I'm lost on who to support. I like both Obama and Clinton.

[PresidentObama]

I still at this point plan on voting for John Edwards on February 5th.

But I don't know, I may change my mind. And I certainly don't know who I'll throw my support behind, Clinton or Obama. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. I admire and respect both, just don't like the general direction this race has taken. I guess if things were more civil, I would be able to make my decision a lot easier.

I hope tonight gives me my answer.

Either way, I'm damn proud of John Edwards and how he ran his campaign.

It's too bad he won't be there tonight :(

[Pirate Smile]

1. Did you read the George Lakoff article? It might help.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4305263&mesg_id=4305263

[DJ13]

2. Yes, you MUST start with that article. It makes this race easy to understand!

And Im not kidding.

[PresidentObama]

4. Now I have not, but I will. I'm a big fan of Lakoff's writing.

[rox63]

10. Very good article - Thanks for the link

It really clarifies the different approaches of both candidates.

[Kajsa]

3. I feel the same way, Kerry2008.

Since John stepped down yesterday, I'm still undecided
on who to vote for Tuesday.

Who comes close to John's goals for our country?
THAT'S the question!

:(

[LostinVA]

5. Look at the issues you believe in most, then research what each candidate

believes and has done about said issues. That's a great starting point.

Good luck.

[PresidentObama]

9. Thank you. Appreciate the advice.

[MadBadger]

6. WEll, John Kerry is speaking now on MSNBC. Listen in!

[PresidentObama]

8. I respect John Kerry, but I prefer to make up my own mind.

I wish Senator Kerry would have ran.

But love that he's endorsed someone.

I noticed a few Kerry supporters waited for Kerry's endorsement, and then backed Obama. It seemed like they did it because Kerry told them so. Not attacking them, it's their vote. But I don't agree with that, I make up my own mind. They may have too, and John's endorsement may have just been the last straw. But anyways, even if Edwards came out and endorsed someone...it wouldn't have any say in my decision.

[MadBadger]

12. I'm not saying you should make up your mind because Kerry endorsed Obama

But what I have seen from Kerry is that he has been an excellent surrogate for Obama, and can explain much better about Obama's policies and actions than I can, and he did a damn good job right now.

[PresidentObama]

17. Trust me, I've been watching Kerry.

He speaks very well of Senator Obama, and I can respect that.

I'll see what happens, I hope the debate tonight clears things up for me a little better.

[YvonneCa]

22. It's IS a difficult decision...

...Kerry2008. I've gone back and forth myself. What's great, IMHO, is that you care and are serious about your decision. If everyone were like you, Kerry would have been elected in 2004.

Good luck on your decision. Either Obama or HRC will make a very good president. I'll probably vote Obama for the same reason Caroline Kennedy stated...my grown children are being drawn into their democracy because of him. We need the next generation of Americans to start participating. I think John Kerry knows this too...and I do still respect him alot. :)

[PresidentObama]

25. Thank you. Appreciate the kind words.

[Yael]

7. Vote your gut in the primary

[jillan]

11. You're lucky - I don't like either.

[PresidentObama]

14. LOL!! That must be sucky. God, I wish Joe was still in the race.

Him and John.

Imagine the debate tonight with Joe Biden, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.

It'd be a lot better than the two person American Idol debate we'll have tonight.

That's not a knock at either, it's just how the media is playing this Clinton vs. Obama match-up.

[jillan]

23. Or how about a debate with just Biden and Edwards?

The only two candidates that have been referred to as the grown ups in the race.
We might actually have a real debate.

[PresidentObama]

28. That'd be a good debate.

And one about the issues.

Not about Wal-Mart. Or Rezko.

[Big Blue Marble]

13. When will you be voting?

Take your time until then. It is really difficult to be in shock from the sudden and unexpected
loss of your candidate. Then you have to make this important decision.

One thing I know about Edwards supporters is that they are the most passionate supporters not only
of their candidate, but of the truly representative government that we deserve. Because your vote is so important to you,
I think you are wise to take your time.


Thank you for caring so much about your country and its political process.

Like others here that care, that makes you exceptional.

[PresidentObama]

15. Thank you so much for the kind words.

I vote on the 5th.

I have a little time to decide.

But not much. I plan on watching the debate tonight, and researching both Clinton's and Obama's vision for our country. I hope I get a clearer picture of which I'll support after that.

[Straight Shooter]

16. In-depth quiz on "Choose Your Candidate" from Washington Post

I highly recommend this quiz. It gives you quotes, without telling you who said it, and also asks you to rate the importance level of the issue which the quote is addressing.

When you're finished (it will take a while), you will find the candidate with whom you are most closely aligned.

Good luck.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/candidatequiz/

[SeattleGirl]

24. Interesting quiz.

However, the two candidates basically tied with each other, based on my answers.

So, I'm still stuck.

[PresidentObama]

26. I did the quiz, and got 121 points for Clinton and 37 points for Obama. Says I match with Clinton.

[jsamuel]

18. I've made up my mind.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4312690&mesg_id=4312690

[PresidentObama]

20. Good for you. Congrats.

[question everything]

19. We, Edwards supporters

and I have been since 2004, supported him because we took the time to listen and to read and to find out the details of his plans.

Then I started listening to the debate and I observed that Clinton, too, has very specific plans. Frankly, if she were trying to just wing it, she would be booted out really fast. If she came to the race after only 2 years in the Senate with no other national exposure, she would be laughed out of the race before she even started.

Obama, on the other hand, has been flying on his good looks, charisma, eloquence and, yes, his skin color.

Listen to Caroline Kennedy: she has no idea where Obama stands on the issue, does not even bother to give a single example. All she is saying is perception. Her father inspired people and Obama seems to do so now. How? Why? Does not matter.

In a post from yesterday I said that while I, personally, am moving to Clinton, I concede that Obama will probably be the next president since the voters have shown their attraction to form over substance as we've seen with the elections of Reagan and Bush II. Even Bill Clinton owes a lot to his personal charm.

So it is up to you. Real substance into which you can bite, or charisma with a probability that if Obama win he will be a very weak president.

Plus, if there is some instability in any part of the world - not necessarily a terrorist attack - before the elections, and Obama just stammers that he "calls on all sides to use restraint" without any knowledge of the parties involved, their history and the political situation, we will see McCain sailing into the White House. (This, by the way, caused me to pause about Edwards, too, which is why I moved to support Biden, and then back to Edwards).

[loveangelc]

21. Do not forget that Hillary used robo-calls to attack Edwards not long ago.

If electability means anything to you, you will vote for Obama because he has the best chance to win against McCain in November because he can get the Democrats but he can also get Independents which Hillary cannot, and also can say that he was against the Iraq war from the beginning against McCain. Can Hillary say that? No. The Republicans will surely make her look like a flip flopper on the GE, and she motivates the Republican base like no other.

[jsamuel]

27. Obama also attacked Edwards for the 527's in Iowa.

Obama has 527's himself.


In other words, they are both guilty of it.

[PresidentObama]

29. Amen. You stole the words out of my mouth.

I was solidly behind Obama as my second choice until the 527 bullshit.

He lost my support then, now he's going to have to regain it.