Let's talk about Edwards, public financing and what that means should he get the nom.

[rinsd]

John Edwards has accepted public financing for the primaries which means he is limited to those funds until the convention which is in late August this year.

This is a potential disaster.

Here's Joe Trippi in 2003

""This campaign believes that any Democratic campaign that opted into the matching-funds system has given up on the general election," Trippi said in December of 2003. "There is absolutely no way you can sustain the hits that are going to come from now until August with a $45 million limit."

527s are excellent for negative campaigning but they cannot coordinate with the campaign and should not be relied upon in lieu of a campaign counterattack.

This nomination is likely to be decided by early Feb, March at the very latest which leaves nearly 5 months for the Wurlizter to hammer the nominee.

The more I think about it, the worse this decision was by Edwards.

[MethuenProgressive]

1. "any Democratic campaign that opted into the matching-funds system has given up"

Public financing only works if all candidates opt in, in my opinion.

[rinsd]

2. Or is mandatory in the first place with no opt out option (nt)

[gateley]

3. Only $45 million. It's a shame that how much MONEY a candidate has determines

to a certain extent who will become president. There should be a level playing field - it's only fair.

I feel sorry that this might be a bad decision for Edwards, and sadder that it's the role of money in the presidential race that influenced his decision.

[PresidentObama]

4. I really think it was a bad move on Edwards part.

But I don't think it'd be the death blow if he got the nomination. He's a great candidate whom voters seem to like, and I remember back in 2004 a lot of people who were leaning towards Kerry simply because they liked Edwards. I remember calling people on the phones at the Kerry phone bank, and hearing about how much they liked that "Edwards guy" and stuff like that. All Edwards has to do is continue with his message, and try and not lose ground to the Republicans if he's the nominee. It doesn't matter if he has $5 million or $500 million, the Republicans will attack him none the less. And he doesn't need 3973483943 thirty second advertisements to fight them back.

Plus the DNC and other groups will also fire back at any Republican advertisements. And I'm positive the Edwards people know the risks, and are working hard to use any and all money wisely. They aren't going to waste away all of their money between now and the time we pick our nominee. Hell look at the totals of how much Edwards has spent on advertisements in Iowa compared to Hillary and Obama, and it's a toss up there with Edwards showing strong support.

[Cameron27]

5. When kos goes negative on Edwards,

then I'd say yes, most everyone but Edwards, Trippi and his supporters think this is a very bad idea.

snip: Based on winning the primary, this decision makes sense. But if it succeeds, we will have a handicapped nominee for a long, painful six months. The RNC, the GOP candidate, the conservative 527s (like Freedom Watch) will all be beating the shit out of our nominee, and without the ability to control message and directly fire back, we'll be at a gross disadvantage.

So what would Edwards do, depend on free media? Really? The same ones that trashed Gore and Kerry, and have already done a good number on Edwards? Rely on the good sense of the voting public? Please. If you can't talk to them, they listen to the people who can.

Money isn't everything in politics. But there's a difference being outspent $4 million (like in Montana's 2006 Senate race), or $9 million (like in Virginia's 2006 Senate race), and being outspent by $125 million. Kerry spent $175 million through the summer in 2004. Political inflation will likely make that number even bigger this time around.

For the Edwards plan to work and not hurt us, we would need:

* A ridiculously frugal Edwards effort, with nary a wasted dollar spent to win the nomination,
* Fundraising troubles for the RNC, the GOP nominee, and the conservative 527s,
* Gangbuster fundraising for the DNC and progressive 527s,
* A media willing to treat Edwards with respect and fairness,
* A public unusually resistant to typical GOP bullshit and scare tactics.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/2/125557/813