| Edwards Still in the Hunt in Iowa |
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| by Carolyn Barta | Tue, Dec 18, 2007, 10:34 PM |
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Don't count out John Edwards just yet in Iowa. So says David Yepsen, longtime political columnist of the Des Moines Register. Yepsen has covered politics for 30 years in Iowa, and that includes his share of caucuses. People pay attention to what he writes, and he says in a Tuesday column that Edwards has the potential to come up fast here at the end, with the Iowa caucus looming on Jan. 3. Yepsen also sees a possibility for a Fred Thompson surge on the Republican side. There are good reasons to say Edwards still has a shot. He came in second in Iowa in 2004 and has maintained a strong organization in the state since then. Earlier, he was the Democratic leader, until the star quality of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama passed him by. However, he has continued to maintain his organization, and that's what will count on caucus night. Many caucus goers remain undecided, and some could break his way. Obama is counting on support from young people, who are questionable caucus attendees, particularly college students who are on holiday. And Clinton has been fighting to maintain momentum -- with the help of other family members, from Bill to Mom to Chelsea. Any candidate must muster 15 percent of the delegates attending at any caucus site to gain any votes. If Edwards supporters don't reach 15 percent, they will have to fold in with those favoring another candidate. Some support, meanwhile, won't get it for Edwards. He's got to be at the top in Iowa or his days could be numbered. Meanwhile, Yepsen says that Republican Fred Thompson likewise is pouring resources into Iowa and could surge at the end -- again, because of indecision among voters faced with the GOP field. Both Edwards and Thompson remain long shots and, in my opinion, Edwards has a better chance of making a showing than Thompson. But for those interested, here's the Yepsen column.
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Comments (3)
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written by Real Change , December 19, 2007 The Des Moines Register endorsed Hillary Clinton a couple of days ago. This conservative paper appears to be hedging its bets with this shout out to the Edwards campaign. There's so much more they could have said. This new Iowa poll (conducted Sunday and Monday) gives Edwards the lead with 30% over Obama and Clinton. He's also the 2nd choice for the supporters of other candidates - important since the candidates need 15% of the votes to gain a delegate in a precinct. http://preview.tinyurl.com/ys3sqn
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written by Connie , December 19, 2007 Fred Thompson is awesome! I have never donated to any candidate until Fred and I've been voting since 1970. (Not real proud of that first vote either). If the Dems are looking for experience, then I would suggest that Biden has more than the top 3 combined. If they are looking for change, God knows no Clinton will provide that. Right now, America needs an adult - someone who understands the Founding Fathers' plan for limited government, as well as the need for leadership in the global community. This "blame America" business and "we have to improve our image" stuff has to stop. It's the other way around, folks. It's time for the governments of foreign countries to prove THEIR muster to America. On domestic issues, Fred Thompson has plans that are being positively vetted by all major publications - a way to save social security, a plan for a flat tax, the way for NCLB to change & proceed in order to give parents control of their children's education. Write comment
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