The only way left to curtail Kerry is for Edwards to drop out NOW!

[sleipnir]

The only way to stop the seemingly inevitable nomination of Kerry is if Edwards drops out NOW! Here’s why the facts add up to the conclusion that they only way to stop Kerry is for Edwards to "pack it up":



Super Tuesday is the last day before Kerry gets a lock on the nomination. Now, Edwards has yet to get above 13% in any Northern or Western state, and guess what, 8 out of the 9 states in Super Tuesday are Northern or Western. The next time Edwards even remotely has a chance to win a Primary (other than Georgia on 3/2) is March 9, with the “Southern Super Tuesday.” But, by that time it will only be academic, as Kerry will have close to 1,900 delegates at that date. Edwards could never catch up, no matter how hard he tried through the remaining 23 states.

However, the only option left is Howard Dean. It’s an extremely long shot, but at least it’s a chance. Edwards, sadly, only offers us an early Kerry nomination. With enough support behind Dean, he might be able to garner enough votes for a brokered convention. Dean could actually even win some states on Super Tuesday! In that event, a likely outcome will be the replacement of Kerry on the ticket with a “yet to be named” candidate. This outcome is probably only around 35% likely, but at this point, it’s all that’s left.

I’m not suggesting that Dean will out and out beat Kerry, but the best we can hope for is a brokered convention, that at least allows Dean and Edwards more of a say in the platform, in the event Kerry stays the nominee after a dead-lock ballot decision.

To conclude, the only way to stop a quick Kerry nomination, is for Edwards to drop out, well, maybe even tonight. I strongly feel that Edwards is drawing 50% of his votes as the “anti-Kerry.” However, we have too many “Anti-Kerry’s” still in the running and due to overwhelming majority of Northern sates on the March 2nd, Edwards should gracefully bow out.



NB. I realize that this suggestion will probably not happen and pretty much hypothetical, but I’d just like to point out the only way left that Kerry will not get the nomination. This is the only logical option due to the nature of Super Tuesday. Honestly, the best option would have been if Clark had stayed in and Dean and Edwards dropped out. But, for obvious reasons, that won’t be happening.

Also, Yes, I will vote for Kerry in November, so there.

[DaisyUCSB]

1. um, It's really doubtful that Edwards is pulling that many votes away from

Dean. They just don't appeal to the same kind of democrats enough.

Dean's support stretches mainly from the anti-war movement, and Edwards doesn't

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. OK, since I've protested

the Clark should drop and Dean should drop threads, I'm going to protest the Edwards one, as well!

The voters who believe in Edwards as strongly as I believe in Clark might have a word or two for you! ;)

I don't think that any of the candidates should drop out until they run out of money and/or steam.

[ShaneGR]

3. Sorry, not gonna happen

And I'm not going to respond with "Dean should drop out." Do whatever you want, we're not going anywhere. We like our guy.

[sistersofmercy]

4. What is this "stop Kerry" stuff?

Honestly, an awful thing to say towards any Democratic candidate.

[Padraig18]

7. It's not 'awful', especially if you believe him to be vulnerable in Nov.

SOME of us simply believe that the party has stronger candidates to offer, and we act accordingly.

[sistersofmercy]

12. Well, guess what I think Kerry is the strongest candidate to take on

bush* but I'm not going around saying we need to stop any other candidates or suggesting one or more should drop out. I'm willing to let the process happen. I believe all the candidates should stay in as long as they can. I will vote and support the nominee no matter who it is.

[Padraig18]

13. I'm also ABB.

But I view it as vital that another candidate be our nominee. Guess that's what makes horse races--- differences of opinion.

[diamondsoul]

14. Unfortunately there are a large number

of us who feel "the process" has already died and we're watching an illusion now.

[sistersofmercy]

17. I just love Dennis Kucinich

I really do but I don't think with the current climate of US politics that its citizens are ready for a great man like Dennis, if I did I would wholeheartedly throw my support behind him. He is a great man, an ideal Democrat, I have tremendous respect for him.

[sleipnir]

8. I changed the title to reflect my actual opinion

To "Stop" a quick nomination process. It needs to be slowed down, severely. If the voters agree after a long process that Kerry should be the nominee, then so be it. I'm just trying to put the brakes on, and make sure we examine all of our options and ideas before rushing onto a nominee. The way the Primaries are set up right now, is IMO, close to undemocratic. We need more time, like we used to have, to examine and hear out the candidates in many different states.

[sistersofmercy]

16. Look whether it's fair or not

the majority of Democratic voters mainly just want someone they perceive can kick bush*s butt back to Crawford. Currently, the media is portraying Kerry as that man (I believe he is)but not that long ago, Kerry's campaign was being talked about by the media as being stalled, almost over. The difference is Kerry has been challenging bush* publicly over and over on policies. Democrats are falling in line, just as Clinton asked at the Harkin Steak Fry, they understand we do need to get behind a nominee more quickly because we're up against the mega bucks bush* has already raised.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. I thought it was undemocratic to call for candidates dropping out

[janx]

6. This is silly.

Is it meant to be?

[AP]

9. We'll see what happens in WI and the following week.

I suspect Edwards would drop out if it turned out that he couldn't win and he was only preventing a real debate between candidates who could.

[AP]

11. For emphasis: I believe that Edwards would do whatever was

neccessary to ensure that the democratic process gets carried out properly.

Kerry can't buy him off, like I suspect the others could be bought off with political promises.

Edwards has probably already achieved more power in his life than he ever expected. He knows a trade, so he never has to rely on anyone else to feed his family. And he actually seems committed to democracy and to seeing that Americans get everything they deserve.

I don't think he'd play games that compromise democracy.

I suspect he would drop out if it furthered Democracy.

I don't think he'd ego trip at the gates of hell like some of the other canididates might.

[mohc]

10. I have to disagree

If Edwards were gone, almost all his support would swing to Kerry. I'd expect most of Dean's supporters to swing to Kerry as well, save for the hardcore supporters, but not to the same degree. Basically, the only way for Kerry to lose is if he beats himself, making some mistake that removes his "electability". If that were to happen, I believe Edwards would have a much better chance of picking up support from Kerry than Dean would. In other words, it would either be "unelectable" Kerry versus "unelectable" Dean or "unelectable" Kerry versus "electable" Edwards.

Also, Edwards is leading Dean in most of the Super Tuesday polls, including CT, RI, OH, GA, and MD. Though there are no polls out I'll assume Dean is leading in VT, and the only states hes leading in are NY and CA. There are no Democratic primary polls for MN or MA, but a MN poll of head-to-heads with Bush would lead me to believe Edwards is leading there.

[NightNurse]

15. Big John vs. The Doctuh, One-on-One?

Kerry by 22% in a veritable "Cake Walk":nuke:

[genius]

18. Go away. Edwards and Kucinich are the two best candidates.

Why should either of the best candidates leave.