What's your ranking and why?

[readmoreoften]

1. Kucinich/Edwards in a dead heat
2. Dodd
3. Biden
4. Richardson
5. Clinton
6. Obama

Most important issues/criteria: convinced will fight corporatists/neoconservatives, strong on labor, create atmosphere that reinforces separation of church/state, coherent message that stays on point for at LEAST TWO YEARS.

Personally, because 9-11 was such an unprecented political moment, I'm pretty much absolving anyone of their votes and attitudes until 2003. But if you haven't figured it out by now, or if I don't feel you don't have a coherent message by now, I'm not interested.

How do you rank your candidates and what is important to you?

[Politicub]

1. Mine is

1. Clinton
2. Edwards
3. Obama
4. Biden
5. Richardson
6. Dodd
7. Kucinich

Hillary is #1 to me because she exemplifies about what's great about America. I would also be very happy with Edwards as pres, too.

[readmoreoften]

3. Actually 4-5-6 are kind of tied for me.

Clinton is about equal to Biden and Richardson in my book. I guess, I'm just a little oversaturated with her and Obama's squabbles, hence the drag. What do you feel she exemplifies about America? (I'm not being snarky. I'd just like to have some political conversation that's not in the gutter.)

[Politicub]

6. I think she has a positive message

And I like her positions on most of the issues. I think her ideas about universal insurance are a step in the right direction.

She would be such a uniting force for most of our country. There is no candidate that will make everyone happy, but I believe Clinton will heal so many divisions in our country.

[libertariandemocrat]

28. Not a Uniting Force

I agree, most of her message has been positive. But, she is not going to unite this country. Far too many hate her. Mostly without good reason. I dislike her because she is an opportunist. She supported the war, then when things started to go bad, she became critical. Don't forget, she supported the surge until Bush did. Then she turned against it. This is exactly why Kerry lost last year. Non stop pandering. It's exactly why she will lose.

[annie1]

35. you know, i hadn't thought of it that way...

i've been so bogged down by all the hil hate, that i didn't really see that. But looking back, she has had a positive message. man. right on. :).

[comradebillyboy]

2. I like

Clinton
Richardson
Edwards
Obama
Dodd
Biden
Kucinich

I like Clinton because she is smart tough and flexible. I know the 'flexible' is an anathema to those of a more ideological bent, but I think its a virtue. I live in new Mexico and Richardson has been the best governor we have had in the last generation, plus his vast experience make him a great choice. I am beginning to warm up to Edwards more and more on his populist stands. The rest are all ok. I'll vote for the dem nominee, which ever one it is.

unless saint ralph runs, then I'll slash my wrists.

[readmoreoften]

4. That's good to hear about Richardson. /nt

[Politicub]

7. I don't know that much about Richardson

But I like that people who do know about him almost universally have a positive opinion of him.

[0007]

29. I think Bill Richardson is a first class schmuck. Especially after

what he could have done for Wen Ho Le before the charges against him were dropped.

His poll numbers ain't very positive and most importantly most people haven't forgot the arrogance of this stupid turd.

[amandabeech]

33. Richardson wants to pump Great Lakes water to New Mexico.

That puts him at the end of my list:

Edwards
Biden
Dodd

Kucinich--on electability
Gravel--ditto



Clinton
Obama--I'm a baby boomer who will need SS and Medicare and who wonders why he almost never talks about his mom and grandparents who obviously loved him--which is more than lots of people can say
Richardson

[riqster]

34. He disenfranchised thousands of voters in 2004

...even if a New Mexico recount wouldn't have put Kerry in the White House, Richardson's calculated disregard of voter's rights really pisses me off.

[Stop Cornyn]

5. About the same as you but with Obama bumped over Biden to 3rd

[oddmanout]

8. My Rank

1.Edwards
2.Richardson
3.Kucinich
4.Dodd
5.Biden
6.Obama
7.Clinton

[AndyTiedye]

9. my rankings

1. Gore
2. Gore
3. Gore
4. Gore
5. Gore
6. Gore
7. Gore
8. Gore
9. Gore
10. Gore
11. Kucinich
12. Dodd
13. Edwards
14. Richardson
15. Clinton
16. Obama
17. Biden

Did I mention that we should draft Gore?

[MadBadger]

10. Here is what I see

1. Obama
2. Biden
3. Dodd
4. Edwards
5. Richardson
6. Kucinich
7. Clinton

What is important to me is who voted for the IWR, as well as who has the most viable plan to get us out of Iraq and to handle the sitation over there.

[OneBlueSky]

11. I agree with your #1, though I'd give Kucinich an edge . . . after that, I don't care . . . n/t

.

[Kucinich4America]

12. Here's where I'm at today

1) Gore

2) Dean

3) Kucinich

4) Richardson

5) Dodd

6) Edwards

7) Biden

8) Obama

Did I forget anyone??

[Quixote1818]

13. Edwards, Biden, Obama, Dodd, Kucinich, Richardson, Clinton, Gravel nt

[Jennifer C]

14. I like

1. Biden
2. Obama
3. Edwards
4. Dodd
5. Kucinich
6. Richardson
7. Clinton

[jgraz]

15. mine

Edwards
Kucinich
Dodd
Biden
Obama
Richardson
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Clinton

[JDPriestly]

16. Here is mine

Edwards
Edwards
Edwards
Obama
Dodd
Biden
Kucinich
Richardson
Clinton

My big issues are restoring civil rights, stopping corruption, establishing good environment and energy policy (energy independence) and thereby building a new economy, completely changing the trade policies and agreements, universal health care, better education policy, free DSL/cable internet access for all and strengthening rural and inner city communities. In my view, Edwards has the best policies and is the most committed on all these issues. I believe that our foreign policy will straighten itself out very easily if we focus on these issues and if our government stops trying to distract from failed domestic policy by waging endless foreign wars. America is as secure as the American people are healthy and strong and united.

[FlyingSquirrel]

17. Here's mine based ONLY on MOST LIKELY to defeat Republican Challenger

Because really at this point that is once again what it comes down to. That's why I voted Kerry in the 2004 caucus in Washington state, that's why most people chose him, and he disappointed us (swift boaters, disenfranchisement and fraud aside). But that's what people will be basing their votes on in the caucuses and primaries this year. So unless someone pulls off a miracle (as Kucinich is attempting to start today at December152007.com) it's the only way to rank them that makes any sense this late in the game. Al Gore isn't running and will not get enough votes, (though he will probably get more write-in votes of anyone we've seen in decades).

Once again, based ONLY on most likely to beat Republican challenger among those RUNNING. Yes, money counts.

(1) Edwards - Besides the fact that he's a (gasp) trial lawyer and has really pretty hair, the Repugs don't have much to slime him with. He's probably the one they fear the most. Although the country may be forced to endure the tragedy of his wife's untimely death, there's no way that becomes a campaign issue.

(2) Obama - "Drugs", "Muslim", "Barack HUSSEIN", and some subtle racism thrown in will be enough to make it a tough battle for him. However as one writer put it, this era fairly cries out for him.

(3) Clinton - Will mobilize the hating haters who hate her and her husband. It's a blind hatred. Reason will not penetrate nor sway a significant portion of the GOP base who might otherwise stay home. On the plus side she has money, inner strength and a lot of support from seniors (who form a significant voting bloc).

(4) Richardson - Nobody knows him or what he stands for. He isn't flashy. However he is a Governor, and history shows that they are often chosen as President. He has no significant negatives and no voting record to distort. He also has no money, which is why he comes in behind Clinton.

(5) Biden - Until I started coming to DU a few weeks ago I had thought his candidacy was dead, shot down by his own mouth on the first day. The hair plugs do tend to put some people off. Those who care about substance are impressed with the things he says and the command / presence with which he says them. Bottom line, however, is that he just doesn't SEEM presidential. Seems more like a very good Senator.

(6) Kucinich - I'm putting him ahead of Dodd for a few reasons. He has more charisma (and his wife has caught the media's attention) and his supporters are fervent, and they just may pull off a significant fundraising event today which would vault him above Biden and possibly even within range of Richardson, at least for awhile. Reality check, however: Impeachment and restoration of our Constitutional rights is what Americans want - but not necessarily Kucinich for President if they were to begin to look deeper (which is what would happen if he started getting close. Look what's happening to Huckabee.) We can have the former without the latter.

(7) Dodd - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

(*) Gore - Ok I'll say something about him. He should have run in 2004. But I understand his reasons for not running - the Repugs had really made him into a caricature and he couldn't seem to break out of it. Sad. Sad for the country. He'll keep focusing on the planetary crisis and won't run for president again unless (a) somehow the Democratic nominee blows it this year, and who can say it won't happen based on the recent past, or (b) the Democratic nominee wins and then has a failed presidency - something I somehow doubt because what could be worse than Bush? However the inability to push your agenda in the face of the viciously cunning, malicious and never divided Repugs may count as having a failed presidency, and could well occur under Clinton or Obama. (Obama does have an agenda, doesn't he?) Somehow I have more faith in Edwards.

Edit: Oh, sorry... I forgot Gravel. :-D

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

20. Funny how we can all disagree. To me, Biden is like the President in a movie

He's so presidential he's "central-casting" presidential.

But Presidential is an inexact term, and means something different to each of us.

[FlyingSquirrel]

23. Perhaps he is presidential

But so was Kerry... I think the main thing about Biden that worries me is that he has foot-in-mouth problems just like Kerry and doesn't respond well just like Kerry. Do we need a repeat of 2004?

[Think82]

26. Biden is so much more charismatic than Kerry it's not even funny.

The "foot in mouth" things are usually taken out of contextand have no basis in reality to anyone except desperate political reporters.

[Think82]

27. Biden, then everyone else is tied for 2nd.

[annie1]

21. I would LOVE to watch Edwards debate a republican. i bet he would be awesome.

Major smackdown.

[annie1]

18. Sometimes I'm torn,but usually it goes like this

1.Clinton
2.Edwards
3.Obama
4.Biden
5.Richardson
6.Dodd
7.Gravel
8.Kucinich

it moves around a lot though. 1 out of every 7-10 days Obama or Edwards is #1.
Most important issues: Environment, Freedom, the way healthcare will be run, price for healthcare, International Conflict, Education.

Clinton I like because I've liked her since 1992. She's smart and i think she does care. To me it's clear that she cares about women and children and indeed she has always spoken up for them, and never backed down from that. I think she is a true democrat. Cares about the environment, has her heart in the right place when it comes to people (so to me she will feel for the situation in darfur, etc), she cares a great deal about education and will never let it fall by the wayside, she is dead serious about wanting all children to be able to have opportunity. do NOT like that i feel she would allow people's personal freedoms to fall by the wayside. i don't like that at all. But she passed the patriot act and voted yes for a national id card i think. She also works her ass off.

Edwards: edwards is just straight badass and i love him. Smart as hell and really would fight the man. he means it. love him.

Obama. good democrat, probably cares about the same issues i do. Seems to me he would not sell out. and that is A LOT for someone who is running for president. Clinton I believe would sell out. this is why sometimes he makes it to #1 for me.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. 100% electability

I don't give a rat's ass about policy differences. They will all appoint judges on par with or to the left of Breyer (the quintessential smart center-left judge), and a Dem president will have to sign most of what a Dem congress throws at him anyway.

I am a single issue electability voter right now.

1) Biden

long drop down to...

2-3 tie) Clinton & Edwards
4) Richardson
5) Dodd
6) Obama
7) Kucinich

[Whisp]

22. voting for Patriot or IWR rules out many.

Kucinich
Gravel
Obama

[MethuenProgressive]

24. I have a running ranking in my sig line.

Obama, once 1st or 2nd fell into last after he got in bed with the bigot wing of his church.
Edwards was always at the bottom, because I don't use negative numbers.

[MethuenProgressive]

25. Why Bill Richardson should rank higher than The Big Three

Because 2013 is too late to bring our troops home from Iraq.
www.2013IsTooLate.com

[jillan]

30. Biden - Obama - Dodd - Richardson-Kucinich - Clinton-Edwards

today anyway! (except for the Biden part - very consistant on him)

[ThomWV]

31. OK

Biden
Kucinich
Richardson
Edwards
Dodd
Obama
Clinton

[riqster]

32. "Electability" before a ballot has been cast is a wack concept

Kucinich
Biden
Edwards
Dodd
Obama
Clinton
Richardson

[jakem]

36. mine

1. Obama
2. Biden
3. Richardson
4. Dodd
5. Edwards
6. Kucinich
7. Clinton