Edwards' chances continue to diminish

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Edwards' chances continue to diminish
The Democrat puts a positive spin on his third-place finish in New Hampshire, but his fundraising continues to lag behind Clinton's and Obama's.
By Seema Mehta and Scott Martelle, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
January 9, 2008

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- While John Edwards sought to put a positive spin on his third-place finish in Tuesday's New Hampshire Democratic primary, his failure to stay close to rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama raised doubts about whether his campaign could mount a credible challenge going into the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday caucuses and primaries.

"Two races down, 48 states left to go," Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, told supporters after the polls closed. "I am in this race to the convention, and I intend to be the nominee of my party." But Edwards' campaign has not been able to raise the kind of money that his top rivals, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, have pulled in. With every failure to win a primary, he diminishes his chances of overtaking his opponents, said political analyst Bruce Cain, director of UC Berkeley's Washington Center.

"My view is that normally this would be the end, but I think it comes down to what labor wants," said Cain, referring to the organized labor movement. "If they think it's good having his voice, bringing up the issues that force the other candidates to respond, they may see it as worth their while to keep him in it until Feb. 5. It really depends on whether the money is there."

Both Iowa and New Hampshire are states that can be won the old-fashioned way: with door-knocking, handshaking and a grueling pace of public appearances. Edwards has a disadvantage in large states like California, New York and Illinois. Those states are usually won by gaining attention in the news media, which often focus on which candidate has momentum and has captured the voters' interest, and by airing expensive television ads.

"It's clear that the race is coming down to two candidates," and Edwards isn't one of them, Cain said....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-edwards9jan09,1,5730719.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true

[jsamuel]

1. Money raised since Iowa - Edwards 1M+ Clinton 1M+

The media only seems to give Edwards attention when they repeatedly claim him dead.

Edwards has had his highest fund raising to date in the last week. Oh, he runs a much tighter ship than Clinton or Obama too.

[HeraldSquare212]

2. Obama $500,000 since midnight last night nt

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Thanks for your response, jsamuel.

I think most people here know that I post articles without an agenda. It seems to me valuable for even supporters of a candidate to be aware of negative press, and I appreciate your info.

[jsamuel]

5. oh of course, I was attacking the media, not you

[DeepModem Mom]

21. I know. I just like to insert that reminder from time to time. nt

[midnight]

Good to know!

[Dawgs]

7. What about union support since Iowa? "What labor wants" is Obama.

[Indie Girl]

8. Exactly

And his supporters should take action. I already fired off an email to CNN this week.

[redqueen]

13. I fired off an e-mail to CNN today.

:hi:

[Indie Girl]

18. Nice!

:toast:

[redqueen]

20. OOPS!

And welcome to DU! :hi:

:toast:


Later I'm sending another to MSNBC. No longer will their attempts to make Edwards invisible go uncountered by this supporter. :patriot:

[cali]

11. nope. Obama raised over $8 million since Jan 1

His campaign just released the numbers. I posted it. Not even close.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

30. and he's steadily rising in the national polls. nt

[tritsofme]

4. Your time is up John.

Get out of the way.

[midnight]

6. Take a tip from your Jefferson statement! And just a reminder,

This has just begun.

[JDPriestly]

31. You had better hope John stays in the race, because if he dropped

out, the MSM will start destroying your dear Obama. There are lots of questions about Obama that have not been answered, lots of issues that have not been raised.

The MSM is systematically starving and destroying one Democrat after the other. Until our only recourse is Hillary. That is what the MSM wants. They have bought Hillary. She works for them, and they are going to do everything they can to make her win.

Edwards is the only truly independent candidate. I'm supporting Edwards 100%. I don't want him to ever drop out.

At the convention, Edwards and Obama together will hold the majority of delegates. This kind of situation is new to young voters, but the fact is that we do not have to crown a "winner" at the convention. It would be an advantage to us to go into the convention not knowing for sure who our candidate would be.

[tritsofme]

32. That's crazy

There is no advantage for us having a brokered convention if the GOP has already had a presumptive nominee raising money for the general elections for months before the conventions.

And Obama isn't my guy.

[Yuugal]

35. are you new to politics?

If we anoint someone right now they have 10 months to rip them a new arse. If the nom is up in the air until the convention they wont be able to destroy our nominee so easy. Get it?

[Clarkansas]

9. I agree that his chances are non existant after New Hampshire

it is something I am thinking a lot about right now.

[Donnachaidh]

10. with 48 primaries to go?

Lacking math skills? :rofl:

[tritsofme]

15. I think Edwards just lacks supporters and states he can win.

Rather important for someone who thinks they can win the nomination.

[Clarkansas]

19. I suppose Gravel and Hunter supporters are saying the same thing

and living in a fantasyland as well. Edwards is great but I am not going to delude myself into thinking he has a chance now.
I can cross my fingers and hope for a scandal, or move on.

[DangerDave921]

25. Not quite

Nonexistent is such a permanent expression. He has some chance, but I'd put it down there around 3-4%.

Getting 17% in NH, and coming in 3rd, is a tough spot to be in after finishing 2nd in Iowa.

Is he finishes 3rd in South Carolina, he'll be in deep doo doo.

[Clarkansas]

26. I'd say 1%, but I agree that

nonexistent is probably too extreme.
Basically, Clinton and Obama would have to both drop out though.

[DangerDave921]

27. LOL

Yes, if HRC drops out, and Obama is revealed to be a child molester, then Edwards might -- I say MIGHT -- have a shot at the nomination. That is, if Al Gore does not step in and claim it for himself. Short of these events happening, Edwards will have to go back to his wall street efforts to fix America by earning millions more for himself.

[robbedvoter]

12. He had one shot: winning Iowa. And I mean, actual win, not "second winner"

After that, triangulation for VP.

[tritsofme]

16. Edwards will NEVER be the VP candidate

It would be crazy to have Edwards as our perennial VP candidate, and the media would tear him to shreds.

This is the end of John Edwards' political career, and I say good riddance.

[redqueen]

14. I love how the media LOVES to spread bad news abou this campaign...

but when it's good news they think that doesn't need to be discussed.

:eyes:

FUCK the M$M.

[underpants]

17. I've noticed that too

the only time he is mentioned is to say that he is done. The US Chamber of Commerce is really spreading their money out well I see.

[redqueen]

22. Seems like they are, yes.

Did you notice any disparity in the large graphics displays last night?

Hehehe... MSNBC's was really pissin me right off. :P

[abburdlen]

23. Edwards hasn't had a good chance

in a long while. For whatever reason he hasn't been polling well and hasn't gained attention like Clinton or Obama. Without a 'shocking' win in SC or NV there is little to no chance for him to do well on Super Tuesday.

He's said he's not looking to be VP and having been on the bottom or the ticket in '04 there is no reason to think he'd be considered again (remember this year everybody wants change)
I do see him staying in the race though because it does give him a megaphone (though the media certainly is muting it) and keeps his positions part of the conversation.

[jsamuel]

24. no one thought Clinton would win NH, no one thought McCain would either

McCain was announced dead months ago.

[abburdlen]

29. No, everyone thought

Clinton would win NH until recently.

Comebacks obviously can happen but as time goes on it gets less and less likely.
Would you agree is Edwards doesn't get a win or get a near win in NV or SC he has little chance having a shot at being the nominee?

Keep in mind not having a viable chance at getting the nomination doesn't mean you should drop out. Having your message heard can be as important as the messenger.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

28. Because most of us who support him don't have any money.

Duh.

[Two Americas]

33. "It really depends on the money."

That is the only substantive comment one can draw from the remarks of the esteemed political analyst Bruce Cain.

If it really is just all about money - oodles and oodles and oodles of money - with all of the rest being a lot of hot air to justify having these consultants around to analyze things for us - then should we not be asking this question:

Why bother having elections?

[The Backlash Cometh]

34. Ya'll know what this means, doncha?

Edwards is going to win the next one! YAY!