It seems that a LOT of people prefer Edwards, but aren't voting for him. WTF?

[nonconformist]

I have heard this SEVERAL times in the last few days, and I've seen several posts saying as much on DU. I've seen people saying they're going to vote for Kucinich, but they hope to vote for Edwards in the GE. I've seen people saying that they are voting for Hillary or Obama, but really prefer Edwards. I've seen people say they know people who have said similar things.

What gives?

You're not going to get a CHANCE to vote for Edwards in the GE if he doesn't win the primary. Seems pretty simple to me.

Now, I do understand preferring a less viable candidate but choosing to vote for the best candidate out of the viable ones. I totally get that. But I don't see that with Edwards. He IS viable. He DOES have a chance. But not if people who really prefer him aren't voting for him. And especially not if they're throwing their votes to less viable candidates and just hoping everyone else votes Edwards so he wins the nomination.

[LisaM]

1. Because they are buying into the media hype

They all think they're on the island, playing Survivor. I'm actually totally serious.

[Individualist]

2. Yep! They're obeying the teevee

[chimpymustgo]

4. I know that you are. This has become a game for some. "Get on the Bandwagon".

Drink the koolade - ask questions later.

[Elspeth]

8. You know, I think you have a point. They think it's American Idol

or something.

This is our future, people!!!!

[LisaM]

11. People do quick votes on everything

I kid you not, one day on some website or TV station, and I can't for the life of me remember which, within the same ten minutes, they had a quick poll on 1) whether we should bomb Iran; and 2) whether Joe Torre should switch to a relief pitcher in the Yankees' playoff game that was going on. I want to say it was Fox's website, but I'm not sure.

With that kind of leadership in the media, what do you expect?

[LibraLiz1973]

12. Sheeple are sheeple

I agree- they think it is Survivor.


L A M E



It's at this point that I want to run from the process and just vote for whoever the nominee is in November.

[DissentIsPatriotic]

3. Agreed. It's baffling.

I listen to Air America everyday, every host that has done a poll has had Edwards as the 4 to 1 winner. Here on DU many polls also seem to favor Edwards. I feel like people want to vote for him, but aren't actually doing so.

[NeedleCast]

5. Lots of people on DU have turned to Edwards

DU does not usually reflect the voting patterns of the democratic party as a whole in the primaries.

[OzarkDem]

6. Lots of new voters

who, unfortunately, vote according to what the tee vee tells them.

Edwards is getting zero media coverage, for that very reason.

[Mythsaje]

7. It's the media. That's where most people get their info.

And the media is boycotting Edwards as much as they can. They're either ignoring him, or downplaying his appeal.

But, you know, the 85% of registered voters actually doing their duty is a DAMN fine thing for Democracy one way or another.

[LibraLiz1973]

14. The corporate owned media is most certainly NOT going to give

John any coverage.

He's for real change- there is no room for that.

Move on, nothing to see here.

[madrchsod]

9. it`s either obama or edwards if dennis quits before illinois

i have no idea who i`ll vote for

[BlackVelvet04]

10. I don't know what this has to do with it but I found it alarming........

Chamber of Commerce vows to punish anti-business candidates
By Tom Hamburger, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 8, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Alarmed at the increasingly populist tone of the 2008 political campaign, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is set to issue a fiery promise to spend millions of dollars to defeat candidates deemed to be anti-business.

"We plan to build a grass-roots business organization so strong that when it bites you in the butt, you bleed," chamber President Tom Donohue said.



Reacting to what it sees as a potentially hostile political climate, Donohue said, the chamber will seek to punish candidates who target business interests with their rhetoric or policy proposals, including congressional and state-level candidates.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-chamber8jan08,0,4301350.story?coll=la-home-center

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. wtf?

:wow:

[BlackVelvet04]

16. Nice, huh?

The national Chamber of Commerce subverting the voting process by going after candidates that aren't pro corporation.

WTF indeed.

[nonconformist]

19. Disgusting.

Well, I guess that explains the media blackout on Edwards...

:mad:

[Toasterlad]

15. Welcome to My World.

It's called Kucinichland. Not too much of a difference between electable and non-electable after all, is there?

[in_cog_ni_to]

17. I'm voting for him if he stays in until Feb 5!

:hi:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. If you were to go by the MSM, you wouldn't know that there was anyone

in the race except Hillary and Obama, and it's been like that for nearly a year.

[nonconformist]

22. "The media is like the weather, only it's man-made" -- Natural Born Killers

I'm so fucking sick of this shit.

[earth mom]

20. I agree. It's totally bizarre.

:wtf:

[Naturyl]

21. They are afraid to disobey the ALMIGHTY TV (n/t)

[Cleita]

23. Super Tuesday will give us the nominee. I don't want

anyone else to drop out before then. We need a choice between Hillcorp/Obacorp and the grass roots candidates. I don't understand why people would throw their vote away in the primary either for their second candidate of choice. We really need a run off election system to correct this.