When winning really matters

Posted by Tai on February 17, 2004 @ 9:35AM

The electability issue doomed the Howard Dean campaign. In February primaries, voters looked forward to November. Voters felt Dean's opposition to the war made him "unelectable" and Kerry, coupled with a bounty of war medals and a vote in support of the war, could win in November. At the same time that voters were telling pollsters that anti-war couldn't win, they were also telling pollsters that the war wasn't a top issue. So, if electability is key and the war doesn't matter, than why are Democrats still firmly embracing John Kerry?

The only issue that seriously separates Dean and Kerry is the war. It is after that the similarities begin to mount. Both are from liberal northeastern states, and both have a personality flaw -- Dean's temper and Kerry's aloofness -- that can prove fatal on the campaign trail. The GOP will go after both saying they want to "raise your taxes" because they support repeal of the Bush tax cut. The GOP will also spend millions on TV ads, direct mail and phone calls to voters labeling both Dean and Kerry's long legislative history as "outside the mainstream."

If Democrats truly believe electability is the only issue their nominee be on the right side of, then they need to take a deeper, closer look at Sen. John Edwards. The reason? Edwards can do what neither Dean or Kerry can; he can hold the states Gore won in 2000, while winning in the South.

Dean and Kerry offer Democrats no credible shot at winning in the South, and that's a shame. Can you imagine the blow to the GOP if Democrats win southern states against a "war president." Edwards topping the ticket changes the type of campaign the White House has to run. Even if he doesn't outright win the state, he will force the President to campaign and spend resources in places he wouldn't have to if facing Kerry or Dean. Karl Rove never envisioned a campaign in which the President would have to fight for South Carolina; and only Edwards makes it a fair fight. (Greg Joseph)