Coming Tonight, Des Moines Register's Endorsement. How important is the paper's seal of approval?

[MadBadger]

Thats the question, because the paper's endorsement is coming out tonight. Ive read in places that the paper's endorsement helped John Edwards finish in second in Iowa. But i wasnt following politics back then, so I only basing my opinion of what some say. So for the experienced out there, how important is this paper's endorsement?

[Ken Burch]

1. Well, it helped Edwards in Iowa itself last time, but he couldn't build that showing

And that's why he was out by March or so, IIRC.

Iowa is making itself less and less relevant to the nominating process with the failure of its winners and surprise strong showers(in both parties)to actually make it to the White House.

[blm]

3. Yes, Terry McAuliffe did a GREAT job of securing the election process in 2004 and

Bush really did win. The exit polls that showed Kerry won by 5% were wrong.

Yep - the only thing wrong with 2004 is that Iowa caucus voters voted for Kerry in the primaries.

We all know the DNC worked hard for four years to counter the election fraud tactics the RNC used in 2000 and 2002.

Any other Democrat would have won with the party iinfrastructure McAuliffe had working like a fina machine in every state. If only Iowa had voted differently.

[Ken Burch]

19. I wasn't BLAMING Iowa for Kerry getting screwed in 2004.

I was talking about the fact that candidates getting an Iowa bounce haven't been able to ride that bounce as far as they used to.

My post was really more a comment on the candidates than on Iowa.

Chill, Hawkeye Dude.

[liberalnurse]

5. Definitely an important Iowa Endorsement.

Iowa Caucus folks are now just "putting on their pants" at this phase of Caucus preparation. Now this Endorsement has impact.

[Inspired]

2. The candidates they endorse don't necessarily win Iowa.

Bradley over Gore comes to mind.

The endorsement of Edwards was a shock...a nice surprise...but ultimately he still did not win the caucus.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MadBadger]

6. You know, I though about putting you on Ignore after your "Big IF'' drug use thing

After this, yea, time to add my first to the ignore list.

[NYCGirl]

7. Didn't anybody ever explain to you the use of "shuffle" when talking about

African Americans? Or do you just not care?

[cali]

11. thanks for bringing that up.

I was going to but then thought I wouldn't. I should have. It is racist terminology when you put black man + stage + shuffle in the same sentence.

[cali]

8. what sour grapes you're chewing on.

Obama can win if he's the nom. The repuke will likely be Romney, and Obama can beat him. And you seriously underestimate Obama's political skills- though you shouldn't: He's playing Clinton's game better than she is. He'd cream that cardboard cut out Romney, in debates, and beat him in the general. This is not 2004.

[ellisonz]

15. Dude...you're turning yourself into a caricature!

[Lucinda]

17. I can only hope you don't undertand the meaning behind what you said.

[FrenchieCat]

9. It depends on what they will say in their endorsement.......

If it is Edwards (and that is where my bet is), he gets the least mileage, only because it will only be deja vu. It may get him to first place in Iowa though....but I think that he is going there with or without the endorsement.

It would help Obama tremendously, because Obama needs to stay up there for the next 2 weeks, an eternity on a political clock. Obama getting that endorsement would calm many who are afraid to vote for him because he is a man of color. Many have bought into the schtick that his color makes him unelectable, because "everyone else" won't want to vote for him.

If Hillary gets it, which she won't, it would help her regain some lost ground.

If Biden gets it, it puts him ahead of Hillary in the final results, and strenghtens the newspaper as being against the current of CW, IMO.

I don't see anyone else even remotely close to getting it.

[Drunken Irishman]

10. It's a big thing, just ask Edwards.

It made him relevant in the race last time and without it, the primary season would have been vastly different, as I don't think Dean takes near the hit he did. Now while Edwards didn't win Iowa, it put him in position to build on his campaign, even though he eventually lost to Kerry. With Edwards being higher in the polls now than he was 4 years ago, I think the endorsement to his campaign could boost him to the top and it would solidify Obama's/Hillary's position at the top. If the endorsement were to go to another candidate, like Biden, it could throw a wrench into the entire caucus.

[asdjrocky]

12. On DU?

Super big giant deal if you candidate get the endorsement, not so much if your candidate doesn't get the endorsement.

[MadBadger]

13. I'm asking peope from DU, but I want to know how they think it affects Iowa.

[asdjrocky]

14. Really hard to say for me.

Since I don't live in Iowa, and I've just resently started looking at the Register, thanks to O C. I do think it helped a great deal to get Edwards the second spot in 04, and yes, I'm really hoping that Edwards gets the endorsement. I think he's worked hard for it, and he deserves it.

That's all I got.

[Bullet1987]

16. It could make (not really break) someone IN IOWA...

It would solidfy and strengthen Obama's growing lead and momentum. It would probably sling shot Edwards over Hillary. It would help Clinton regain some lost ground and possibly get her back on course with just 2 weeks left.

It would really help any 2nd tier candidate like Biden or Richardson which in this case would hurt Clinton since she's sliding in the polls. Really, ANY endorsement other than Clinton hurts her if you want to be honest.

[jillan]

18. I would just sheet if Biden got it.

I'm not even counting on it at all.