John Edwards' New York strategy to bag delegates

[jackson_dem]

Edwards recognizes he has no chance of winning New York because of Hillary's strength here but he is crafting a strategy to collect some delegates from a state where he is unlikely to break 15% statewide. He can do this by doing well in some congressional districts.

-snip-

The strategy presumes Mr. Edwards will ultimately lose to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton but can win a large enough percentage of the vote in some Congressional districts that he can claim some delegates from New York.

A memo from a senior adviser to the campaign that went out to supporters today promises “an aggressive grassroots ground campaign” in New York, with plans to advertise on the radio and write op-ed pieces for newspapers in the state.

To win any delegates in a Congressional district, Mr. Edwards has to receive at least 15 percent of the primary vote. The more districts in which he hits 15 percent, the more delegates he will accumulate. Peter Hatch, the Edwards adviser who wrote the strategy memo, which was provided to The New York Times by a campaign adviser who asked not to be identified because the document was not intended for public release, suggested that winning a significant number of delegates in New York is entirely plausible.

Mr. Hatch noted that in the 2004 presidential primary, Mr. Edwards won 15 percent of the vote in 23 of New York’s 29 Congressional districts. The memo continued: “Moreover, because of the resonance of Edwards’s message with blue-collar and rural voters, Edwards won between 27 and 34 percent of the vote in all nine congressional districts north and west of Albany.”

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/john-edwardss-new-york-strategy-yes-there-is-one/

[MaineDem]

1. Seems to me this is anyone's strategy

The idea is to win at least 15% of the vote. That's the goal and I'm glad Edwards is planning to fight for it.

To "bag" delegates? I was beginning to think journalism has really deteriorated. But I see that's not the reporter's term.

[jackson_dem]

3. It's a term used in England

As someone who follows a largely English based sport I used it. Sue me. :eyes:

[MaineDem]

5. People around here bag deer during hunting season

That's the only time I've heard the term. It just sounded funny, that's all. No law suits needed.

[MrCoffee]

2. Dude. I bagged a delegate at the Delta party last night. It was awesome.

Sweet!

[jackson_dem]

4. Typical for someone with a Mercer avatar

[MrCoffee]

7. Eye Spy

The Eye Spy Community-Military Intelligence (All Three) Business and Commerce Intelligence Education across the board National and International is on to you.

[Joe the Revelator]

6. I don't understand the motivation to vote for Edwards at this point

[MrCoffee]

8. Because a nominee hasn't been anointed yet, and Edwards is still running

[jackson_dem]

9. He gives folks hope there will be change. Sound familiar?

[PresidentObama]

10. What do you mean? We stand up for whom we believe in, so what?

And can vote for whomever we want.

Sorry we reject the two person race that people like you and the corporate media try to make it out to be.

Win, lose, or draw--John Edwards is my candidate!!

And that's my motivation to vote for him.

[saracat]

12. I don't understand the motivation to vote for Obama ever.!

:shrug: My vote isn't based on supporting a perceived "winner" but on issues and principles.

[iris5426]

15. What you said :-)

:applause:

[balantz]

16. I can understand the motivation to vote for Obama.

There's a big motivation being pushed by the Washington political machine;

There's the motivation driven by the media;

And there's the motivation of a great number of people who love speeches about "hope", "change" and "unity".

edit for spelling

[OzarkDem]

11. His strength is in upstate NY

where there are lots of middle class voters and cities that have been devastated by jobs shipped overseas.

New York is more than just NYC and Clinton hasn't done much to help her constituents outside of that area. Obama isn't interested in middle class or blue collar workers, either.

These are natural districts for Edwards to pick up.

[AnneD]

14. If he could have campaigned in Michigan....

I think we would be talking 3 way at this time. He has the right message-folks just don't want to hear it. To quote-he is the Al Gore of this election cycle.

[ReadTomPaine]

13. "...which was provided to The New York Times by a campaign adviser..."

"who asked not to be identified because the document was not intended for public release"

Interesting.

[balantz]

17. That is interesting, and suspicious.