Democrats Wrestle With 'Electability' /Kerry, Edwards Claim Surges

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21185-2004Jan15.html

Democrats Wrestle With 'Electability'
By John F. Harris Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page A01

OELWEIN, Iowa -- As his supporters roared approval, Howard Dean told Democrats to look past next week's Iowa caucuses and think about November: "We are the only campaign that has a chance of beating George Bush."<snip>

The issue of Dean's electability, which loomed in the background for months as the former Vermont governor surged to the lead of the Democratic contest, is at the forefront now, days before voting finally begins and with Dean's once-solid grip on the lead loosened here and in New Hampshire. <snip>

<snip>"Our strategy is not to go to swing voters first and hope everybody else will come along," Dean explained to his audience. Of young people and other nonvoters, he said, "The reason they don't vote is because they can't tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans, and we're going to show them that there really is a difference."<snip>

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell, a blunt former Democratic Party chairman, said such predictions may be too dire -- or not dire enough, depending on the circumstances. "This is basically a referendum on the incumbent," said Rendell...add(ing) that if the economy continues to improve and Iraq stabilizes, "it almost doesn't matter who our candidate is -- it's going to be very hard for our side to win." The good news, as Rendell sees it, is that any of the major Democrats could carry Pennsylvania if the election were held this month. He also believes that Republicans, and fellow Democrats, are mistaken if they think "they can make Howard Dean into a flaming liberal." Dean's blunt style, he said, conveys toughness, and his budget-balancing record in Vermont as well as the fact that he is a family doctor could combine to win over moderates who some strategists are saying he cannot reach.<snip>

But Gersh cautioned that even if there are fewer swing voters, they are more important than ever: A small number of voters in a small number of states hold the key in a close election. These voters like Democratic positions on health care and education, he said, but need strong reassurance from Democratic candidates on national security.
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg, author of a recent book on the electorate, agreed. "A base strategy is likely to win you your base," he said. "That leaves you with something less than a majority."<snip>


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21184-2004Jan15.html

Kerry, Edwards Claim Surges in Close Race

By Jim VandeHei and Ceci Connolly Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, January 16, 2004; Page A01 DES MOINES, Jan. 15 --

Sens. John F. Kerry (Mass.) and John Edwards (N.C.) trumpeted their surging popularity Thursday as four candidates stormed into the final weekend of pre-caucus campaigning with potential to win here and reshape the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination.
With the race for Iowa extremely close just days before Monday's caucuses, Kerry piloted his campaign helicopter into Sioux City to whip up his growing legion of supporters. "Do you like the surge?" Kerry hollered at the Sanford Community Center. "Are you ready to make more and more surge a surprise on Monday?" Kerry, once considered a long shot here, has pulled nearly even with the front-runners, former Vermont governor Howard Dean and Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.), according to public and private polls.

Edwards, riding his own wave of momentum after his endorsement Sunday by the Des Moines Register, told supporters at an upscale hotel here that he is the candidate who can defeat President Bush in every region of the country, especially the South, which Republicans swept in 2000. "The South is my back yard, and I will beat George Bush in my back yard," he said. "You give me a shot at George Bush, I'm going to give you the White House!"

<snip>
Edwards might not need to win, or even finish second, to get a lift from Iowa. The senator sees South Carolina -- the Feb. 3 primary that the candidates consider most important -- as his must-win state. A third-place finish in Iowa could boost Edward's profile and, as importantly, fundraising. Edwards only has enough money to sustain him through the first week in February, aides said.
The tightening of the race in Iowa reflects a trend unfolding throughout the country, as voters are increasingly tuning in to the campaign and wondering if Dean is the best candidate to take on Bush.
Brian Hardwick, deputy campaign manager for Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), said polls conducted by his campaign show Dean fading in several states. "The collapse is very real," Hardwick said.<snip>

It's a pity that two candidates who are not electable are surging because of lies told about the one candidate who is electable, Howard Dean.
If either Kerry or Edwards are the candidate we are doomed. They have aligned themselves to close to the bush aggenda. How are they going to criticize it with any credibility?

If what you mean by the "bush aggenda" is the war voting, like it or not, polls show that for the average Democrat and independent, Kerry's and Edwards' positions on the war are closer to their own than is Dean's. That makes them more "electable", other factors being equal, than other candidates.

If you are speaking more broadly about all of *'s crazy positions, per the Congressional Quarterly, Edwards was #1 on the list of voting against * positions last year.

I believe that the original article has already been posted in this forum so this thread may be a dupe.

I am curious what the term means to most folks -

If Krugman is correct on analysis - that Truth seeking requires questioning Bush honesty and motive - as Clark and Dean are doing - and I believe Krugman is correct -

does it follow that such an approach can make you more electable?

If this is just a referendum om Bush, does it matter who carries the flag?

and propaganda. Check back on the Clinton candidacy and find the same old media drumbeat. The media definitely has to be taken on in this country. Integrity and honest reporting is a thing of the past with them and it is such a shame that we have to read the news from a foreign source to even get a hint of the truth. They are getting nervous as they well should be that the masses don't leave and go to the web for their news equaling to a boycott of the established news sources. I say good riddance to many of them.