If Edwards were to get part the media attention Obama and Clinton are getting, but in a more positive manner, he could do much better in the polls and perhaps turn things around.
Since Edwards started the talk about McCain being the front runner, I think he needs to go further and start attacking McCain's policy positions. He needs to start acting like the person who can beat McCain, and start fighting with him now.
In short, pander to the media - they want a good fight. That's what Obama and Clinton are doing, so why not. But unlike Clinton and Obama, Edwards needs to pick a fight with a Republican.
If there ever was a time to pick a fight, it is now.
Steve
If they do this, they must do it in a way to stay on the high ground - that way Edwards appears above the fray and can still admonish Clinton and Obama for their antics. But, it also has to be done in a way that the media covers it ad-nauseum.
By attacking a Republican, you minimize the negative impacts that might come from Democratic voters. Because McCain draws independents, that is probably the vote most at risk from this strategy so I think he needs to do it in a way that wins favor from the independent voters also.
So the question is what is a policy position Edwards can attack McCain on that he comes out on top of, will garner intense media attention, and how to stay above the Clinton/Obama fray?
He was right about more troops early in the invasion, but McCain is backing the wrong horse, "The President" and is not backing the Military. (I am not sure about this).
His failure to care about the working class?
I've got to do more digging on McCain before I pick his weakest position against Edwards. He's a Republican so it can't be too hard.
I am not downplaying the subprime mortgage problem. It is serious, and it can have terrible consequences if it is not handle correctly.
But it is our colonial war being paid with a credit card that is hurting our economic position for the long run.
The huge debt that our country has accumulated is war debt. And the size of the debt is weakening our dollar. So far our war has been paid, indirectly, by having Asian banks buying our dollars. But if their economists decide that our dollar will keep losing value as the result of our liabilities, they may dump cut their loses and switch to another currency.
For the last 30 years every time that liberals advance a positive social program, conservatives claim that we cannot afford it. They ask us how we will pay for it.
It is time for us to do the same. We definitely cannot afford the negative and anti-social war in Iraq. And it is time for war hawks to start counting pennies and showing us how they will pay for their favorite government program: war.
McCain talks about being in Iraq for 50 to 100 years. How exactly is he planning on paying for it?
Keep hope alive!
The Webb campaign seemed like a long shot from the start. As they say, the rest is history.
Edwards supporters can walk away beaten after a few tough rounds, or we can regroup and find a way to win. I personally don't want to see 4-8 more years of a Republican in the White House. I think that John Edwards has the best odds against the likely Republican nominee.
As tough as it is sometimes, I'll take your advice and keep hope alive. Thanks!
And, "afausser", thanks for the link to the excellent "Huffington Post" piece by Mudcat. As usual, Mud is reading his tea leaves correctly.
Now all Mud has to do is to convince Edwards to go on the McCain attack, and to do it tomorrow morning, if at all possible...
Will remind him of the spat between Webb and McCain last year and again suggest this srategy to him in just a moment.
Agreed, "tx2vadem"; no sense giving up this close to the finish line - anything can still happen, as in shades of Jimmy Carter in '76.
Please stay tuned, and thanks again!
Steve
We have 3 great candidates and I want them to compeat in the Media equally. Raising money is a campaign issue, but that should not stop anyone from be equally heard thru the media coverage.
Picking a fight with McCain is about the best political advice I have heard on this blog in a long time. Probably not since Webb was enticed to run for the senate.
"We've seen what's happening here in South Carolina with the unemployment rate going up, 6,000 jobs lost last month, and then John McCain said just a few days ago that the economy actually is doing fine, that we're not headed into a recession, the fundamentals were strong and remain strong. He needs to come to Bennettsville and see what's actually happening in the real world - because out here in the real world people are struggling. John Edwards, 1/23/08
Thanks!
Steve