Edwards refusing to give up

[JohnLocke]

Edwards refusing to give up
Despite assumptions the Democratic race is down to two, he is making a strong showing in Iowa.
By Larry Eichel--Philadelphia Inquirer
Monday, December 10, 2007
----
MASON CITY, Iowa - Politicians keep looking for signs of erosion in John Edwards' make-or-break campaign to win the Iowa caucuses.

And not finding any - at least not so far.

Despite the widespread view that the national Democratic race for president has become a two-candidate affair, number three keeps hanging on out here in the Midwest.

Poll after poll shows the former North Carolina senator with the support of more than 20 percent of Iowa prospective caucusgoers, very much within range of Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, and well ahead of everyone else.

"He has the goodness of the common people at heart," said Sonny Blanchard, 70, who backed Edwards in the caucuses in 2004 and plans to do so again Jan. 3. "We're not big-money people in Iowa, and every time we turn around, somebody moves a factory to Mexico."

And the candidate, who embarks today on an eight-day, 20-stop tour across Iowa on a bus dubbed the "Main Street Express," is positioning himself to be the beneficiary should the Clinton-Obama sniping heat up in a way that offends Iowa Democrats.
(...)
On a recent icy night, Edwards gave the 150 people who came out to hear him at the high school library here a taste of the message that seems to be resonating with many Iowans.

He blamed the nation's failure to adopt universal health care on the big drug and insurance companies, its failure to address global warming on the big oil and power providers.

"Do you really believe we're going to see big change if we trade a crowd of corporate Republicans for a crowd of corporate Democrats?" he asked. "It's a big lie."

Edwards tells his listeners that the challenges facing the nation are great but that he has faith in its ability to meet them.
(...)
And his call for trying to break corporate lobbyists' hold in Washington has found an audience among farmers and working people who live 1,000 miles from the capital.

Said Mark Kornblau, an Edwards spokesman: "Iowa Democrats have had the chance to see John Edwards and hear his message of standing up on behalf of regular people. They're connecting with him."
(...)
"I've been through this," Edwards said in Mason City. "Somebody will come out of Iowa with a lot of momentum. And somebody won't."

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20071210_Edwards_refusing_to_give_up.html

[fasttense]

1. Ahh, and the fighter keeps fighting. n/t

[AzDar]

2. He is the only one who can save the Party....(well, unless Mr. Gore jumps in)

Go. Johnny, Go !!!:patriot:

[cali]

4. I wonder about people who need a savior

particularly when it comes to the political arena. Doesn't strike me as either realistic or healthy.

[AzDar]

6. I wonder about people who DON'T think the Democratic Party needs to be saved.

Must be in denial or a Hill/Bill supporter.....:eyes:

[ronnykmarshall]

7. Oh how nice.

[AzDar]

8. And how nice of you to jump on in the conversation.... this must be one of those tag-team efforts

one hears so much about.
You know,where apropos of nothing, in a thread supporting someone who *isn't* Hillary Clinton, those who DO support the Clinton Clean-up Crew, chime in with their 'concerns' over this or that, and then, inevitably, 'back-up' is called in to supply sarcasm or perhaps a non-sequitur.
Tell me, do y'all have a signal? Like a big 'C' in the sky ready to be flashed when anything other than non-Clintonian slavish worship is posted?
"Quick, to the TriangulationMobile...."

[ronnykmarshall]

12. Good god put down the bong.

I read the thread and read your post and responded.

That must be some powerful shit to get you all paranoid.

[AzDar]

14. Nah, that can't be it.... I never inhaled.

:rofl:

[ronnykmarshall]

15. Oh.

What a scream.

:eyes:

[asdjrocky]

10. I looked everywhere for the word "savior"-

Or the mention of someone needing a "savior". I could be wrong.

This is just one of the few times I'm not completely clear on your meaning.

[MaineDem]

3. I think he may win Iowa

Then we'll see where things go.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Good!!!!

[jsamuel]

9. A more correct title would be "Edwards Supporters Aren't Backing Down"

[Catchawave]

19. Ahh-roo-gah !

Yells the Marine's wife :D

[ashlarah]

25. On Hardball, Edwards described his supporters

as fearless. We are motivated by the same issues that motivate him, plus he is an inspiring leader. Those are the sources of our fearlessness.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Excuse me? Why should he 'give up'?

There hasn't been a single primary result yet.

If I recall, Kerry wasn't even on the radar screen of the top two in 2003.

* I was right:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/opinion/polls/main589167.shtml

CBS Poll results for Dec. 17th, 2003:

Dean - 23%
Clark - 10%
Lieberman - 10%
Gephardt - 6%
Sharpton - 5%
Kerry - 4%
Edwards - 2%
Carol Moseley-Braun - 1%

[forsberg]

13. eventually the Dean/Gephardt bickering...

enabled Kerry and Edwards to rise in the polls. Unfortunately it was Kerry who came out on top, otherwise we'd have president edwards right now.

[asdjrocky]

16. I do believe you are right forsberg-

And welcome to DU!:hi:

[Canuckistanian]

24. The way the primaries work

Even Gravel has a shot.

[Catchawave]

20. The Kerry and Edwards '03 numbers look like

the Clinton and Carter numbers from their first primary season at this point.

:bounce:

[The River]

17. "Despite the widespread view"

I just love that phrase!
Just who spreads that view and why?
All the talking heads just insist its either
Hillary or Obama. I wonder why?

I think that Johns confidence comes from
talking with the only people who count; Iowans.

[mtnsnake]

18. Edwards best hope is to find ways to keep Hillary & Oprah still fighting

If he can keep those two attacking each other and being all negative, Iowans would get sick and tired of it and then Edwards would have a chance to make himself look like the only positive campaigner of the 3 heavyweights.

If I was Edwards, I'd have someone carefully sending Hillary paper airplanes with nasty notes on them, signed "Obama". Then he could wait a day and send some nastier ones to Obama, signed "Hillary". Works every time. :smoke:

[tom_paine]

23. LOL. Does Oprah have any financial interest in videogame companies?

Maybe she would be interested in what Sen. Clinton and Joementum are up to.

[asdjrocky]

26. Just toss in the meat and watch em fight-

Right Snake?

[Cha]

21. The m$$$$$$$$$m will

do anything they can to make sure he doesn't win and if that means printing, "It's down to two". Then so be it.

I know that man is not going to give up.

[tom_paine]

22. Onward, John! Don't stop now!

:woohoo:

[Czolgosz]

27. Nice message!