What Edwards needs to stay in race

[chimpymustgo]

Pundits say presidential hopeful must place third or fourth in N.H., Iowa

By JOHN WAGNER, News & Observer Washington Bureau

DES MOINES, Iowa -- With the emergence of Howard Dean as the clear front-runner in the Democratic presidential race, the task facing Sen. John Edwards and his rivals has come into sharp focus.

Democrats are striving to sell themselves as the most credible alternative to Dean, who enjoys a sizable fund-raising advantage and last week racked
up endorsements from two labor unions with histories of mobilizing voters.

-snip-

"There's a scenario where Dean is not the nominee, because it's November and no one's gone to vote yet," said Anita Dunn, a Democratic strategist unaffiliated with any of the campaigns. "I can draw you a scenario for any of the other first-tier candidates."

In that group she includes Edwards, whose on-the-ground campaigning skills could position him for strong finishes in the early contests, she said.

Edwards has maintained a basic strategy from the outset: Perform respectably in Iowa and New Hampshire, and then win South Carolina, the first test of Southern strength, which comes a week later. After that, the field likely will be winnowed -- increasingly it's looking like Dean and one or two others. The Edwards campaign hopes the direct contrast with a front-runner will work to its advantage.

-snip-

Edwards, meanwhile, has been quietly building support in Iowa, based on the kind of connections made at a stop Sunday in Adel, Iowa. Edwards joked about his Southern accent, offered reforms to the Medicare program and made sure the 50 or so Democrats gathered at a local pizza joint knew about the 60-page booklet that details his agenda.

-snip-

Edwards' campaign has increased its paid staff in New Hampshire -- where he returns to campaign Tuesday -- from 17 to 24. And the campaign has been energized by the endorsement of an influential state senator from Manchester, Lou D'Allesandro.

-snip-

During a well-attended town-hall-style meeting at Morris College in Sumter, Edwards was introduced as "a homeboy," an acknowledgement that he was born in the state. And he elicited repeated "uh-huhs" and occasional "amens" as he ticked off plans to make college more affordable, improve public schools and ensure that all children have health insurance.

-snip-

http://www.newsobserver.com/edwards/coverage/story/3030950p-2774288c.html

******

You gotta believe!!

[blm]

1. Here's hoping for all good things for Edwards.

He's a stand up Democrat.

[HFishbine]

2. Quietly building support in Iowa?

Latest Iowa Poll

Sen. John Edwards, of North Carolina, was supported by 5 percent, unchanged from July despite extensive campaigning and television advertising in the state.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/polls/articles/2003/11/09/iowa_poll_says_gephardt_edges_ahead_of_dean/

[AP]

3. Never heard of Selzer & Co. Inc of Des Moines before,

However there are other polls conducted from August-October which have shown Edwards moving up in NH.

This poll has Edwards in 4th place, ahead of Clark nonetheless, and that's what they say Edwards needs to do in IA.

The poll, conducted by Selzer & Co. Inc., of Des Moines, has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. It is based on phone interviews with 501 voters who said they were registered as Democrat, Green Party or no-party and indicated they plan to go to the Jan. 19 caucuses.

[surfermaw]

4. Tucker Carlson...Edwards 3 place in NH

In third place behind Dean and Kerry....today crossfire

[DemDogs]

5. Edwards moving up in Iowa

Don't know about that poll, but I have seen a few polls that show him moving up, and most important, his favorability v unfavorability is incredible. Everyone who knows about him seems to have a good impression of him. He is looking good.

[dfong63]

6. that, and give a satisfactory explanation of his IWR vote

[sandnsea]

7. He was listening to his constituents

How about that? That's what people around here always say they want their Senators to do, listen to them. Well in North Carolina, that would mean voting for the IWR, wouldn't it?

[AP]

8. He also said there was a lot of evidence he heard on the Frgn Relats. Cmt.

which hasn't made the press, and which justified the need to take SH out, which I believe.

I suspect the media is playing up the bad stuff now to hurt Blair, Kerry and Edwards and encourage Dems to nominate Dean, but when Dean is nominated, we'll hear all the decent evidence, and we'll hear about all the wonderful things happening in Iraq.