Election 2008: Edwards setting the Democrat agenda?
Sen. John Edwards wrapped up his Poverty Tour this week, which started in New Orleans, ended in two Kentucky communities visited by Bobby Kennedy 40 years ago. The question for many observers: with rival candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama grabbing media headlines, money and better poll numbers, is Edwards' message having impact?Edwards may be having a bigger impact than the horse race suggests, argues the Wall Street Journal today. In fact, it may be Edwards who is driving the 2008 Democratic agenda:
John Edwards may be stuck in third place in the polls and fund raising in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But the populist seems to be playing an outsized role in driving the terms of the party's debate -- generally to the left -- on everything from Iraq to health care. [...]UPDATE: For another interesting take on Edwards' role in the 2008 elections, read this piece by Bob Geary, political reporter par excellence for the Durham, NC-based Independent Weekly. Short version: "John Edwards' message is strong, but his campaign's stuck." Although, a lot of people thought another Southern Democrat's campaign was "stuck" in 1991 ...
It is the essence of Mr. Edwards's strategy for winning the nomination: to come from the left, and win over the party activists who tend to dominate the early primaries and caucuses. Other candidates, notably front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, have tended to take a more cautious tack, in an attempt to preserve their ability to appeal to the middle should they ultimately win the nomination. But with little to lose, Mr. Edwards seems to feel freer to address issues that might alienate the party and business establishment. Just as former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean pushed the Democrats toward more staunch opposition of the Iraq war four years ago, Mr. Edwards seems to be having a big impact on forcing the pack to follow his agenda.
[Hat tip to Political Wire]
Labels: Election 2008, Southern Politics
1 Comments:
Okay - Let me understand something - Candidates that ran away with the good faith, belief and hope of many voters after the Nov 2004 election, without contesting the results, are suddenly back and want to be on your side ? Please !!!
Why don't these candidates at least document some plans ? Lets cut through the noise !
Try the New Deal ISBN: 1419670948, for doing a re-org in the balance of power to make a cost effective government, and then to create an economy that serves you, and foreign policy that sees a future.And for the most part to simply Leave No American Behind !
Have these candidates match or exceed in raising a standard that is provided in the New Deal for our nation.
Best,
Orion -
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