Edwards Prefers Obama To Clinton

by: Chris Bowers

Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 21:35


Of all the attacks I have seen sop far in this nearly year-long campaign, the latest one from Edwards might be the most interesting of all. Today, John Edwards came out and said that the differences between himself and Clinton and greater than the differences between himself and Obama. Wow:

"The differences between Sen. Clinton (D-N.Y.) and myself are much more dramatic than the differences between Sen. Obama and myself," Edwards told reporters after receiving the endorsement of the progressive group Caucus for Priorities, which seeks a reallocation of defense dollars into social programs.

"Down the line," Edwards said, on issues such as "What we would do in Iraq? What we should be doing about Iran. What we should be doing about corrupting influences in Washington and a broken system, (there are) really big differences between Sen. Clinton and myself."

Iowa is very close, so close that even a minor deal like the one Edwards and Kucinich made in 2004 could swing the state. Even leaving potential caucus-day deals aside, if both Edwards and Obama were to start attacking Clinton instead of each other, or at least if they were to start attacking Clinton more than they were attacking each other, then Clinton would be in real trouble in Iowa. For Edwards to come out and basically say that he prefers Obama to Clinton is one of the most unusual moves I have ever seen from a presidential candidate. If Obama were to say pretty much the same thing, then Clinton would be in real trouble in Iowa. Not only would she face attacks on several fronts, but it could also exacerbate her problem as a second place choice, where she already finds herself in third.

Edwards had some criticism of Obama in that speech as well, but this basically amounts to a direct anti-Clinton assault. If Obama reciprocates, this could easily change the campaign.

Update: This apparently happened a while ago, not yesterday. 

Chris Bowers :: Edwards Prefers Obama To Clinton

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Edwards Prefers Obama To Clinton | 22 comments
Does it make sense for Edwards to send his non-viables to Obama? (4.00 / 2)
I understand that he doesn't want them to go to Clinton, but I would think that Edwards is dead if Obama finishes ahead of him, regardless of what happens to Clinton.  And considering that he's third in the overall polling, I would think he'd be trying to make up candidates on Obama, not help to bolster him.  It is strange.
he practically announced that today (0.00 / 0)
His whole new "pledge" gimmick asks voters to promise to vote for himself or Obama, basically.
[ Parent ]
I don't think (4.00 / 1)
I don't think Edwards is playing to win. This move is the same kind of thing you saw with the taking public financing. He wants to be in a position to make an impact on the outcome, but he knows he's not going to win.

It is consistent with his attacks on Hillary and the fact that Trippi is running his campaign that he might be running to stop Hillary by helping Obama to win.

Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards.

I disagree (4.00 / 4)
Edwards is counting on having enough support from reliable caucus-goers to win Iowa. But for him, it would be much better for Obama to finish second than for Hillary to finish second.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
[ Parent ]
Edwards wants to be the second choice (4.00 / 4)
of Obama supporters. I believe there will ultimately be more precincts where Obama is non-viable than where Edwards and Clinton are non-viable.

Even where Obama is viable, you better believe that Obama's precinct captains will be instructed to keep Clinton's delegate count as low as possible.

For instance, in my precinct we have 6 Polk County delegates to assign. Let's say Edwards and Clinton both have enough supporters for 2 delegates, and Obama has enough for 1 delegate with a dozen people to spare--not enough to bring him up to a second delegate.

If Obama's precinct captain realizes that she can send 10 people to Edwards and make sure Edwards (and not Hillary) gets 3 delegates from my precinct, I think she would do that.

It makes total sense for Edwards to draw bigger distinctions with Clinton.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.

very interesting... (0.00 / 0)
I have actually wondered how a scenario like this would play out. I'm an Obama supporter, but I would exponentially prefer Edwards to Clinton. If Obama were to come out and say the same, I agree that could do serious damage to the Clinton campaign and I bet it would even yield a net benefit to Obama.

Ideally I'd like to see Edwards drop out and endorse Obama then see Obama promise to make Edwards his VP. I don't envision this happening at least until after the first few primary states but if the Edwards campaign determines they cannot win then I think this would be a good move for them to pull before Super Tuesday.

End this war. Stop John McCain. Cindy McCain is filthy rich.

Obama doesn't even need to say it (4.00 / 1)
Most of his supporters already prefer Edwards to Clinton (at least in Iowa). His precinct captains may be able to play with the caucus math in ways that benefit Edwards over Clinton.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
[ Parent ]
I certainly do (0.00 / 0)
Edwards is my second choice, but I am in Philly not Iowa.

When the debate was here in Philly, the Edwards folk didn't get here with their stuff early enough to reserve a good spot in the Campaign Visibility Area.  We helped the one guy who got there early without any signs or anything reserve a spot to our right until his people got there.

We like Edwards, you are right most Obama supporters will caucus for Edwards if they can't help out Obama.  Of course I certainly hope that is the the Edwards supporters who are heading over to Obama due to rounding errors.

My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington- Obama
Philly for Obama

[ Parent ]
Wow! (0.00 / 1)
What a News Flash! Edwards attacked Clinton? Now that is a first. /snark

And what if Obama attacked her too? Have people here been sleeping through the news and the debates?

People - all Edwards and Obama have been doing is attacking Clinton - nothing has changed.

Oh yeah they may be entering a new arena of Hillary Bashing - giving her the Dean Iowa Kibosh - and we all know how well that turned out.

I wish these guys would run on their platform and history rather than resort to gang warfare tactics. But then when the platform and history isn't working, and in Edwards case it definitely not, then why not upset what the voters might actually want and try putting a lesser candidate in the general so we can get the same results as 2004? Let's face it - Obama has been toeing the line all along and has not shown himself to be much of a fighter. Kerry II anyone? Obama is an academic and a back-room schmoozer - but a General Election Fighter he ain't.

If that is what people are hoping for then be careful because you might get your wish and 8 more years of wingnuttery and war in the WH.

Remember a Clinton half-loaf is better than no loaf at all.

And Edwards? I regret every penny I sent him early on before I saw his true colors. The guy is a rich slime-ball lawyer who is using the same sliming tactics in an important election as he did in the courtroom. Except this time he has no chance of winning but it doesn't matter to him. He'd rather be a whinny spoiler than to let the people decide for themselves. He's rather weaken who may end up being our nominee. And by doing that isn't he helping the GOP? But what does he care. He'll go home afterward and the GOP President will lower his taxes while everyone else suffers more jobs leaving the country, no universal healthcare plan, and more wars while he lives in luxury.

Thanks a lot John. What a guy.

[ Parent ]
2nd choices (0.00 / 0)
The best thing that could happen to the democratic party is to defeat Hillary, so we can move on from the Clinton era to change and new ideas in this century, and not re-fight the old wars of the 90's. It is time for a new day.
[ Parent ]
Slime ball hm? Wow. Real Analysis there. (4.00 / 1)
You're missing the point--Obama and Edwards have attacked Clinton in the debates. But they have not done so as a unified team like this implies.

We won the Battle. Now the Real Fight for Change Begins. Join MoveOn.org and fight for progressive change.  
[ Parent ]
Please.... (0.00 / 0)
[ Parent ]
I gave a reasonable explanation (0.00 / 0)
of why I feel Edwards is a slime ball. It's his courtroom tactics of sliming the competition. I need not go into detail as everyone knows what he has been saying and it hasn't all been about the issues. And there is no argument you can make that his antics will damage Clinton in the general should she be the nominee. He knows it and you know it. That is not helpful in the long run but he obviously doesn't care. Care to defend him on that?

As for Obama and Edwards teaming up - sure they are. They may not have had a phone call to plan it out but they are both playing off of each others attacks - any dummy can see that. It has been written about in the press, discussed on Liberal talk shows, and written about on the blogs. Edwards has been the worse leaving Obama to take more calculated shots at her and keeping him from being the pit bull.

See Edwards how you want but to deny that he is being a name caller and a calculated spoiler is to deny reality.

[ Parent ]
You don't like whining, (0.00 / 0)
so you whine for 9 paragraphs.  You don't like sliming, but you use vitriol and a sneering tone instead of specifics, whining "You know" in place of detailing your objection.  I'm not sure I understand your psychology, but I think it seriously detracts from your persuasiveness.
[ Parent ]
regarding Caucus 4 Priorities (4.00 / 1)
They've already said that it came down to a choice between Edwards and Obama, and that endorsing Hillary wasn't even seriously considered.

Join the Iowa progressive community at Bleeding Heartland.
Weh-he-ell! (0.00 / 0)
This has the possibility of turning out beautifully, or crashing and burning.

"I decided to run a clean campaign, whereas my rivals have decided to team up against me. They're obviously worried!"
+Media coverage
+Sympathy vote
=Clinton 2008.

But I've always thought Edwards would be the perfect running mate for Obama.
Young guys, smart guys, guys lookin' for to change.

mistake (4.00 / 2)
Edwards competition is not with Hillary.  The differences and choice between Edwards and Hillary is clear.  They are not competing for the same voters.  His competition is with Obama.  They are both claiming to be the one to change DC.  Obama surged when he criticized both Hillary and Edwards.  Edwards will not gain any traction until he realizes who his real competition is and decides to deal with him.
Unless . . . (4.00 / 1)
. . . he's angling for the VP spot on Obama's ticket, which is exactly what I think he's doing.

Or at least, he's keeping that option on the front burner in case he doesn't win Iowa.

Somehow the thoughtful, half-black, Hawaiian-cum-Indonesian Harvard-educated guy and the self-made southern millworker's son turned populist-firebrand make for a perfect ticket in my mind, though I can't figure out exactly why.

(It must be an identity politics thing - Chris, get to work on it!)

[ Parent ]
Actually Edwards has been pretty clear (0.00 / 0)
that he isn't interested in the VP slot.  (It was too frustrating for him last time.)

I agree with your point though about how symbolic a ticket like that would be though.

One Million Strong --- Join up!

[ Parent ]
No one's second choice (0.00 / 0)
is Hillary. I find it hard to believe that someone who supports Edwards would line up behind Hillary if he were to not get enough support in their caucus precinct. Edwards knows this is all about Iowa for him and, if he loses, he is out. He knows that Obama is the only candidate who can beat Hillary and, as a progressive Democrat, he knows that he will send his supporters over to Camp Obama following his departure from the race. I like Edwards but he would be a bad VP choice for Obama - I think he is just doing this because he really believes in progressive politics and he knows Hillary doesnt.
not new (4.00 / 1)
This isn't anything new.  Edwards has been doing this at practically all his campaign stops for the last month.  I don't know if he's expecting anything back from Obama but, if so, it looks like he may be disappointed.
I agree with the comment above... (4.00 / 1)
that Edwards wouldn't make a good running mate for Obama (if Obama wins the nomination), and I don't think he would accept that position again. But I do think he would be great in some other role in an Obama or Clinton (if it comes to that) administration, in some domestic policy capacity, addressing poverty and other such issues, or maybe even attorney general.
Edwards Prefers Obama To Clinton | 22 comments
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