When The Race First Started, Where Did Obama Rank On Your List Of Preferred Candidates?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Poll question: When The Race First Started, Where Did Obama Rank On Your List Of Preferred Candidates?

Between Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Biden, Richardson, Kucinich, Dodd and Gravel, where did Obama rank out of that eight?

[Radical Activist]

1. No 1. He's a clear progressive voice with a progressive record and

a good chance of winning. He was the only candidate with all of those qualities.

[BlooInBloo]

2. I was an Edwards guy, but it was basically a 3-way tie for me....

That changed drastically when Edwards lost, and Clinton started race-baiting, naturally.

[renegade000]

3. hard to say really, probably 2-3

1 being biden.

[tridim]

4. No. 2, not including Gore.

[Gore1FL]

5. none of my first choices ever make it

The closest I ever came was Gary Hart in 1984.

[Va Lefty]

6. For me it was: Edwards, Biden then Obama

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

7. I went Gore-Kucinich-Edwards-Obama. nt.

[johnaries]

40. Me too! BUT, I voted #2 because he was my 2nd "logical" choice.

Gore had already said he wouldn't run, and I believed him because he was obviusly too happy doing what he was doing. Kuchinich would have been my next choice, but I knew from 2004 he didn't stand a chance. So, my #1 choice became Edwards with Obama #2.

[nichomachus]

8. My choices were

Kucinich -- although I knew he's be marginalized.
Edwards -- because I like his message.
Clinton -- because I had admired her in the past, think she is a smart person, and had some experience.

Obama really wasn't on my radar. I knew the name and that's about it. When Edwards left, I started to look at the rest of the field and Hillary lost my support with a truly wretched campaign that embodied everything in American politics that disgusts me. I really wanted to support her, but I couldn't bring myself to. On the other hand, everything I saw about Obama and his campaign just impressed me again and again. (Apparently, someone fed me Kool-Aid while I was sleeping.)

[hokies4ever]

22. I snuck the Kool-Aid into your milk while you were sleeping

:rofl:

[rebel with a cause]

43. Didn't you notice that IV tube in your arm when you woke up?

;)

Obama was always my #1. But then I had met him in 2004 when he campaigned here for the senate. The crowds here wanted him for president then. Every time he would come here and meet with us his volunteers, and then speak to the crowds we got more and more enthused with him as a candidate. He made us believe that if we worked together, then we could make a difference. I had never worked for a campaign before, but this Agoraphopia left her house and went out and campaigned. He was what got us through the dismal day in November when bush was re-elected. We knew there was change coming, it might not be around the corner, but there was change coming.

And it was more than even that. In 2004 I was unable to work, unable to get any assisstence, with no health insurance and in bad health. After meeting Obama, I got the courage to seek out help from others to find a doctor who would treat me without me paying them anything. In the city, this might be easier to do, but in small towns it sometimes seems impossible. Well, I found one and by the time Obama was elected Senator, I was under a doctor's care and on what medication my children could afford. Two years later, I was on disability and receiving Medicaid to pay for all the medicines I need. (trust me there are plenty of them) If I had not met Obama and he had not made me feel like I was someone worth saving and someone who deserved free health care, I never would have come out of my house, never sought help, and would probably be dead.

Yes, Obama was always #1 for me.

[RichardRay]

9. As soon as he was elected to the Senate...

even before the convention speech.

[lisa58]

14. The convention speech was before his election...

...he was running in 2004 and took office in January 2005

[RichardRay]

20. Yep. I was a little short on words there

Even before he was elected to the senate, even before the convention speech.

Actually, it was as soon as I knew who he wanted on his staff. I tend to evaluate politicians by the folks they have working for them.

[lisa58]

10. I wanted someone to break out of the second tier...

...Richardson, Biden or Dodd (probably in that order).

When I realized they weren't going to I was Obama or Edwards (lean Obama) - Edwards made it easy when he dropped out.

[Eurobabe]

11. Actually first I was totally for Obama, then I heard Biden....

in the late summer, early fall, I watched all the debates. I switched over to Joe Biden through January, and then took my time before I threw my support behind Obama and voted for him in my primary on February 5th.

I would love to see an Obama/Biden ticket!

[Tippy]

12. Edwards was my first choice , but Obama was a very close second..

[Yael]

13. I really thought Edwards would take it this year

But was hoping Obama was on the ticket.

Obama has greatly surprised me with his management of the campaign.

[slackmaster]

15. Richardson, Edwards, Obama

:hi:

[rocktivity]

16. In terms of being most progressive AND most capabable of beating the Rethugs

Edwards, Obama, Clinton.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Orangepeel]

17. I supported Edwards. I thought Obama would crash and burn in Iowa.

I supported Dean in 2004. I liked him on the issues, but I also hoped that he could harness enthusiasm, bring new voters in (especially the elusive young voter), and use modern technology to bypass the MSM and speak directly to voters. Obviously, he couldn't do it. I expected the same thing to happen to Obama.

The Obama campaign has been able to what the Dean campaign tried to do but couldn't quite pull off. The right time, the right candidate and the right political atmosphere came together to help propel the Obama campaign from nowhere to the head of the pack.

So, when Edwards got out, who to switch to was an easy decision.

[featherman]

18. Couldn't back anybody that voted for the IWR so went to Obama early

Dennis K. was clearly unelectable

[LWolf]

19. He was tied for last place with Hillary Clinton.

And when I say "last place," I mean "off my table."

He is now solidly in 8th place, along with HRC.

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. still in 8th?

wow.

he was always No. 1 with me.

I'm 2 for 2 picking, Kerry last time. Those being the only two primaries I've followed.

[hokies4ever]

24. I'll alert the media

Chris Matthews better watch his back, else you might take his spot on MSNBC. :rofl:

[LWolf]

44. Still tied for 8th.

He didn't get any better because everyone else dropped out.

[EFerrari]

23. I picked #5 because he an Clinton were tied after the the more liberal candidates.

Maybe I should have used #4.

[kevsand]

25. Clark first, then Obama. /nt

[aaaaaa5a]

26. Here's my order...

Kucinich

Edwards

Obama


But I have learned to like Obama more and more each day. I would probably have him tied with Edwards if I could do it over again.

[Fox Mulder]

27. Third...behind Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards.

[Adelante]

28. Obama was #1 of that group

Obama was #1 since about June 2007 out of the announced candidates.

[Warren DeMontague]

29. If you leave out Al Gore, he was #2 or #3. I went Gore-Kucinich-Dodd-Obama.

Although honestly, Kucinich lost me when he went overboard trying to parse Ahmadinejad's words regarding removing Israel from the map.

And, no, that doesn't mean I want war with Iran.

[billyoc]

30. I was Kucinich, Edwards, Obama. nt

[FlyingSquirrel]

31. Mine went Kucinich, Edwards, Biden, Obama.

[union_maid]

32. I really didn't exactly have a list

I was leaning Edwards or Biden. I liked Obama from what I'd seen of him, but I never really thought he was going to wind up in strong contention. By Super Tuesday it was just Clinton and Obama for all intents and purposes and if there was any question the Clintons sealed it for me. I voted for Obama and haven't wavered in that since.

[AtomicKitten]

33. Second to Gore.

[rucky]

34. Tied for 3rd with Richardson

1. Kucinich 2. Biden

[4_Legs_Good]

35. Obama was #1 from when he announced

I was hoping he'd run since he was elected to the Senate, and people were murmuring about the skinny kid with the funny sounding name.

Of course, I think I'd rather have Kucinich as President, but Obama as a candidate.

Asside from those running, I was hoping for Gore (particularly a Gore/Obama ticket), and very early on Mark Warner, as Governors win, Senators lose, and he was what we needed in being a popular Democrat in a Republican state - we need someone who can bring us all together. Obama, however, does that better than I think Warner could have.

David

[dethl]

36. Kucinich, Edwards, then Obama

eom

[DeschutesRiver]

37. He wasn't even anywhere on my list

I had never heard of him before, had no more interest in him than I did in say Kucinich, Dodd and I still don't know who Gravel is. Actually, then, I guess he'd have been below that Gravel person.

Hey, back then Hillary didn't even give me a rash - despite being leery of anyone named "Clinton", I was pretty interested in hearing who she was, what her stand was on issues and the like, thought it would be cool to have a woman in office. It was tempting to think what if...

[chieftain]

38. He was 3rd behind Dodd and then Biden. eom

[newmajority]

39. Gore was my first choice for this campaign

I refused to back anybody else for a while, convinced that Al would step in, and claim the job that is rightfully his. I was impressed by what I'd heard from Obama, but at that time, I saw him as a candidate for a future election. Possibly Gore's VP this time around.

Around October of 2007, I finally accepted the reality that President Gore would not run for reelection :( At that point, I didn't have a candidate. I knew that Hillary was the one I absolutely could not stand, but apart from that, I stayed on the sidelines for a while.

Then I started to take notice of how Obama was campaigning, and I realized he was ready. The primary results have confirmed that millions of Americans agree. He is ready. We are ready. Change is gonna come.

[nxylas]

41. No.3 or 4

I was Kucinich, Edwards, maybe Gravel (I liked some of his positions but was put off him by that frankly demented video of him throwing a rock into a canal). Clinton was always my last choice, though I never really felt any animosity towards her until she launched her scorched earth campaign, I just considered her too corporate and centrist for my tastes. Obama only came above the others because I didn't know anything about them. He probably would have been my second-to-last choice if I'd known then what I know now, for the same reason.

[gabeana]

42. My first was edwards

then Kucinich, then Obama

Hillary was last

[Bright Eyes]

45. 3rd.

After Kucinich and Edwards.

[hfojvt]

46. I almost forgot Kucinich (because I never considered him viable)

Edwards-Kucinich-Dodd-Biden-Obama-Richardson-Clinton-Gravel

[VotesForWomen]

47. he was the *least qualified* out of the entire field. people are going to wonder WTF is up with the

dem party, nominating this guy.

[Liberal Veteran]

51. Has it ever occurred to you that electing party insiders is why our party has been stagnant?

[Liberal Veteran]

Other: Edwards was 1, Obama and Clinton tied for 2.

But her campaign has changed my mind.

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. He wouldn't have ranked.

I am sorry.

[tokenlib]

49. Clark or Gore, then I was stuck between Edwards and Obama...

And when Iowa showed what Obama could do--I was convinced.

[Johnny__Motown]

50. Obama/Richardson has been my dream ticket since Dec. '06,

[cottonseed]

52. I'll be honest. I supported Edwards for "electibility" reasons.

Those reasons are pretty shameful, but I didn't see Obama for what he was early on. I liked the guy and his approach best, but I didn't give credit to the rest of the country to vote for him. However, once he gets out there, people love the guy. It'll be a fun GE. It'll be a good one for the Dems.

[TBF]

53. Gore wasn't running so I took a few of those internet quizzes that show where

you are in relation to the candidates on issues. I lined up perfectly with Bill Richardson, Obama was 2nd. Richardson was out quickly, so I got on the Obama bandwagon fairly early.

[WA98296]

54. Honestly, second to last. I wanted Kucinich, then Edwards. After that, got to know Obama

and am hoping that he keeps a populist message and administration.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

55. Kucinich, Gravel, Dodd, Obama..the others didn't pass the nose test.

[Forkboy]

56. 7th

DK was first, Edwards second. The middle ones were all interchangeable. The last two were Obama then Hillary.