Republican/Independent voters in WI: 39% to Edwards

[WilliamPitt]

The close race they are anticipating hinges on the non-Democrats who weighed in for Edwards. I see two things from this:

1. The independents apparently favored Edwards, but;

2. The Republicans came in to vote for the 'second place' guy to make sure the race lasts longer, so as to bleed Kerry.

Take that for what it's worth. I don't mean to take anything away from Edwards, but the exit poll numbers seem to indicate the GOP voters are using him as a foil to slow Kerry and lengthen the race.

[Timahoe]

1. What about Republicans who are sick of Bush

but could not bring themselves to vote for Kerry?

I think you're way too quick to discount this.

[TheDonkey]

2. I'm curious

if these republicans and independents just are active politicos wanting to express themselves.

Would they vote for Edwards over Bush? Or are they justing voting Edwards because he's the "best" in this race, and then vote for bush in the GE.

I cannot trust republicons.

[ShaneGR]

3. Hey Mr. Press Secretary

You should know that a close race through March 2 is a GOOD thing for the party. The earned media is 10X better than anything we could have bought. Second off, how about giving Edwards credit for fighting a good campaign. And the numbers I saw showed only 10% of the total voters were Republicans. So Edwards got 39% of em?

[DjTj]

8. A Longer Kerry v. Edwards race will not hurt the Democrats

...Edwards will not go negative and we'll only get a stronger nominee in the end.

[KC21304]

4. I know personally people who did that today.

I suppose we will be accused of making excuses if we point it out though.

[ShaneGR]

6. You're damn right

Are guy does well and suddenly we are all Republican spoilers? bullshit

[SEAburb]

12. Aren't you the dude calling for civility tonight nt

???????????????????

[ShaneGR]

19. Yes, sorry I'm excited... didn't expect to do so well

Thought a strong second but not a possible win, BTW, I'll gladly support Kerry if he gets the nod.

[KoKo]

5. So the Indpendents and Repugs vote for Edwards but not Dean?

That explains what we NC'linians who have "experience" have been saying all along about Edwards. He's not the kind of Democrat that many of us here would be looking for to replace Bush. Better than Lieberman? Maybe....but not in the same caliber as Dean for many of us.

[GreenArrow]

14. maybe so...

but gosh, golly, jeepers, gee wilikers! He's just so darn cute!

[KoKo]

17. AND he's only 35! ROFL The Young John Edwards......

Good hair! Shiny, wonder what shampoo... (sorry...I know, being catty.) :-( just letting off steam here.

[Champion Jack]

20. Actually he's 51

which pisses me off 'cause I don't look that good at 51

[KoKo]

26. It's the shampoo! it attracts Independents and Repug Crossovers!

Pheronomes (is that the word?) or is it that Southern thing..

[RetroLounge]

7. Good. The longer the race

the more voices bashing bush* on the national stage.

More media coverage for Democrats.

Less bush* on TV the better.

I hope EVERYONE stays in until the end.

[Skwmom]

9. The RW talking heads have been cheering Edwards on

Obviously Bush supporters who can vote in the Democratic primary aren't that stupid. This has been going on before WI.

[mlawson]

10. That might be giving them too much analytical credit.

That implies that WI repubs have a coordinated plan. To stop Kerry, they all somehow know to vote for Edwards?? I dunno about that.

My take is, that he has found his message, and many voters are responding.

[KittyWampus]

11. What Do You Think Happened To Clark?

[leyton]

13. Edwards has always appealed to Republicans and Moderates.

If you look at the numbers in many different states, he does considerably well among moderates (better than among democrats, I believe). So either Republicans over the country are conspiring to keep the primary good and long so that Democrats keep getting media coverage, or Edwards is just appealing. I'll go with the latter.

[Nazgul35]

15. hahaha...

I just don't know why I continue to be amazed at the number of times different people use this "repugs are screwing with our election" meme...


the favorite boogie man of the left....years from now Democrats will be using Karl Rove to scare their children....


BOO!

:evilgrin:

[never cry wolf]

16. No, No, No...

The repubs did not organize this. Living just south of the cheeseheads, parrying with Packer fans vs. us Bears fans, visiting often this would not be a concerted effort. Wisconsin is very much pick-up truck territory. (sorry wisc. DUers, a Chicagoans impression, I have spent many, many days in your wonderful state.)

More than likely, the people that went for shrubbie in the past are the same ones that vote based upon appearance and who they can relate to, totally superficialy rather than on the issues. Edwards is a small town guy as are most Wisconsinites and he is good looking. That plays in Baraboo, Rice Lake and Rhinelander.

[stickdog]

18. Why are the Republicans voting for Edwards? Why not Dean?

I mean, Dean's the weakest candidate, right? The one Republicans want to win, right?

[David Dunham]

22. JK will in WI. On March 2 only Dems can vote in most primaries.

[Nazgul35]

24. How many of those states

are in the south?

Isn't that were Clinton dethroned Tsongas?

[roguevalley]

21. Wisconsin has an unconventional history in primaries. Its in the straight

caucuses and state primaries that Edwards has to win.

[VelmaD]

23. Some people seem to be missing the point...

that the Rethugs shouldn't be voting in the Dem primary AT ALL in the first place.

This is not a weird conspiracy theory people. I'm from Texas and they pull that shit here all the freakin' time. If they don't like a particular Democrat they'll vote in the Dem primary just to keep them out of the general election.

I'm not saying it happened in this case. I'm just saying that if we didn't let them vote in our primaries then there wouldn't even be the chance for them to do it.

[KittyWampus]

25. Of Course It Happened. It's Not Even "Tinfoil"

[Nazgul35]

You mean like Dems voted for McCain

in NH and Michigan?

This cuts both ways...and if you go look at the exit polling data, it is based upon 11% of those who were polled....so we have no way of knowing exactly how many people were republican in the vote totals...

But if Edwards leads amongst Indies and repugs....doesn't that bode well in the general? Isn't that the argument used by many when Dean was in front...he couldn't win the general but could win the primary?

Also, NH was an open primary, so was Mich and god knows how many other states that Kerry won....how many repugs voted for him in those states....

This is a very weak argument and needs to be put to rest now that it has been used on everyone who ran....

[VelmaD]

29. Honestly, this is just a hot-button issue of mine

I don't care who does it or who benefits from it it's ALWAYS wrong. (And yes it was wrong when Dems did it to vote for McCain in 2000.) Like I said, I'm from Texas, and it happens a lot here. I've seen too many good Dems go down in primaries where it was an open secret that the Rethugs were voting in the primary just to bring them down.

We, as Democrats, should have the right to pick our candidates without outside interference and the Rethugs should have that same right.

[LEW]

27. I respectfully disagree Mr. Pitt

The longer this goes on the better for the dems. It lessens the time Repubs can solely focus on the dem candidate. The longer the bush bashing gets the headlines, because each primary keeps in the negative bush stuff going each week.

Main reason, I just got off the phone with my very very very love bush, repub who said I don't think I can vote for him again, but I could vote for Edwards, and not so sure about kerry. Edwards can bring in the independants and the upset repubs, we need this to win in November.

[KoKo]

28. He's good for VP if he brings these folks in, but as a "principled Dem"

I have to say, this isn't my Democratic President. But, it's a good "test run" to see what votes he can pull. Gore should have picked him for VP..he did talk to him and met with him at Edwards multi-million dollar beach house in NC. But, whatever reason, Gore went with Lieberman.

One does wonder why he didn't pick Edwards back then. His #2 choice was the rumor here in NC.