What should Kerry's strategy be vis a vis Dean and Edwards?

[John_H]

Yeah, yeah. I know it's not over, but assuming on the off chance that Kerry has got it locked, how should he deal with Edwards and Dean until they say no mas?

Now that the unendorsements of Dean are starting (AFSME, Congressional Black Causus chair), I think he should completely ignore Dean and let Dean's former supporters do the work for him.

Edwards, though, is a differnt matter. I think the only way he gets Edwards out is offering him the VP slot now. Even if he doesn't want Edwards, he's still got to weigh cutting a deal against having to spend a bunch of cash on Super Tuesday.

[Skwmom]

1. Spend the cash on Super Tuesday

Edwards as VP would hurt too much in the general election.

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. How would it hurt?

I can't see it as any more damaging than Kerry being the nominee.

[incapsulated]

2. He doesn't need to change anything

As long as he keeps winning like this. Why would he need to strike a deal with anyone? He's winning by huge margins.

[quinnox]

3. Strategy

Kerry is already ignoring Dean. He doesn't mention him anymore. As far as Edwards goes, it's not really a problem. Edwards is running a clean positive campaign so it might be to Kerry's advantage to have him in the race as long as possible. This way, there will be more media coverage than if there was only Kucinich and Sharpton left. If Edwards all of a sudden wins some big states on super tuesday, then of course the strategy should change.

[Tweed]

4. Strategy?

[MurikanDemocrat]

5. He needs not focus on Dean or Edwards

He is already ignoring Dean, as he should. He doesn't need to get Edwards out. Edwards is adding to the debate and helping the focus on Bush.

Kerry's focus should be on Bush, and on winning the remaining primaries.

[Dookus]

7. his strategy

should be to continue doing whatever it is that has made so enormously successful to date.