Which Democratic candidate is most likely to beat W in 2004?

[0rganism]

Poll question: Which Democratic candidate is most likely to beat W in 2004?

This is jfkennedy's poll revisited, minus the push for Clark.

[jagguy]

1. Edwards is the only one with a chance

in my humble opinion

[0rganism]

3. You could be right, I hope it becomes clear in the primaries

The problem with having Edwards and/or Kerry leave the senate for the presidency is there's an opportunity for the GOP to pick up more senate seats. But if it means getting rid of the bush, I'll take that chance.

[Bombtrack]

7. Edwards is the only one who could give us a shot of a dem congress

he's from the rural south, and only one look at the electoral map makes clear that we need to reverse the trends of the GOP's domination in these areas

if Edwards were to get the nom, he could win back the senate by a small margin(a huge feat considering the odds in 04) and by the 06 midterms he could win back the house.

Him carrying NC(or at the least coming very close) would allow Bowles or Blue to defend his old seat, just as well as he could himself under the coattails of Dean or Kerry, who would be crushed in NC

[0rganism]

9. What if he were running as VP?

How much would that dilute his effect on NC, or the southern states generally?

[Bombtrack]

11. he won't be veep, he doesn't balance any of the candidates

The southern states he would be most likely to win(only at the top of the ticket) are Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee

he would also make Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia competative enough that the GOP would have to spend plenty of money and time in those states to be safe, which they wouldn't have to with someone else at the top of the ticket

the only other anounced serious candidates that could really win the nomination are Dean and Kerry(and although Gephardt should be up there, he really is anti-exciting so he won't)

Dean and Kerry would be crushed in every southern state, with the exception of Florida if Graham was Kerry's veep. Edwards couldn't win any of his prime states for either of them

[0rganism]

12. No way to win Florida now, unfortunately

That state of Florida is far too corrupt to be considered in play, even with a significant Democratic voting base. Chimpy's brother owns the system, I think we may as well write it off.

Looking back at the 2000 election, Gore could have taken office had he won in New Hampshire, while "losing" every southern state. It's possible, just harder.

[AnnabelLee]

2. It's too bad

that there are only ten spots available to post options, because I think that there are quite a few DUers who are undecided, & it would be interesting to see how many would vote for "don't know/undecided". Oh, well.:shrug:

[0rganism]

5. On the other hand, I don't want the California recall ballot

The Democratic candidates have a similar problem, albeit on a much smaller scale. There are too many of them right now, and it dilutes the campaign. On the other hand, it also dilutes the puke attacks. I do hope some of the long shots, like Mosely-Braun, drop out and endorse a contender in the next two months.

[usregimechange]

4. People Powered Howard Dean

His record in vermont is excellent (e.g. surplus w/ tax cuts, 99% of children with health insurance). He sounds like a democrat and will not bow to the poll Gods automatically like the Dems did in congress during the Iraq debate. I was a Kerry supporters but Dean converted me as I read on.

[0rganism]

6. Interesting. Dean now has 50% of the vote.

Isn't he too liberal?

Isn't he not liberal enough?

Isn't he in with the DLC?

Isn't he dissed by the DLC?

Are republicans manipulating his PR?

Does Howard Dean have a pointy tail, horns, and a pitchfork?

Will Dean take your guns and bibles?

Will Dean give you a gun and make you shoot a bible?

One thing that seems pretty well decided is that a DU plurality believes Mr. Dean has a chance of beating George W. Bush.

[GreenArrow]

14. Lots of questions

Looks like he's all things to all people. Lots of perceptions one way or another.

I have no doubt that he can beat GWB, but I have lots of doubts about what that means.

[Terwilliger]

8. kick better poll

[LSdemocrat]

10. kick

I voted for Howard.

[AntiCoup2K4]

13. How's this for a scenario?

Dean/Clark ticket for the White House.

Kerry, Edwards, Graham and yeah, even Holy Joe, return to the Senate and help Democratic candidates trying to win other Senate seats from Repukes.

I could even hope for the House but that's dreaming big.

Point is, while it is absolutely neccessary to throw Junior and the PNAC'ers out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, we can't begin to undo the damage they have done with both houses of Congress in Puke hands.

We must take the White House. We can take the Senate too. But with four key senators sidelined, it will be far more difficult.

[redeye]

15. Dean...

...followed by Edwards and Kerry in that order.