A Kerry-Edwards ticket? Dream on, say advisers

[Wonk]

JANESVILLE, Wis. -- After watching John Edwards' personable, Southern-fried stump speech, many Democrats have been talking about a presidential dream team: John F. Kerry and John Edwards.

But interviews with both campaigns indicate a Kerry-Edwards ticket has always been unlikely, and advisers to both men lack the excitement for such a pairing that some voters feel.

Several Kerry advisers say the Massachusetts senator is skeptical about Edwards' strength as a running mate, saying he appears to lack the clout with Southern voters that he often brags about being able to deliver. Edwards' inability to win more than a single primary state thus far may give him the aura of a loser in the general election, these Kerry aides said.

more...
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/160312_camp12.html

[Edge]

1. Kerry/Clark would be better.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I'd love to see Kerry/Clark

[Tweed]

17. Doesn't Clark look like somewhat of a lose too? I want Clark to be VP

But Edwards has the aura of a loser, doesn't Clark have that too because he only won one state? thoughts?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

34. No and I don't base it on this article as we only had

two southern states with primaries. I like many of Edwards' positions but Clark's policy papers on his site were much more inspiring and he ADDS statesmanship and a much higher profile to the ticket..PLUS I don't see a ticket with two senators taking it.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

3. That tends to improve the chances for Clark in the VP spot

[Gore1FL]

4. I'd like ot see someone from the congressional black caucus

Like Maxine Waters.

You want to stir the South, get disaffected voters to the polls.

[oasis]

7. Waters' district is in Los Angeles. Harold Ford's at least from Tenn.

BTW,he's a Kerry campaign co-chair.

[bornskeptic]

11. But Ford's too young. He's not eligible. n/t

[oasis]

20. He can battle it out with a woman for a spot on the 2012 Edwards ticket.

[Shanty Oilish]

5. Better start voting Edwards in greater numbers then

Kerry will make the safe and smart choice, but if he has a serious rival at the convention, that is the safe and smart choice.

[Gore1FL]

9. I am not sure I agree as far as safe and smart

The last Dem to pick a running mate from the field of available candidates running for the top spot was Hubert Humphrey. I have no knowledge of a Dem picking a running mate is such a manner and winning.

[bornskeptic]

13. One case, as far as I know, whre Dems won: JFK and LBJ n/t

[DjTj]

14. JFK/LBJ? (nt)

[Gore1FL]

21. Fair enough

I didn't realize LBJ was in the race for the top spot in '60. I wasn't fetilized for another 5-6 years.

I therefore stand corrected.

It is pretty rare for a POTUS and VPOTUS to come together out of the competition of the primaries Dem or Rep -- Reagan Bush was the last time -- 20 years ago.

[aldian159]

24. Didn't Gore run in 1992?

I think so, but don't quote me on it.

[Awsi Dooger]

25. No, Gore ran in '88

Neither party has nominated a VP who ran for president in the same year since Bush with Reagan in '80.

[oasis]

6. unnamed advisers. (eom)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. Yeah, quite a different tone from the usual one from the Kerry campaign.

Reads like an attempt to spread division between the camps to me.

[oasis]

18. If it's Rove,$200,000,000 buys you a lot of dirty tricks. If it's Rove.

;-)

[eileen_d]

10. How about a "Kerry/Unnamed Advisers" ticket?

Southern appeal, y'know ;)

[oasis]

19. Kerry and his crew are too smart to tip their hand in such a manner.

Someone's working to derail the dream ticket with Edwards. Maybe that someone wants to woo Edwards in order to salvage their own campaign.

[jmoss]

33. Sounds like a representative from another interested party

...is really the one who started this thread!

}(

[lucidmadman]

12. Kerry/Cleland...

Cleland would put GA in play and attract males 40-60 throughout the South and Mid-West.

[DjTj]

15. I thought they were pushing a Kerry/Edwards ticket...

...but maybe that's just to get people to not vote for Edwards.

Man, did I have a hard time with those people on the phones...

[AnnitaR]

16. I don't think he'll pick Edwards either.

Even Kerry's wife is concerned about Edwards charisma really overshadowing Kerry. I just tend to think that TWO Senators on the ticket would be a bad idea. No matter who it is.

I don't like the idea of Gov. Warner from VA either. Think Kerry needs to pick someone who's more known nationally.

Clark of course would be a great choice. However, I wonder if he would enjoy being Secretary of State better. Much more hands on than Veep job.

[stickdog]

22. Kerry is far too vain to pick Edwards unless he's forced to. (nt)

[eileen_d]

23. Where did this "Kerry is vain" theory come from?

I'm just wondering if it is based on something Kerry said.

[Karmadillo]

26. The Kerry loving Mickey Kaus wrote it, so

you know it must be true.

[Cheswick2.0]

28. maybe it has to do with the botox and the chin job?

sounds kind of vain to me.

[LiberalBushFan]

27. good.

[wadestock]

29. Either Kerry Edwards, or Kerry Clark

would put us over the top.

The wrong choice of VP will lose the election, just like the last time.

[Duder]

No Kerry - Edwards

'And Kerry himself recently noted with a touch of derision that, according to opinion polls, President Bush would defeat Edwards in his own home state of North Carolina.'

Boston Globe

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[Skip Intro]

31. Good - we don't need a pro-war (pro-invasion) ticket n/t

[jmoss]

32. I forgot, how many States did Al Gore win in 1988?

What does it matter if he wins only a handfull of states.
Kerry and edwards have been combing for 60-85% of the vote in almost all 14 votes thus far!

This is NOT the time for an active campiagn to say they're interested in VP job.

Please don't forget that if Gore had chosen Kerry OR Edwards in 2000, he probably would have won hands down--
(oh, wait; he DID win, didn't he?!)

Please check out this article to see what journalists from central North Carolina, and close to the Edwards camp, are saying about his tone is, "softening" re. #2 spot. Please also remember how "polite" the two candidates have been, and how they've reminded us, via interviews, that they are "friends". It has struck me all along as a #1 & running mate dynamic.

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_ColumnistArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031773628181&path=!opinion&s=1037645509163