What do Edwards, Obama and others need to do to gain some traction?

Because it's clear they need to do something. It's not like they have a lot of time left to move up and advance their chances. To me, it looks like both are slipping, and both look increasingly desperate. Desperation, I suspect, is not a great draw to voters.

Dodd, Biden and Kucinich, don't have that air about their campaigns; maybe because they never had as much to lose. And Kucinich has moved up in NH, though I don't think he has the potential to gain broadbased support. I do think it's remotely possible that Biden or Dodd- particularly Dodd- could conceivably garner enough support in the coming 2 months to make a respectable showing in Iowa and NH. Same with Edwards and Obama.

As it stands now, anyone looking at this race dispassionately, has to recognize what an uphill battle it is for anyone to beat Hillary.

The one thing they could do is forget about that fake middle road voter and spend some time talking to those that voted Green or Nader last time.

though, with how many voters would abandon them, should they follow that route.

HRC. I know that sounds simplistic, but that's the root of their problems. Neither has really been able to overcome their (perceived?) lack of experience.

that Clinton is the only one who deserves attention. One Sunday morning she was on 5 shows..........5, how many other candidates have gotten 1 or heaven forbid, 2 on a Sunday. They are pushing her like she is the anointed one. And before some one says, she's the front runner, they have been pushing her from day one, even BEFORE she announced.

I wasn't thrilled with her positions, but didn't dislike her. That is until I found out that she, or her supporters back stabbed Kerry. For that, and her other positions, which is quite hawkish, I would have to hold my nose to vote for her, and hate every minute of it. I really don't see her appeal. Bush's policies have hurt me more than anything. I hung on for the first 4 years, but now I can't anymore, I am going to be going out of business. I have no idea what I am going to do. I won't be able to afford my house, welfare or disability won't cover the $600 mortgage payment, much less the taxes or anything else. I will have to live in abject poverty, and I really don't see Clinton as changing any thing for the better. She does not offer me any hope.

zalinda

I'm sitting here typing this in the cold in central NY, because I still haven't turned on the heat, I can't afford to, and I don't think Clinton gives a rat's ass.

President. They are the number 1 reason that Bush is in the White House. The Clinton's, perhaps because of their previous tenure in the WH, understand better than the other candidates how to use and manipulate the Press. I don't see that as detrimental if she does get the nomination.

I think the argument that the press has pushed HRC is valid, though I think the reasoning has more to do with ratings than her policy positions - the idea of the first woman running for President is a PR wetdream for the MSM. So is the idea of a black man running - and even more so the idea of a black man vs a white woman running for the nomination. Consequently, I would argue that Obama's candidacy is just as much an MSM phenom as Hillary's is.

It's too bad that Biden, Richardson, and Dodd have been ignored by the media. In terms of experience, these three (and I would argue, along with Hillary) should have been in the first tier. Maybe Iowa will change things in that regard, as I think the current "first tier" will be shaken up by the Iowa results.

I have also lost my business, and accrued a good deal of debt because of the Bush economy. I can't help but feel that any Democrat, and that certainly includes HRC, would be an improvement, and that keeps me optimistic. I benefited greatly from the first Clinton presidency, and from this hold out hope that a second will be the same. I honestly don't understand the notion that Clinton doesn't give a "rat's ass".

As far as the situation with Kerry, I, being a Kerry supporter, was also disappointed by his treatment. OTOH, I don't hold any politician to a particularly high standard, politics being what it is. Kerry isn't running, and I have to make my decisions based on the current realities - and for me - it comes down to who I think is most ready to be President.

compassion. And even now going back over his tenure, he wasn't advocating much for the poor, and I think she is even less likely to. You don't seem to be important in their world if you can't give them money. If you think Edwards' health care plan is bad, hers is even worse. At least he is aiming for single payer health care, she isn't. I don't see the poor getting any better with her in the White House. It's going to be the same thing, the rich get richer and the poor get screwed. Not one thing in her platform makes me want to vote for her.

zalinda

Start kicking ass and naming names.

in my lifetime without an incumbant. This race has been over for six months at least and maybe a year.

What could change it?

A major health concern of Hillary's?
Bill and Hillary divorce?

That's about it in my opinion.

They want the divisiveness to continue.

They liked the ratings generated by a "cowboy" idiot "President" and want the party to never end.

What the media wants, the media gets.

It's almost too late, but one of them's got to be knocked back to make it a two-person tier at the top and a three-person tier in the middle (with Biden or Richardson or Dodd, or two of them, so far held down by a falsely heavy top tier, moving up). Clinton's been treated as an incumbent in this race, as if she's the only one the others need to challenge. That's partly because she's running an incumbent's kind of race, and successfully, but also because the other Dem candidates have cooperated by not fighting each other and played into her hands. If this doesn't change right quick, and it should have been done already, we just keep stumbling along in the same set piece as we have for months.

They're going to get tired of reporting about how they're not getting anywhere. If their attention wanders in the direction of the remaining candidates, that gives Biden, Richardson, Dodd, etc a chance to catch a little attention

We have no say in the matter.