Does Edwards need to win Iowa to win the nomination?

[brentspeak]

His team is very optimistic about Iowa; it says Edwards has already won that caucus. But what if he doesn't? Would a strong runner-up performance in Iowa be sufficient to keep going? Obama, just by being in the race, has really been a thorn in Edwards' side much more than Clinton.

[jsamuel]

1. Edwards team has said no such thing. They say it is a three way tie in Iowa right now.

They don't need to win Iowa to continue the campaign in NH. There is a lot of good news coming out of NH for Edwards lately.

[brentspeak]

3. I was on the Edwards/NJ supporter conference call last night

and the Edwards people speaking to us volunteers were saying just that (i.e., that Iowa was going to go for Edwards).

[Donnachaidh]

4. They said the same in the Georgia conference call the other night.

He's doing it. period.

[jsamuel]

14. interesting, I hadn't heard that from the national campaign

maybe it is different from the states

[Donnachaidh]

2. he's going on regardless. n/t

[FlyingSquirrel]

5. An excellent question..

And Obama is more of a thorn in Edwards' side due to the fact that he will probably cost Edwards a first place finish in his own home state. But I'm pretty sure Edwards does not plan to quit anytime soon. He may even infuse the campaign with his own money if necessary.

[cali]

6. No. He needs to either win it or come in a pretty strong second.

Both will give him a real boost.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Either win or finish a strong 2nd to Hillary.

Iowa is the best State Edwards has right now. If Obama beats him in Iowa there is no reason to believe Edwards can beat both Obama and Clinton later. If Edwards finishs closely behind Clinton for second, he might lay claim to being her primary primary foe. A tough road for Edwards with anything less than first, but that is the best alternate scenario I can think of for him.

[CoffeeCat]

8. There's no way that Clinton will finish...

....in the top 2 in Iowa.

She's ran an abysmal campaign here in Iowa-accusing a legitimate questioner of being a
"plant", then planting questions herself, then lying about planting the questions--and
running a very impersonal, shallow campaign.

She's lost so much support. She's on an unstoppable downward trend.

She showed us who she was, and let's just say--not so much.

If she's lucky, she'll place third here.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. I wasn't handicapping Clinton's chances...

...just thinking of scenarios that might work for Edwards.

[IndianaJones]

9. yes. nt.

[jenmito]

10. He needs to win Iowa to remain in the race!

His whole campaign has focused almost entirely on Iowa. He's a very distant 3rd in NH. If he doesn't even win the state he's practically lived in for years, he's done.

[emilyg]

12. Yes.

[PresidentObama]

13. Absolutely.

[Nutmegger]

15. Iowa is make or break for Edwards.

He needs Iowa to put him in a good position for NH, and the rest of the states.

Edwards 2008!

[cali]

16. I don't think so. If he runs a strong second, he'd still

get a big boost.

[ronnykmarshall]

17. It would be a big boost for him.

I don't think he'll be out of the race if he doesn't.

I really think that Edwards is on the rise.