Can we please keep in mind Wisconsin is an OPEN primary?

[Mobius]

Let's not put too much into results in a primary where Republicans could vote for the dem candidate they felt would be weakest in the GE? I just feel like "Edwards is making a huge turn around", may be a bit premature.

[Maddy McCall]

It's not the first time; nor is it the last

Many more opens to come. So what? Kerry still leads.

[westcoastbias]

1. Edwards appeals to a broader electorate!

Has it ever occurred to anyone that Edwards is the best candidate to beat Bush! Many people, including some Republicans disdain both Bush and Kerry for their unrelenting support for NAFTA. This is the other huge issue that concerns mainstream Americans. If Dean was off the ballot, Edwards would have won. Edwards has a tough challenge to stay in the race on Super Tuesday, March 2. But he has two weeks, which should be long enough for people to take a good look at him. If he survives with wins in Ohio and Georgia, the next round of states are southern, and this things goes to the convention.

[Mobius]

5. If Dean was off the ballot, Edwards would have won.?

I feel that is a bit of a stretch. sorry. Most likely those votes would have been split down the middle.

[westcoastbias]

8. The Dean and Edwards Exit Polls are similar

Howard Dean has already stated he prefers Edwards, although, as an Edwards supporter, I don't want his endorsement. I don't think Nader will hurt Edwards as much as he will hurt Kerry, because of NAFTA.

Are you, like Kerry, pro-NAFTA.

[Mobius]

10. I think NAFTA is too far ahead of it's time

The safety , pay and working conditions in the world need to be equalized before a plan like NAFTA could work. My concern in this thread however, is ignoring the fact that WI has an open primary.

[fishnfla]

2. every vote counts for something

its all good. Milw. GOPers voting Dem. Like its said, its all good.

[madrchsod]

3. i was wondering if it

was open. here in il. it isn`t. i think it`s more clark supporters and maybe some repubs around madison because of the casino referendum. i think edwards does have an appeal that maybe the wisconsin voters picked up on. to bad the candidate will be picked by the time we get to vote in il.

[MurikanDemocrat]

4. Why make it an issue about Edwards?

As a Kerry supporter, I would hate to see a lot of energy spent on discounting Edwards great results tonight. There is some evidence in another thread that Republicans set out to freep the results, but the issue should revolve around the freeps and not dissing Edwards as a candidate.

[Mobius]

9. I agree with you on that point.

The issue SHOULD revolve around the freeps and not dissing Edwards as a candidate. If freeps support Edwards it is only because they see him as less of a threat in the GE. I am not dissing any candidate. But the fact that Republicans were allowed to vote in the WI primary needs to be taken into account. I am not singling out Edwards, the WI voters did that. I just have to question Edwards incredible showing, compared to the rest of the primaries, and the difference is that Wisconsin has an open primary. So Edwards does much better in a state where Republicans can vote in primary. What conclusions do you or any other DUer draw from this? I'm asking supporters of ALL candidates to give me their thoughts.

[MurikanDemocrat]

11. I understand. I would just hate to see any hard feeling get stirred up

Things get snarky enough around here.

[dansolo]

13. Don't be fooled

The freeps only count for, at most, 1% difference. Edward's results were genuine.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Yep, Edwards attracted a lot of independet voters, Kerry did not.

Democrats cannot win the election by themselves, they will need independents.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. Independents who are 'enthusiastic' about the Bush admin?

Voters who are satisfied with the Bush Administration:
52% Edwards, 23% Kerry

Voters who are enthusiastic about Bush Administration:
33% Edwards, 10% Kerry


http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/WI/index.html

[Adelante]

14. Wouldn't those people vote Bush in the GE?

:scared:

[Redneck Socialist]

7. This whole "strategic voting" thing is way overblown.

I'm not saying that it never happens. I just don't think that it happens all that much. Certainly not enough to significantly alter the results of a primary election.

[krkaufman]

16. Perhaps not, but it *could* shift a candidate's vote count

> This whole "strategic voting" thing is way overblown.
> ...Certainly not enough to significantly alter the results
> of a primary election.

Perhaps not significantly, in terms of flipping the winner, but it *could* shift a candidate's vote count making him/her appear to have more GE credibility than they truly have. Those Bush "enthusiasm" numbers are compelling.

[corporatewhore]

15. its the Jobs, stupid Edwards spoke out against NAFTA cons and libs

agree they dont like their jobs goin to NAFTA

[jeffsurfus]

17. Open primary is a huge difference...

In Michigan's 2000 Republican primary, many Dems crossed over and voted because Gore had the nomination locked up. It was pretty much the consensus at the time that McCain won Michigan over Bush because of the Dem crossover. I think very few if any of those Dems (me included) would have voted for McCain over Gore in the GE. It was fun throwing a monkeywrench into the Bush train to the nomination.

I have a feeling that the Repubs in Wisconsin are having that same fun slowing down the Kerry train. I'm not saying this is the only reason that the vote was close yesterday, but it is one reason and it is not being reported in the media.

[kiahzero]

18. Repubs were only 11% of the electorate

And I'd like to think most of those votes were sincere.

[dansolo]

19. There have been several open primaries/caususes before this

One could just as easily attribute Kerry's earlier margins to Republican votes as well.

[Padraig18]

20. Can we keep in mind that the GE will be an 'open primary', too?

It's not like only Democrats will get to vote in November, now is it? :eyes:

[rhite5]

21. Here's what I think the Open Primary votes meant.

I think people are trying too hard to find something subversive in everything they see.

Actually, there are plenty of Republicans who are sick of the Bush administration. I suspect that most of the Rs who voted in the Wisconsin Open Dem Primary did so because they are genuinely hoping to help pick the candidate they actually would like to see become the next president. Also, Edwards' opposition to NAFTA is bound to attract working class votes. People are just starting to understand what NAFTA (and other "Free Trade") policies have done and are doing to the industrial base in our country. And that means jobs.

So, yes, I think those were honest votes. (Not like the crossovers that killed McKinney's candidacy in Georgia in '02)

btw - I don't approve of Open Primaries myself. The Primary is the time for a political party to sort out what it believes in and who best represents them, and it should not be infused with votes from a separate constituency. But that's just me.

[bobthedrummer]

22. Well Edwards ran a lot of t.v. ads all over the State

and he picked up lots of voters with his anti-NAFTA message. The taking back of endorsements by labor to Dean gave Edwards some help-that is how strong the anti-NAFTA feeling is.
Getting rid of NAFTA is priority one for Dennis Kucinich.
He comes with no strings attached.