Edwards appealing, should I jump ship?

[PresidentObama]

I've been a Kerry supporter since 2003, and I even ran JohnKerryForAmerica.com after he conceded in 2004--trying to rally support for John in 2008. But the more and more I see of his former running mate John Edwards, the more and more I wonder if Senator Kerry is my first choice for President after all.

John Edwards is talking the talk, and I have no doubt in my mind he'll walk the walk. I will continue to support John Kerry for 2008, and now probably John Edwards. At some point, it's clear I'll have to pick and choose one or the other. But for now, I'll stick with both. With a little bit more loyalty to Senator Kerry.

Is anyone having the same situation? John Edwards is definitely appealing, even to those of us with loyalty to our respective candidates.

[quinnox]

1. I would pick Edwards

over Kerry.

[saracat]

2. Yes. I like them both.

[GrumpyGreg]

3. Forget Kerry,he's yesterday's news.

[wisteria]

17. Not so fast, many, many people still support Senator kerry.

Yesterdays news, no way, no more than Edwards would be.

[jgraz]

4. Edwards is actually running...

You can't jump ship if the ship doesn't exist. Until/Unless Kerry announces, you aren't deserting him at all.

I will suggest, however, that both Edwards and Kerry need to explain their IWR vote much better than they have. Until they do, I'm unlikely to support either one of them.

[laureloak]

53. And how do they "explain their IWR vote" any better?

How much clearer can they be?

[PresidentObama]

5. A part of me feels dirty.

Because I'm extremely loyal to Senator Kerry.

But John Edwards is increasingly impressing me day after day, week after week. And he was my first choice in 2004 for Kerry's running mate, and my first choice besides Kerry for the nomination in 04'

[SharonRB]

6. I'm not jumping ship from Gore until I know unequivocally

that he won't run. If that happens, Kerry has been my second choice, but I'm beginning to think it's a lost cause. That being said, I don't know who my next choice after Kerry is. I'm still not so sure it would be Edwards. There's still something missing for me -- maybe it's foreign affairs, I just don't know. I don't dislike him, but I just can't get that excited about him yet.

Of course, whoever winds up with the nomination will get my full support. I just don't know what I'm going to do in the primary if Gore doesn't run. I have a feeling, based on previous years, that we really don't know as much as we think we do about who the frontrunners will be a year from now and after the primaries.

[politicasista]

21. Very good points

Gore and Kerry are the top two choices. After them, it's the General and Obama.

I look forward to the 08 debates, but I would rather wait and see how 2007 plays out before making predictions.

[calimary]

46. Yeah, gotta admit I'm still hoping for Gore to step in.

If he doesn't, Edwards does indeed look appealing. Always did, frankly. But then again, I still like Wesley Clark, too. And then there's Obama...

If nothing else, it means good things in that WE Dems have HUGE bench-strength. HUGE! Who do the other guys have (well, except for a lot of has-beens and nobodies, and two REALLY badly tarnished "front-runners") of any plausibility? Mitt Romney???? Oh wow. I'm whelmed. :eyes:

[rockymountaindem]

7. There's no reason not to support both

I support all our candidates, and I hope everybody who wants to run will run so we can have a healthy discussion of the issues. I know who I would vote for in a primary, and who I wouldn't, but right now with things so open ended I see no reason why you or I can't say we'd support two, three, or four different potential candidates. I wouldn't "jump ship" until September at the earliest.

[last1standing]

8. You know, none of our candidates are evil and none are heroes.

They're human beings who are presenting their visions of how they'd like to lead this country into the future. If Edwards is the candidate who best represents your beliefs, then he should be the one you support. If Kerry announces and comes up with a better vision, then it's not disloyal to change support, it's practical and logical.

I'm going to support the person who best fits my vision for the future. I hope everyone else here does the same.

[globalvillage]

9. Wait.

What's the hurry? Listen to what both have to say before you decide.

[rox63]

10. I am sticking with Kerry

He has tons more experience than Edwards, has a more well-rounded message, and has actually done the sort of diplomacy it would take to get us out of the mess that * has gotten us into. His years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, his military experience, his travels to all corners of around the world, even the fact that he speaks several languages, these all point to someone with the background to help restore our country's reputation.

Edwards has a good message about poverty. But I think his resume is too thin to be president. We need a well-rounded leader with a wide variety of experience.

It's not even 2007 yet. There's no reason to rush into anything. If Kerry announces next year that he's not running, I'll look elsewhere. But if he runs, he's got my vote. :)

[Zynx]

34. Experience is a dubious argument.

Dick Cheney is loaded with experience and he has been terrible. George H.W. Bush had the most impressive resume in the country in 1988 and was a less than inspired president. Herbert Hoover was considered to be a well-seasoned man in managing government and was a horrible president. James Buchanan was the most experienced president in U.S. history with four decades in government and was by far the worst president ever.

[karynnj]

39. The fact that experience does not alone suffice,.

does not make a virtue of inexperience. What we need is a person with a vision leading in the right direction with the experience to understand and find solutions to problems.

In Kerry's case, his experience is coupled with his vision, his beliefs and his goals. Kerry has fought against corruption and against imperialism for 3 decades. In his speech before the Senate in 1971, he ends on an idealistic note that America could turn and the Vietnam vets could be among those who help America turn.

One of the reason neo-cons, like Martin Peretz, hate Kerry more than any other politician is that he has articulated an alternative view of US foreign policy. That was why TNR had someone "endorse" nearly every other candidate - but not Kerry. That also explains much of the negative or lack luster coverage in the NYT and the WP.

[PresidentObama]

11. I will wait for Kerry's announcement.

About whether he's running or not. But your right, it's all in their vision. This will be a tough race though, with a LOT of impressive candidates. My loyalty lies with John Kerry, but my eyes and ears are with John Edwards at the moment.

[TayTay]

12. I think it's early. You have time

I think that the real issues that will affect the 08 race are still on the horizon. This is the silly season, after the big change that the people voted in in Nov, but before the Dems actually take control of Congress and begin to start holding some hearings and such.

There is a lot of noise in the media right now. Very little of it will impact '08. I think you should wait, listen to all the candidates and then go the way your heart, mind and gut dictate. That's democracy and no one ever said it was easy.

Peace!

[Cameron27]

13. I think that it's always a good thing to keep

challenging yourself about why you're supporting someone. I do it all the time; it helps to keep us honest. :)

[illinoisprogressive]

14. Support whoever you want to

I am not an Edwards supporter for my reasons. But, if you like Edwards better than Kerry then support Edwards. You support who you are the most excited about.

[Liberty Belle]

15. I'd pick Edwards over any potential candidate, except Al Gore, who has global stature-& won before!

Edwards' genuine concern for the poor and middle class is one that resonates, and whose time has clearly come.

[wisteria]

16. Nope, I am Kerry all the way. How you can compare the experience of the two

I don't understand. Edwards talks a good talk, but Kerry not only talks it but acts on it also. It is Kerry who has been correct about all he ran on in 04, not Edwards. I am middle class, but I would trust Kerry to do more on my behalf than Edwards.
For me, Senator Kerry is Presidential. I never felt comfortable with Edwards ever taking on that roll. In 2008, experience and leadership is going to more important than ever, I don't see Edwards being able to fulfill the needs of the nation and bring us together. I see Senator Kerry more capable and more able to do this.
Finally, ask yourself this, why does Edwards want to be President. I know why Senator Kerry does and it has nothing to do with ambition or ego, it has to do with working hard and taking this country and it people forward.

[renie408]

18. I'm a Ho, I love them all...

I honestly like all the currently discussed candidates. Maybe not Hillary so much, but Clark, Obama, Gore, Edwards...Ok, not Kerry so much, but I will vote for him if he gets the nomination. I like some more on some things and others on other things. But I find merit in them all.

But Edwards is my favorite :)

[JI7]

19. what if you end up liking Obama ?

i think at this point you should just be happy there are more than a few candidates you like. as the campaigning starts and we know who will run and how they do in the debates, appearances etc, that's when your choice will be more clear.

[Mass]

20. You may want to see what they are concretely proposing and who is the best for

solving this country's problems?

I have listened hard to Edwards and I just do not think his solutions are sufficient. His emphasis on poverty is good, but he is far from being alone caring about that and proposing solutions.

When I look at the sum of all the problems that need to be solved, and many of which, even if they are not labelled "poverty issues", will affect more directly the poorest one, I want to hear what everybody is proposing. Developping new jobs, offering a good healthcare program that everybody can access, good school starting very early (it is generally too late for the lowest-income kids, to intervene at college age), caring about the environment and global warming, are all solutions to problems that will impact more fundementally poor people than others. Poor kids are the ones who will be impacted the most in case of war (hence the importance of foreign policy issues), or by strict judicial programs.

So, I am all for talking about poverty, but this can be tricky. Economic solutions are important, but other issues are just as important. Listen to everybody. Judge their solutions to the whole set of issues, and then decide.

[sandnsea]

22. Kerry or Obama, maybe Clark

I used to like Edwards quite a lot. If he hasn't caught fire by now, he's not going to. IMO.

But I don't see anything wrong with following more than one candidate closely, or even changing your mind if it looks to you as though the facts have changed. Makes sense to me.

[cadmium]

23. Only you can make that choice. I think it is too early and

that being forced into running/choosing now is not good. I saw Edwards on Chris Matthews last night. Both he and his wife were charming and I am a big believer in the economic fairness that he touts. I am loyal to Kerry and I am sure that he has those same sentiments. Remember that Edwards may have only declared today but he has been campaigning for 2 years. I have decided that forcing the election cycles this soon is intrinsically harmful. We havent even started the congress elected in 2006 and already the media is pushing people into deciding on 2008. It is like we have gone from perpetual campaigning to overlapping campaigning. It may be a losing battle but I would rather see at least one governing session before starting the next campaign season.

[cadmium]

28. ha as soon as I posted this dull response, my wife came in with

arms full of shopping for next Christmas. I am a dinosaur. It is a perpetual shopping and campaigning world in which we live.

[Inspired]

24. Might as well jump. n/t

[ChiciB1]

25. I Waited Many Many Years To Have A Chance To Vote For Kerry

FOR PRESIDENT. I finally got my chance, and I even got a chance to shake his hand at a Rally, however I am now MOST DEFINITELY an Edwards BOOSTER!

I surprised even myself because I consider myself pretty Liberal but I have NO DOUBT about who I support now. I would support Gore ahead of Edwards only because I KNOW Gore really won in 2000. I would have to go for Gore/Edwards. But if Gore is happy where he is for now then it's John Edwards for me. And I really really was a HUGE Kerry fan!

I'm almost sure I want to see an Edwards/Obama ticket. I still respect and defend John Kerry, but I jumped ship a long time ago, and it was fairly easy. I have been touting Edwards for quite some time now and unless he completely changes his beliefs I'm sticking with him. I think he would be a refreshing change and have been impressed by how much he seems to have matured in such a short time.

As I see it, most politicians have lots of baggage, it's something we have to live with and Edwards did do the IWR thing.... but almost all of them did. I know I can't go with Hillary and Clark is respectable enough, but I'm nervous about his ties to the Clintons. Plus he just doesn't make my socks go up and down. I don't have any particular reason to be negative about him, he just doesn't register for me.

[wisteria]

32. if you were such a Kerry fan, why not now!

I still remain a Kerry supporter, and if he runs he has my full support. If he doesn't I am very much undecided.Strange, most people who know Kerry stay with Kerry.

[ChiciB1]

50. I STILL Have Great Respect For Kerry & I Still Think He Actually Won...

but I think too many others feel he can't win. He has been treated very badly by far too many I have no doubt about that, but the situation is what it is. If the tides should change I'd go out and work for him again, but I don't think it's going to happen.

I really like how Edwards has handled himself since the last Presidential outing, and Elizabeth is a real plus. My personal feelings about Teresa are positive too, but I think others have given her such a bad rap also. I can't change this perception and I think most of us know the perception is there.... however unfairly they have been treated. I just don't think Kerry will be able to "win" this time out. I will say it makes me very sad and it also makes me mad. But it is what it is.

Edwards has impressed me a lot since the last time out, and I do think he just might be able to pull it off! Despite all the Hillary hoopla!

No matter how I word this it just doesn't sound correct, but that's the gist of it.

[Democrafty]

26. On what issues are you basing your opinions?

And what would "jumping ship" entail?

[NCarolinawoman]

27. If environmental issues are important to you,

I would pick Kerry over Edwards. There's no comparison.

[illinoisprogressive]

29. The Democratic Field is amazing

so, many will be supporting more than one. It's like, I support my senator, Obama but, I also like Gore - if he runs forget about anyone - and I like Richardson. I'd jump at Gore in a heartbeat if he runs and not feel bad. I like most of the candidates running except Hillary. Hillary doesn't even count.

[Zynx]

35. To me poverty and healthcare are the most pressing issues to our

country right now and in the long run. By that standard, Edwards is a preferable candidate to Kerry. Kerry simply does not understand these issues very well.

[karynnj]

36. Kerry doesn't understand these issues well?

Kerry's healthcare plan was the one that got by far the most praise in 2004 - it was substantially better than Edwards' plan. In addition, Kerry wrote the bill that was the precursor to the Kennedy/Hatch S-Chip bill, which was the largest federal extention of healthcare since medicaid. When it seemed possible to get passage, Kennedy got Hatch so it had bi-partisan support.

Edwards has been investigating poverty as one of his activities since 2004. Kerry has done many thing through the Small Business Committee that actually create opportunity for people living in poverty to have a shot at having their own businesses. he has fought very hard for the microloan program, for instance. Small businesses are the main engine that generates jobs.

If you are referring to Elizabeth Edwartds' comments that said that they, unlike Kerry, knew what it was like to live on limited means - you need to investigate how wealthy the 2 men were through most of their adult lifes. Kerry was born well connected but not wealthy. He chose a life of public service - other than a few years as a private lawyer. As a private lawyer, he could have become as wealthy as Edwards was, but he felt a need to be involved in public service. For most of his 40s, he actually was one of the poorest Senators - who could not afford apartments in both Boston and DC as well as the cost of returning each weekend to Boston to be with his kids. Edwards was poorer growing up - though certainly not in poverty, but in his 30s became a millionaire and then a multi-millionaire. I assume from this that BOTH had periods in their life when they needed to consider the cost of luxury items.

[zulchzulu]

30. Work for both...I know people who did in 2004

It's not a football game.

As for me, I'm going to pass on Edwards. Nice guy and all, just not my perfect idea of a qualified presidential candidate. I'm open to why Edwards is appealing...

[seabeyond]

31. isnt that wonderful to be able to have two people you would like see win

i personaly want kerry. i also like edwards and clark. so i have three, i will not be disappointed if they win the primary. there is no way the primary will make it to my state for me to be a part of the choice. so i dont even have to put a check by a name. it will be decided for me. but i will be thrilled if it is kerry. hapy if clark, and satisfied if edwards.

[BlueIris]

33. I like Edwards, but he simply doesn't have the experience,

or the foreign policy credibility to do the job. (Also, I'll cry if you give up on our fighter, JK. CRY.)

[PresidentObama]

37. I really like Edwards message, and he's still appealing.

But the experience arguement is what's driving me back to Kerry. That and my loyalty to me.

It's just sad having two great candidates like this, and not knowing which one best fits my image of what I think the nation should be. I mean in 2004, I put in 300 hours of volunteering for Kerry and I spent many of nights hitting my computer trying to get things together for my old Kerry 08' website, John Kerry For America. So I really feel a lot of appreciation, love, and loyalty to Senator Kerry. So it's troubling to be CONSIDERING even someone else.

I'm interested in seeing how Edwards speech plays out tomorrow. I'd like to hear him touch more on Iraq, and foreign affairs. An area where his experience is lacking. I love his message and position on poverty, global warming, healthcare, and so on. But the foreign policy experience he has troubles me a bit.

In any event, I'm still for Kerry in 2008 until further notice. Edwards has my ear though.

[TayTay]

40. This sounds about right

The '08 race is, after all is said and done, about We the People. You do a service to yourself and your country when you remember that. It sounds to me like you are doing a good job of remembering what this is all about and what it all means.

I think you should trust your own best instincts here. It sounds like you have a level head on your shoulders and will come to a decision based on the right reasons. Who could ask for more?

[Tiggeroshii]

38. I like Edwards a lot

And John Kerry is out of the question in my opinion now.

I like where he stands on issues(ie universal health car, social programs and some foreign policy), but unfortunately he does not have a winning charisma comparable to either of my favorite potential candiddates(Obama and Edwards)and I beleive that were he to win the presidency 04 was his best shot.

I am split between Edwards and Obama for the primary and will decide once I see where they stand on the issues and how the campaign ultimately unfolds.

[PresidentObama]

41. Does anyone have link to Edwards speech?

Online that is. From what I'm hearing, he didn't touch base on Iraq and seemed to ignore it a bit. Well, ignore is a strong world. But I think you get my context. If so, thats very disappointing to me. The Iraq issue is obviously the most pressing issue of 2008, and it seems Edwards doesn't have the experience we need.

In that respect, Kerry is holding onto my support until, like I said, further notice. Edwards has a great message, he's appealing, and he'd be an incredible President. But unless he focuses on what we should do in Iraq, in a bigger way, I'm not sure if my support for his candidacy will last much longer.

[citizen snips]

42. I don't think he made a speech

I think he only answered questions from reporters.

[Leilani]

45. He spoke informally to the reporters for 10-15 minutes.

About his goals, reasons for running, etc.

Was not a a formal speech.

After his statement, he took questions from the jounalists.

[Leilani]

44. C-Span will rebroadcast announcement tonight

at 8PM ET.

They also may have it on their website.

[PresidentObama]

43. Hmmmm.....

Edwards is really appealing. But I'm still going to stick with Kerry until Edwards gives me a strong reason to stop supporting and backing the man who I've felt a sense of appreciation for since 2003.

I'd still like to hear more from him about the Iraq war, his stances, plans, etc.

[DemDogs]

47. A lot of people feel this way

Edwards gets a good share of support in polls but where he really stands out is that he is the most acceptable candidate to a HUGE group.

Pull out of Iraq
Universal health care
Public financing of political campaigns (Neither he nor Kerry took $ from lobbyists.)
Address global warming and energy independence seriously and immediately
Eradicate poverty
More to come ......

[Ninja Jordan]

48. Kerry isn't going to run (nm)

[cadmium]

49. I hadn't heard that.

Are you speculating or do you know? I'm Ok with Sen Kerry's decision either way. He is my first choice.

[Catchawave]

51. Why not wait a little longer....

As an Edwards supporter since '03, I was hanging in there until today, or whenever he made his decision in the next year. You should wait for your guy to make his decision, then boldly move forward :)

Hope that made sense. :hug:

[laureloak]

52. God, I hope Kerry doesn't run. He should give his campaign

money to another candidate and stay out of the race. He had his chance and it didn't work. Now it's over for him. He has a chance to withdraw with dignity. Let's see if he has the smarts to see it.

[mtnsnake]

54. Well, since you asked...

go with who your heart tells you to. Ultimately, your heart will let you know which one you should to go with, if it hasn't already.

[Clarkie1]

55. I don't find Edwards or Kerry appealing, but I do find Obama appealing. nt