Edwards supporters please check in here

[uconnyc]

Guys,

I've volunteered in NY, NH and here in AZ and what I find so impressive about Edwards is not only his great ideas and positive message, but all the fantastic volunteers that are working for him. I have yet to meet a single Edwards volunteer I have not gotten along with. It's almost like Edwards message has carried over to all his campaign staff and volunteers.

Let's not disgrace our campaign by getting involved in negative attacks with supporters of the other campaigns. Everyone is very attached to their candidate as most have spent a lot of time and money supporting them, thus it is natural that they get edgy very quickly.

Let's stay positive and talk about the strengths of JRE and not the weaknesses of his foes. It's ok to highlight differences, but there is no need for personal attacks.

In the mean time I hope all of you are doing your part to help JRE win VA and TN.

[spooky3]

1. thanks for your post and hard work, uconnyc

I went to get yard signs (Virginia primary next week) but the office was closed--will go back tomorrow.

[disenfranchised]

2. I'm in California

and I'm sending out letters to Virginia tomorrow.

I agree that I haven't met an Edwards supporter that I don't like. Thanks for reminding everyone to stay positive.

[spooky3]

4. welcome to DU, disenfranchised!

[newyawker99]

35. Hi disenfranchised!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[jenk]

3. great work uconnyc!

I'm really feeling good about Edwards campaign and may slip him $200 sometime soon :) the thing is, when certain supporters smear edwards I have to fight back. if they're angry about the media, FINE, don't take it out on edwards!

[spooky3]

6. jenk, I understand how you feel, but those few people who

do that will just keep doing it, because you are right about what is upsetting them. Please don't take a chance on getting in trouble with the mods--we need all the Edwards supporters here!

Thanks for being so dedicated to Edwards' campaign.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. It's a fine line: one has to distinguish differences

I agree with you on your assessment of the character of his supporters; it's an important indication of a candidate to see what kind of people like him/her.

As for not slagging the opposition, it's hard not to when they're attacking, and it's inevitable at times.

More frustrating than anything is the string of hair's breadth tallies that Clark has pulled. Someone was pointing out how he got another second in Delaware yesterday, but he didn't point out how it was by a tenth of a percent. The big win in Oklahoma was by less than half a percent, the third in New Hampshire by less than 2/5ths of a percent.

I just hope that the bandwagon madness subsides for a second so people can get a look at the guy. It would be nice if he was able to really go after Michigan, especially after the union endorsement, but he's got a hard row to hoe, and VA and TN are very important. For him to really effectively nail Kerry, he's got to convincingly thump on Clark a few more times.

Nice post.

[spooky3]

9. I guess I see the main challenge as lying in closing the gap with

Kerry. I would like to see him come very close to Kerry's vote totals (presuming Kerry is in the lead) so that he will be seen as trending up and more people will pay attention to him and take him seriously.

[katieforeman]

27. Once again excellent analysis

OK, and NH make you relaize how important every vote is. If Edwards had edged out Clark in either of those states, it truly would be a two person race right now.

New Hampshire is especially frustrating for me. I called into the Diane Rehm show and another local show last week to give my Edwards is the most electable spiel. A woman called in a few calls later who had been in NH, and said everyone she talked to really liked Edwards but didn't vote for him because they thought he was too young!

I know you know this but it bears repeating.-- John Edwards is 50, Kennedy was only 44 when he was elected during the height of the Cold War. Edwards is not too young!

If Edwards had more, make that any, grey he would have beat Clark in NH!

I think the point about being positive is a good one. However, I do feel it's fair to point out what will come back and bite the other candidates in the general election.

[arewethereyet]

7. I'll be doing my part in VA

its a difficult task to stay above the frey when the differences are in the area of integrity and honor. I'm all ears if you have suggestions on how to make the point that our guy doesn't lie and the other guy does.

[ShaneGR]

8. Yo, waiting for Super Tuesday up here in Ohio

Lots of buzz about Edwards up here. Though Kerry is obviously the favorite.

[spooky3]

12. hope you can keep that buzz going!

I lived in OH for 17 years and I think he would carry OH in the GE. Hope he gets the chance.

[ShaneGR]

16. Edwards, Kerry, or Clark.... all would carry Ohio in the GE

This states a mess... and Bush is pretty much hated in the north.

[ChiefJoseph]

10. I'm with Edwards

Did you see his victory speech in South Carolina? I was absolutely riveted. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the man. He truly has a gift.

Kerry on the other hand sounds so officious and self-important. I bet when he's having dinner with his family, he asks for the salt by saying, "And I sit before you today... to say that the salt must be passed... for me to enjoy my meatloaf."

Edwards speaks like a real human being. That's why he's going to win.

[spooky3]

13. I hope I'm not breaking my own admonition by saying: LOL!

[disenfranchised]

14. You don't have to put Kerry down

The positive about Edwards is his likeabilty. The more people see him, the more they like him. The frustrating thing is enough people aren't seeing him.

[arewethereyet]

25. don't forget the platform, thats the clincher

Edwards is the only platform that he can actually get through a republican Congress. And it takes a little Hill savvy to know that.

An unparrallelled platform, the ability to communicate and convince and a steel trap mind that can absorb the details and review any agenda at any level of detail on the fly.

And he's a genuine and honorable man.

[Zech Marquis]

11. waiting to get the canvassing details

i'm almst over this little head cold, so when I get the call to help out this weekend, I'll be ready :bounce:

[ngGale]

15. uconnyc--good post and we will try to be as positive..

as JRE would want us to be. Being negative is a waste of time.
We are here to be positive and instill hope with our issues.

[DU9598]

17. Still going strong

I think he continues to gain support here in Iowa. If we held the caucuses again I think he would win now. But, just speculation of course.

[SangamonTaylor]

18. I agree. TX Edwards supporter is sending letters to VA tomorrow

We should keep this civil.

[DjTj]

19. Alright! I've decided to see John Edwards at least four times in VA!

...I made a "Virginia is John Edwards' backyard" sign today and handed out literature at the UVa vs. Maryland game.

Tomorrow night I'm going to Roanoke and Tech. I'll go to Richmond on Saturday and Fairfax on Monday.

We WILL WIN Virginia!

http://www.winvirginia.com

[spooky3]

20. very cool!

[katieforeman]

23. Mayby I'll see you.

Hey,

I'm going to Richmond on Saturday. I didn't know about Fairfax on Monday. I'm so excited! I live in Washington so I'll be there Monday too!

[DjTj]

26. Cool!

I'm going to be holding my "Virginia is John Edwards' Backyard" sign. I may use a different sign in Fairfax. If you see me say hi!

[katieforeman]

28. Definitely!

[DemDogs]

21. Edwards staff and volunteers, like Edwards, are well-liked

I saw that same thing in SC. Really a class campaign

[Very Good Dem]

37. True Story

Some friends of mine were leafletting for Clark at a polling place in NH and were freezing their butts off. Edwards volunteers were doing the same thing but they had an SUV they could sit in to get warm. They actually invited the Clark people to warm up in their car and even stopped stopped leafletting while they did so they wouldn't have an unfair advantage. And when they were done, they drove them back to the Clark headquarters. One of my friends said that they were tempted to keep going with them back to the Edwards hq just to see if there were "any more like them at home!" If Clark doesn't stay in the race, they'll be with Edwards all the way.

[uconnyc]

22. I feel JRE will do really well in TN and VA

I feel JRE will do really well in TN and VA. Probably will win both those states.

For some reason JRE does not poll too well, but does much better on election day. In Iowa we were around 20% on voting day - we got 32%.

NH we were anywhere between 10 - 15% and we got 13%.

SC we were supposedly locked in a tight race with Kerry - we blew him out.

OK we were consistantly 3rd behind Clark and Kerry, around 20%, we tied for first with over 30%

In MO we were below 20% but finished with 27% and ran away with second place.

Keeping this in mind, if we are close to the top in VA and TN, I am absolutely confident we will win both states.

[funky_bug]

24. This is so refreshing to see!

I have to say, that while I'm a die-hard Clark supporter, and I do admire Dean for sticking it out, I'm very much in favor of an Edwards win. I cannot think of one single thing to say that is negative about Edwards. I was a bit chagrined to find a few Edwards supporters on DU joining in on the Clark-bashing. I'm really happy to see this post, and I appreciate your candidate and all his hard work.

I'd have a hard time working for a Kerry run, but I would be honored to work for Edwards.

[anti-bush]

29. Well said!

I've been telling people this too. I believe we can win this thing by running a positive campaign.

[dawn]

30. Thanks for your message!

I agree...every Edwards supporter I've met has been very upbeat. I'm in Southern California.

I also don't want to get involved in negative attacks with the other campaigns. I respect all of the candidates equally.

I'm doing what I can to help JRE.

[DjTj]

31. My new signature!

We WILL WIN Virginia!

[leftist_rebel1569]

32. I wish I could do something to help...

but being a 15 year old in a state where he's not campaigning yet (MN) really limits the things I can do :(

[DjTj]

33. You can write letters!

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/letter_tn.asp

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/letter_va.asp

[leftist_rebel1569]

36. cool!

I'll start writing letters to Virginia tomorrow :)

[yaledem]

34. Go JRE

This time next year, John Reid Edwards will be the 44th president... keep the faith.

[ShaneGR]

38. I've kind of realized that

Us Edwards supporters are betting laying low on DU until after next Tuesday. Too may bashers out there.

[Bonobo]

39. Great post!!

I will try to follow the same advice.

[HoosierClarkie]

40. Nice to see people working so hard.

:hi: