Primary rivals fear Kerry will create a one-horse race

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/01/1075570291681.html

Columbia, South Carolina: As John Kerry leads the Democratic pack into primaries and caucuses in seven US states his opponents have adopted a divide-to-survive strategy to stop him sweeping to victory as he did in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Tomorrow's contests stretch from the Deep South across the Midwest and Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Interviews with politicians in these areas, plus the latest polls, underscore the degree to which Senator Kerry is poised to take a big step in his march towards the Democratic presidential nomination.

He spent little time or money in most of the seven states before his win in New Hampshire last Tuesday, but his early victories have transformed the races everywhere. The Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, a Democrat, said Senator Kerry's momentum would be hard to overcome. "It's an incredible surge," he said.

Senator Kerry is the only candidate competing actively in all states, with his rivals cherry-picking among the seven in hopes of slowing his candidacy, forcing the nomination battle into the next several rounds of contests and keeping their hopes alive. "What every campaign is looking for is to stretch out the calendar," said Matt Bennett, retired general Wesley Clark's communications director.


more

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. I don't mind regional candidates

Should Edwards win SC, I think it is good to remind everyone of the importance of recognizing regional issues.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Don't underestimate Edwards national appeal

If the other candidates give Edwards just an inch of running room for whatever reason he could easily go all the way.

Don

[jmaier]

5. Unless something

dramatic happens on Tuesday, I suspect that Edwards and Clark will continue cannabilizing each other going forward into TN, VA, etc. I guess that's good news for Kerry.

[Closer]

3. Horse?

Did you say horse?


A one-"horse" race it will be for sure.

[jmaier]

4. I'll give Kerry 5:2 odds

of winning a one horse race. :-)

It is pretty amazing how jumping the lead in IA and NH can make one the front-runner in states that you've largely ignored since August. I tend to ignore front-runner factors when voting which might explain why I seldom choose the winner!

[BootinUp]

9. Yep, same here

I am really not liking this. I never paid much attention to the primary process before, so I didn't understand how it works too well. I see advantages and disadvantages to the primary system as it is. But anything that would reduce the influence of the media would be a good thing in my opinion.

[David Dunham]

6. it;'s already effectively a one horse race nationally

[katieforeman]

7. Never underestimate Edwards

After Tues. it could effectively be a two person race with Edwards and Kerry. If that happens Democrats will hopefully come to their senses and realize Edwards is the one who can beat Bush.

John Edwards is Bill Clinton minus the sex scandels. In my home state of Ohio people really like him. In the general election, people don't vote based on a candidate's resume. They vote for the candidate they like.

The military records of Kerry and Clark will not help them. Remember what happened to the former DemocraticGeorgia Senator, Max Cleland. He lost 3 limbs in Vietnam, but that didn't stop the Republicans from picturing him with Osama Bin Laden. He lost to a draft-dodging Republican.

Karl Rove will paint Kerry as week on defense becuase of his votes to cut military and intelligence spending, and becuase of his vote against the first Gulf War. Rove will use any inconsistencies in Kerries long voting record to paint him as an untrustworthy politician who changes his position with the political winds.

Clark still makes too many gaffs. Again Rove will use this to attack Clark's integrity just like he did with Al Gore.

Edwards is the best one to make our case. He is positive, and optimistic. Just picture and Edwards- Bush debate.

[newyawker99]

8. Hi katieforman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[isbister]

10. Rove will use any inconsistencies

May be but bush has led a life of inconsistencies... rove is going to have a lot of explaining of his own to do, not only to the majority of the American people but rove may be forced to waste time explaining bush's recent actions (funding the NEA, budget shenanigans, immigration, outing the CIA agent...) to his radical right-wing base as well. He's just like his daddy in many ways.

[mtlipsc]

11. Having all primaries on the same day would fix a lot of things

For one thing, it would sure save a lot of money, so the winner would have more resources for the November election.

For another, voters would think for themselves more, rather than spending all their time checking on how someone else voted. If this were an academic test, it would be the most massive example of cheating ever known to man.

But the media would hate it.