Edwards Predicts Iowa, N.H. Will Keep Leadoff Spots

[Blue Gardener]

JOHNSTON, Iowa -- Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards predicts Iowa and New Hampshire will keep their leadoff spots on the Democratic presidential calendar.

The former Democratic vice presidential nominee said while the Democratic National Committee has formed a special commission to review that calendar, the most likely outcome would be more time between the early contests.

Edwards, who's been in Iowa this week, made his comments Friday during a taping of Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press" program that airs this weekend. He dismissed questions about running for the White House again.

http://www.theiowachannel.com/news/4340442/detail.html

[On the Road]

1. Smart Politics

if he's planning on running in 2008.

Remember what happenned to Howard Dean when he was taped making disparaging comments on the early Iowa primary.

[mattclearing]

2. Yeah, that was one of a few boneheaded moves by the good Doctor. n/t

[On the Road]

3. He Made Those Comments Years Before

I'm not even sure he was even expecting to run for president. But that what sometimes happens when you speak your mind.

[mattclearing]

4. A good politician is always on message.

Dean is good man and a great motivator, but he has been known to trip himself up a bit in the political appeal arena.

[mikehiggins]

5. Oh, Jeeze, really? Iowa and NH again?

How many democrats get to vote there, again? Which one has open voting so the GOPukes can help decide our nominee? Could we do anything even more stupid to play into the hands of the networks?

Let NY and CA be the first primaries. That is where most of us live and where most of the Party's money comes from. If the folks in Iowa and NH can't deal with that, so be it. A candidate who comes out ahead in NY and/or CA can at least claim to represent a whole bunch of Dems, not the population of East Overshoe or South Nowhere.

This may sound cold and callous but, Jesus H. Christ, folks, didn't anyone feel like our candidates were total fools and total tools putting up with those endless charades of "debates" and set-pieces, letting our ENEMIES among the press rip into our guys (and lady) as if they really were impartial reporters?

Is everyone in this party brain-dead? Read Bill Bradley's analysis and start thinking about what he is saying.

Can we afford another Bush-ista presidency?

[tom2]

6. The primary season was great

The primary season was the best part of the campaign for the Democrats. The Bush-bashing got a lot of press, and there was little that the Bush team could do. The worst thing that happened was that Kerry became the clear winner too early in the year. That was part of the DNC plan, unfortunately.

If the primary season was front-loaded with big states as you suggest, the primaries would be effectively over in a month, and there goes all of our great local and national news coverage.

[Debi]

7. I can't imagine anything other than IA and NH being first

and I'm sure that if your state went first you'd say the same.

Neither CA nor NY could provide the one-on-one that the smaller states provide. When would the candidate ever eat at your house (or in the case of Dean, spend the night there?)

Large states would guarantee tarmak and 30-second ad campaigns. We'd never get to know who our candidate really was. Only how much $$ they could raise to put out the most convincing ad.

[kariatari]

8. I don't think CA or NY democrats' choices would appeal to the moderates

And winning over the moderates is what is going to win the election. That said, the primaries/caucuses need to start in states more moderate than CA and NY. The only other state that I would like to see go before IA/NH would be MN. MN has just as many moderates as IA/NH and it has more diverse demographics.

[ISUGRADIA]

9. Any proof that the GOP influenced the Iowa Caucuses?

And how is voting closed in NY and CA? Any Repub can reregister as a Dem and vote in the primaries there also if they wish. NY and CA will be won by the candidate with the most money if they were first. And the attitude of "East Overshoe or South Nowhere" is just great. Piss off the "flyover" section of the country that's been the battleground, that's the ticket.