as well as many other "deals" See, what it's all about is who one is supporting at the time of the caucus. There has to be a certain percentage to be viable, and Kucinich didn't have enough support to be viable, so his supporters either had to leave or support someone else. That's the way a caucus works. I am currently supporting a candidate who may not be viable, and if he doesn't get enough of a percentage the first time around, I guess I may switch. In the end however, we usually all support the candidate, whoever he or she may be.

[riqster]

3. Nope. Later maybe. nt

[snowbear]

4. Oberliner, I forgot all about that deal between those two...

Thanks for taking us on a stroll down memory lane!

I was trying to remember how long Kucinich stayed in the election after Kerry won Iowa -- and according to Wikipedia, he stayed in right up until the convention.

I think I agree with the others.. I can't think of any of this campaign's candidates who will strike up a deal like that..

Then again.. anything could happen..

[Progress And Change]

5. no. kucinich is obsessed with edwards

It is a myth that Kucinich affected Edwards' result in Iowa. Edwards was 14 points ahead of Dean in Iowa. 14 points. Even if every Kucinich supporter switched to Edwards it would not have made a difference given DK polls at about 2%.

What is possible is a de facto Clinton/Edwards alliance. They have an interest in beating Obama. I don't think they will officially cut a deal but a recent poll found that Clinton supporters in NH overwhelmingly prefer Edwards as their second choice and vice versa. I don't see why this would be different in Iowa. If this is so then Clinton supporters will naturally go to Edwards and vice versa in the Iowa caucus. If that happens Obama is headed to 3rd place...

[Tejanocrat]

6. Maybe and Edwards-Obama arrangement (both want to see Hillary finish 3rd or lower)? Maybe a Hillary-

Richardson deal (he wants that VP nod)?

[Progress And Change]

7. if obama beats edwards in iowa, edwards is finished

If he makes a deal it would be with Clinton. A deal may not be necessary since their backers overlap anyway (see my earlier post in this thread).

[Tejanocrat]

8. I think Edwards (and anyone else) goes forward so long as he beats Hillary in Iowa. If Obama wins

(which I don't expect) and Edwards comes in second, and Hillary somes in 3rd, there will still be a lot of news coverage focused on "Hillary's Collapse" and "Edwards Beats Hillary."

I think the same is true for Biden or Richardson or Kucinich -- if one of them somehow squeeks past Hillary to finish 3rd -- that candidate will get a bunch of "Guess Who Beat Hillary" favorable news coverage.