Edwards’s confidence back home allows him to canvass Granite State

[chimpymustgo]

Nov. 10 -- Franklin Pierce College pollster Rich Killion likes to point out that President Bush had 21 days between his New Hampshire loss to Sen. John McCain and the beginning of his road to victory in South Carolina.

Killion, a political science professor at Franklin Pierce College, said that with South Carolina and six other states waiting to hit the polls just one week after the dust has settled in the Granite State, these candidates won’t have that luxury.

Why then, is Sen. John Edwards, who sees South Carolina as a must win, spending so much time criss-crossing New Hampshire in his Real Solutions Express instead of spending time on the ground in the state of his birth?

“I think it’s smart politics,” Killion said.

-snip-

“It’s important to me to compete very hard in New Hampshire,” Edwards said. “I’ve spent enough time here to know that what works here is for people to see me, and that’s what it takes. You can’t do it half way. You can’t do it in fly-bys. You have to actually come and do the town hall meetings and let people see the details of what you want to do and what you’re about. I don’t think you can do it any other way.”


http://www.politicsnh.com/archives/pindell/2003/November/11_10Edwards.shtml 

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This deserves serious discussion. A similar thread on this was completely hi-jacked and debased by Dean supporters. Let's talk about Edwards' fight in New Hampshire on this thread, please.

[AP]

1. Nobody wants to discuss "smart politics"?

This is actually pretty interesting.

Here's what I think: when you build up support this way, the foundation is stronger. Barring another 9/11, I think when people decide they like you after a Town Hall Mtg, they don't change to another candidate. And then they tell two friends, and they tell two friends, and they tell two friends.

I think this is why McCain won NH, and how Clinton pulled this one out of the jaws of defeat. Could be wrong. It's just a feeling.

[chimpymustgo]

3. I like your "feeling". I like seeing the way people react to Edwards

in person. He has to take his case to them, but he tends to win that way.

[Hep]

2. Back home?

I could have sworn I live back home. I was born in Colorado, but I wouldn't consider a trip to the city of my birth as a trip "back home". Maybe they meant the south.

Not that any of this matters.

[short bus president]

4. why does he even care about NH?

He won't win SC - he won't even win NC. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep his Senate seat here, either - that's why he's not running for reelection. Johnny-come-lately was a goodhair one-term fluke for NC, and that's all he'll ever be.

[chimpymustgo]

5. My crystal ball shows something entirely different.

Good showing in Iowa, NH. Win in SC.

We'll see...

[Leftist78]

6. SC will go his way

I know my little slice of the SC pie is looking that direction anyway. I also expect him to do fairly well in NH.