Barack Obama won Iowa by about 8 points over his nearest competitor, John Edwards. He did it by bringing Democrats and independents into the process - lots of them new to caucus voting. John Edwards, running a populist campaign, did ok, but as has been evident for a while now, he isn’t attracting anywhere near the same numbers of new people (this has been evident in fundraising comparisons between Obama and Edwards). Edwards had a core in Iowa - but not an expanding one. Hillary Clinton, candidate of the establishment, just didn’t have the numbers and just couldn’t find the voters despite her significant monetary investment in the race.
But if Edwards, Bill Richardson, who came in a distant fourth, and Chris Dodd (who dropped out after failing to catch fire), haven’t dominated voters - they have influenced the issues. John Edwards has led on a number of issues including being the first major candidate with a health care for all proposal. Americans may still be much further along in their view of Iraq than their proposed leadership - but Richardson and Edwards have pushed Obama and Clinton on the issue. Dodd did it for illegal spying (FISA).
While I think Rick is right - it’s Barack Obama’s race to lose at this point - I hope that Edwards and Richardson will stick it out for a while. Their presence is good for progressives on the issues. Change is coming - but progressive change will require strong advocates and, as Alastor Moody might say, “constant vigilance.”
Comments 3
I too like Edwards to a point. But to vote for Obama with no experience would be a failure for America. I only wish we had a strong Democrat running.
With respect,
Posted 06 Jan 2008 at 3:59 pm ¶-Robert Jones
Corvus Blog had a good link to Samantha Powers explaining how many troops Obama would retain in Iraq.
At some point Obama’s going to have to elaborate a little more than just talking Change.
Iraqi PM Maliki and Bush are talking an agreement and Maliki is epecting 50k American troops to stay indifinitly.
If Democrats don’t like that, they’re going to have to say so, and not talk about getting bambozzled or lied too.
Posted 07 Jan 2008 at 8:00 pm ¶DEAR READERS-
I AGREE. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS REGARDLESS. THIS IS THE BEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED ON 9-11-01.
WE HAVE TO GET THIS DONE AS IF WE WERE FIGHTING HITLER AGAIN. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ON BOARD! SHOULD WE OTHERWISE LOST OUR FREEDOM AND LIVE IN FEAR? REMEMBER WHAT F.D.R. SAID, ” ALL WE HAVE TO FEAR IS, FEAR ITSELF!”
-ROBERT JONES
Posted 07 Jan 2008 at 9:59 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 1
[…] Krugman credits John Edwards with a major contribution to the Democratic primary race this year (as do I) - John moved candidates to progressive positions on the issues and deserves our thanks for it. But […]
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