EDWARDS: A Perpetual candidate on the ballot for the 3rd time may no longer be enticing

[FrenchieCat]

I was thinking about John Edwards' chances, as someone posted a thread with their thoughts that he would take the whole thing.....with his start in South Carolina. Reason largely given was that he was the White Guy from the South who says he can beat John McCain.

And so, as I pondered the possible reasons why John, no matter how cordial and sane he appears in this whole "she said that he said" Clinton induced fiasco, wouldn't just rise to the top.

I'm offering this theory, and want to ask specifically, is it possible that the reason that Edwards is not doing very well this time around, is simply because voters in South Carolina and other primaries states remember the last time they did or didn't vote for Edwards, and the fact that he lost? In particular in South Carolina, where he had won the primary there in 2004, only to lose the nomination...which wasn't even close?

Because it may be, to these voters, that voting Edwards ain't exactly gonna provide many rewards (like a winner), as Edwards has yet to win anything of any note. Further still, Dem voters also ended up with the opportunity to vote for him again in the General election, as he was Kerry's running mate.....and again claimed no rewards. That would be two opportunities so far.

And so, I'd have to imagine that it might be more difficult, this time round, for these voters to again have the opportunity to punch the ballot a third time and to actually go through with it. These folks are not polical types like us who in many cases fall head over heels with our candidates. Why would regular folks who vote continue to choose someone who has yet to win, although they have seen his name on the ballot twice before. Wouldn't it be more likely that they would take a pass?

so I conclude that possibly the psychology of Edwards on the ballot for a 3rd time may be part of Edwards' problem this time around, you know. I'm not sure there's gonna be a heck of a lot of "3rd time's the charm" types out there.

A Perpetual candidate with not much to show for it is not exactly enticing! It may also be the reason that the media has given him such a short drift.....because they also have a hard time reporting on him once again......after reporting on him through a prior primary and a prior general election, and now, for them, it is just more of the same.

Your thoughts?

[ShaneGR]

1. Money talks

When you're outspent 10-1 it's not as easy as telling the truth.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Well that too.....but there is a reason that Edwards wasn't raising the money

he initially believed he would raise. In Feb of last year, he was for opting out of the matching fund system. Then in July, he realized it wasn't happening, and instead opt in. He must have never believed his changes to be that great, cause he chose not to self finance (which would have been a way to hang in till a win came through.

I realize that has certainly been some media silence around him, but I have tried to figure out why. The media loved him in 2004, after he came in 2nd in Iowa!

It's not like he's been talking so much "Anti-corporation" until late this summer. Before, it was poverty...and Out of Iraq.

Just trying to think things through is all. Cause no matter how much I don't care for him (and I don't), I could still see why others would like him. But now, I believe that I may be more correct than wrong with my own speculation.

[karynnj]

4. Absolutely true

Edwards clearly expected to be the "Dean 2008" in terms of raking in money via the internet as the activist candidate. In fact, Obama is the one who has pulled in a huge number of small contributors - and Obama is the one with real activist roots to point to.

His only chance is the scorched earth Clinton campaign that has focused on Obama as he is the bigger threat at the moment. If they destroy both Obama and themselves, Edwards could be the last man standing. The problem is that as soon as he started to gain, the Clintons would focus their attacks on him.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Why the sudden interest in Edwards? For an Obama supporter...

you have been starting more threads questioning Edwards electability, his past, etc.

Is he suddenly relevant, in your opinion? :shrug: Are you considering switching your primary support?

As for your thoughts here, I don't know the answer not do I have a strong opinion. I was simply struck how once again you are starting threads about Edwards rather than posting about your own candidate (who was great on Letterman, BTW!).

[FrenchieCat]

5. You must not know me very well.....

I was against Edwards before I was for Obama.

I don't want him to be the nominee anymore than I do Hillary.

Plus, there are plenty of Edwards supporter starting all kind of threads on OBama.....if you hadn't noticed.

[countingbluecars]

6. I have seen very few hit threads

started by Edwards supporters.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Well Edwards supporters without Edwards Avatar are all over the place.....

and pretty evident.

But that's not the point of my op.

The thought just kind of occurred to me, and since this is a political board,
I'd figure that I would make my political thought known.....as I consistently like
to do.