Which candidate can better put 'red states' into play in the GE?

Please vote.

:)

LOL! :P

n/t

I think there are ruby-red, red states (IN, e.g.), just like there are midnight-blue, blue states (MA).

than IN. No chance we'll win any of those, regardless of how much we campaign.

WY, for example, went 68/28 to Bush. I don't see us turning that one around anytime soon.

States like KY, TN, LA, FL, GA, KS (maybe), etc., are the states where we can makes inroads, with the right candidate.

It is becoming a deep southern state it terms of voting patterns. Same thing with Georgia's margin. If we win Georgia, we've already won 370 other electoral votes.

He puts North Carolina in play with its 15 electoral votes. That's huge.

Additionally, Edwards would suddenly make the South not NEARLY as 'safe' for Shrub; I absolutely DESPISE just 'giving' Dubya a 170+ EV 'leg up'. Finally, I don't see any blue states from 2000 going red because Edwards is the nominee, rather than Kerry.

If Edwards gets the nomination, North Carolina is more valuable than Missouri or Arizona and he completely has the upper hand where as Kerry wouldn't have a chance. I think he has the better chance of winning EVERY swing state, including New Hampshire, because every dollar and day that Bush doesn't have to spend in Louisiana or Georgia is what he can spend in New Hampshire

The major thing that Edwards brings to the table as a nominee is to force Bush to spend some of that mega-bankroll to protect parts of his 'red base', something I think it is highly unlikely a Kerry candidacy could force him to do.

If you want to think strategically for the GE, vote Edwards! He keeps the blue staes blue, and turns enough of the red to light pink to drive Bush out of office, PLUS he can help our Conressional and Senate candidates.

could get votes from some military and Southern voters who are darn mad at the burning bush.

Having the 2 of them on the same ticket would look like complete reactionary overkill. Every poll shows jobs and the economy as the most important issues. Kerry needs to chose Graham. Arkansas is very unlikely to go for kerry before Florida does, and it has 5 times the electoral votes.

Also, we wouldn't be stuck with the same guy after 4 years, as Graham would be likely to move aside and retire if Kerry won and ran for a second term, and Kerry could chose someone different to run with(perhaps Harold Ford or Edwards) in 08. Kerry would probably chose Edwards to be his Atty General and Clark as his NSA or State sec

If Edwards gets the nomination, North Carolina is more valuable than Missouri or Arizona and he completely has the upper hand where as Kerry wouldn't have a chance. I think he has the better chance of winning EVERY swing state, including New Hampshire, because every dollar and day that Bush doesn't have to spend in Louisiana or Georgia is what he can spend in New Hampshire

Edwards cannot get re-elected as Senator in NC which may/or may not be the reason he dropped out.

Don't trust anything about Florida voting.

There's some wacked out logic. He had a double digit lead against every one of his potential rivals in polls when he dropped out. He dropped out because he had pressure to do so from a party left in a stalemate and needing to start A senate campaign. Anti-Edwards people bashed him for not making a decision and then they bashed him for making one

Hell, even the Republican Party of Texas agrees with him on that.

The red states are his to lose. So far he's trying his best to lose some of them.

well said...

:P

And that is a big red state.

the folks I have talked to have responded very favorably to Kucinich because of the NAFTA issue and his agricultural policies (farmers/ranchers). Funny thing, it is the democratic party who does not like him, the republicans seem to be more interested.

should be in play. We've turned out a religionista Senator and a nut case Rep since the selection of Dec 2000. There is a strong independent streak here and the R gov is in big time trouble out in the boonies.

Which candidate? ABB ought'a do it.

edit forgot to answer question.

Edwards has 58% of the votes on this VERY important question, yet we're constantly being told that Kerry is more 'electable' in the GE?

:wtf:

because for the most part most Edwards people have been good posters here.

But now here is my two cents:

I'm voting for Kerry because I think he'd make the best President and also I believe he'll hold up the best in the General Election. Why? Experience. The only two guys elected with fewer than 14 years of elective office in the post-FDR era are Eisenhower and GWBush. Clearly Eisenhower had other experience. GWB is clearly in over his head. Edwards is clearly smarter than GWB and he's a smooth campaigner but there's really no reason to think he ready to be President. But most his supporters are young and there's a decent chance you'll get to vote for him for President someday.

As for the Red states I think Kerry has a better chance of winning the following:

Nevada,
NH (though recent polling shows they both could win this
Arizona,
Colorado,
Ohio,
Virginia (the two main swing areas in the state are N. Virginia and Tidewater which play towards Kerry's strengths more than Edwards)
Florida
Missouri

The Red State I'm least sure about who would have the advantage is my home state--Louisiana. I think Kerry would have the advantage in New Orleans and the Cajun-Catholic South. Edwards would do better with the baptists.

Red States Edwards would do best in:

North Carolina
Georgia
South Carolina
Alabama
Mississippi
Kentucky
Tennessee
Texas
Arkansas

Of the two list list which list do you think is most winnable?

old school con and the libertarians like him

For the rest of you with votes still to be cast in caucuses or primaries, you have a simple choice: vote for Edwards, or let Kerry have the nomination. Any other vote than Edwards is a vote for Kerry. If Kerry is your happy second choice, then go ahead.

Kerry will be torn to shreds in the south and rural states, and by not even contending them, allows the enemy--and they are the enemy, make no mistake--to spend all their massive amounts of money and efforts on contested states.

It is sheer folly not to nominate Edwards.

So tell me, Senator Kerry: why did you vote against the first Gulf War? If the unprovoked armed annexation of a sovereign nation WITH WHICH WE HAVE CLOSE TIES is not enough to provoke action, then what the hell is? We can talk about April Glaspie all day, but we're not trying to convince each other, we're trying to influence moderates, sane conservatives and the traditional non-voters. Look! Over there! Terrrrrists!!!!

But who wants a Republican on the Democratic Ticket

Adding Clark to any ticket will not only put the red SOUTHERN states into play, but it will also lock up New Mexico for the Dems, and add Arizona and Arkansas to the Blue column. And perhaps most importantly, it will lock up Ohio (extremely high moderate-dem veteran population).

Clark is the person to add to the ticket (any ticket) as he is everything all the other candidates are not.

Southern
Strong FP/Diplomatic/Military Experience
Moderate Democrat