Why did John Edwards after 4 years off and on in Iowa....

[Little Star]

lose Iowa? Just food for thought. I personally was with him right up until Iowa was over. I could tell you why I believe he lost Iowa but would rather hear Edwards people explain why they felt he lost Iowa and all the momentum that might have helped him win NH. Iowa loss is my question and why?

[northzax]

1. people liked Obama and Hillary better?

seems a logical solution. after four years of campaigning there (it's not that big) he couldn't convince people to vote for him.

[Little Star]

2. Hillary did not win there. I do believe it is very important if

people think about it.

[northzax]

16. no, but in a head to head

between Obama and Edwards, Edwards would have taken more Clinton votes and won. Same with a head to head between Clinton and Obama.

[Little Star]

19. Link? That is just nonsense. n/t

[northzax]

22. nonsense?

Edwards supporters in the primaries so far, indeed his power base, were older, whiter and more blue collar than Obama supporters tend to be. Look at the New Hampshire results, Hillary and Edwards had almost inverted poll lines, she went up, he went down (the same thing happens nationally) same thing would have happened in South Carolina. Edwards and Clinton are sharing the same base of voters (not on DU, obviously, but in the real world they are) Obama's base is wealthier, more educated, younger and more urban than Edwards'.

sorry, I can't give you one link to demonstrate this. I strongly suggest you review the voting patterns of the primaries to date, look at where Edwards' and Clinton's support came from and note the overlap.

[northzax]

23. nonsense?

Edwards supporters in the primaries so far, indeed his power base, were older, whiter and more blue collar than Obama supporters tend to be. Look at the New Hampshire results, Hillary and Edwards had almost inverted poll lines, she went up, he went down (the same thing happens nationally) same thing would have happened in South Carolina. Edwards and Clinton are sharing the same base of voters (not on DU, obviously, but in the real world they are) Obama's base is wealthier, more educated, younger and more urban than Edwards'.

sorry, I can't give you one link to demonstrate this. I strongly suggest you review the voting patterns of the primaries to date, look at where Edwards' and Clinton's support came from and note the overlap.

[Ninga]

3. History. Historic. First time in history. First woman in history. First black in history.

Voters DO NOT VOTE MESSAGE.....otherwise Kerry and Gore would have won in landslides.

The voters were blinded by the glare of the historic excitement generated.

The voters were excited to give money to history instead of message.

[northzax]

17. technically, of course

Jesse Jackson was the first black man to win primaries (SC twice and Georgia in 88, I believe)

[Virginia Dare]

18. I think that is exactly right...

there was a lot of drama surrounding the whole Hillary/Obama thing, and there still is. I think the media sucked that up, ergo so did the people.

[robbedvoter]

4. MSM is in control of perceptions, results? Gephardt in 2004 had a similar fate

[underpants]

6. Yep

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4286520

[Little Star]

8. Must agree that Edwards got snuffed out by the media. Now

it is Hillary who is trying to be silenced by them. Lets just let them pick our president, ok?????

[flyarm]

5. buses of young kids being bussed into Iowa. eom

[IA_Seth]

7. Surely you jest? nt

[Little Star]

9. Thank you Oprah.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. for realz???

:popcorn:

[onehandle]

10. The MSM pushed two "sexier" candidates.

People are American Idol watching, Paris Hilton worshiping, sheep.

[Divernan]

11. AP article claimed that Hillary/Obama "stole the spotlight" from Edwards

from the beginning. I would correct that to say that MSM stole the spotlight (corporate media owners alarmed by Edwards' strong anti-corporate stands). As I recall Obama/Hillary also greatly outspent Edwards in Iowa and elsewhere. So when you don't get the news coverage and you're outspent at least 3 to 1, you don't get the votes. Very basic equation.

[Little Star]

14. Hillary got the shi* beat out of her in Iowa. I don't think that's

an accurate description by AP.

[Yanez Houston Jordan]

13. Edwards spent only 2 more days in Iowa than Obama, and Obama spent 4 times as much in Iowa. You do

the math.

[Little Star]

15. I didn't know those stats.

[Yanez Houston Jordan]

27. The MSM made sure you didn't know those stats.

[KittyWampus]

20. His Message Delivery/Packaging Was Flawed. Too negative. Too old-fashioned.

Populism needs a more uplifting tone.

To convince people, you tell them in positive terms how things are and NOT in negative terms.

[Little Star]

21. I disagree. He was spot on of there being two America's, the

rich and the poor. There is no way to deny that imho. Look at NOLA just for one (in your face example).

[KittyWampus]

26. Talking about Two Americas just reinforces that notion. If you want ONE America,

you start from that premise. Postive tack versus the negative Edwards used.

This is simple human psychology and marketing.

[Little Star]

28. I just want some reality. There are two Americas. The

rich and powerful and the rest of us peasants. I chose reality, in making one America, by fighting for it, not just hoping for it.
Be honest, we are not one USA! We are a country of haves and have-nots!

[WinkyDink]

24. When did Americans become such panty-waists, unable to hear the unvarnished truth?

PATHETIC.

[KittyWampus]

25. it's basic marketing. who wants to hear "life sucks/vote for me"? There are better ways to package

a Populist message. Edwards couldn't figure it out.

[PresidentObama]

29. Two reasons. Money and exposure.

Retail politics works in Iowa, that's why Edwards got a strong second.

But he couldn't quite get to first. No matter how hard he or we tried.

From there, I knew the road would be bumpy and hard.

[jackson_dem]

30. It was in Obama's backyard and he bought the state (he outspent Edwards something like 6-1)

[redqueen]

31. Yay. More for ignore.

:wtf:

:crazy:

[LTR]

32. Hype

Obama and Clinton have it. He didn't.

Plus, the media wanted an Obama/Clinton showdown. Edwards was a third wheel to them, and they wanted them out.

Another thing that hurt him was finances. Big mistake taking public funding and matching funds. He was outgunned.