Reply #41: Yup. Preserving the Middle Class, however, is a real winner.

[amandabeech]

To the Middle Class, fighting povery sounds like taking their money and giving it to the poor. Most people who consider themselves middle class right now feel pressed among health care, education for their kids and often housing. Add on saving for retirement, and you have many feeling absolutely crushed.

If Edwards offers a real plan, lots of people will vote for him, particularly in the swing state of Ohio. Personally, I'd like Ohio to be one of the early primaries because I see it as key to a Democratic victory in '08. If we nominate someone who doesn't appeal there, we may also be in trouble in Michigan and Pennsylvania, which also have serious economic problems. That would be lots of votes to pick up in the western states like Colorado and Arizona, if, in fact, it could be done.