Is Edwards really electable? My gut tells me Hillary has a better chance in the general election than he does, despite conventional wisdom about the breadth of her appeal.

I think Sen. Clinton will make a fine VP if either Gore or Obama don't decide on a Gore/Obama or Obama/Gore ticket.

I think Edwards is probably too late.

I still say it's too early to call, and I'm liking Edwards more and more.

I really do wish people would actually sit and think about who represents their views and whom they would like to see in the oval office, rather than who they think is "electable." It's getting old, and it never seems to work.

i like what i hear so far. i know i could look it up, but what's his stance on the gays? i have a vague recollection of a "separate but equal" stance.

He was raised a baptist (I think?), so he "struggles" with the idea of gay marriage. He has said, however, that he would not base any policy decisions on his personal beliefs in that regard.

From PewForum: "During his 2004 bid for the presidency, Edwards said that he personally opposed gay marriage, but supported civil unions for homosexual couples and said each state should determine its own policy. In 2006, Edwards called gay marriage "the single hardest social issue for me personally," saying that while he supports civil unions and partnership benefits, "it's a jump for me to get to gay marriage."

Elizabeth Edwards is a strong supporter of the gays... A quote from her: "I don't know why someone else's marriage has anything to do with me." (From the SF Gate)

I remember reading a New Yorker profile on Edwards and feeling fondly towards him back in the '04 race. I'm just wary of his "we" and "us" talk, and his Baptist roots.

kate @ 4,

Honestly, Edwards is pretty good in terms of gay rights: for civil unions, ENDA, anti-hate crimes legislation, etc. In regards to marriage equality, he's "just not there yet," but his wonderful wife, Elizabeth, is all for full equality and has very politely told people to just get over it.

Problem is that he comes across as really smarmy and condescending sometimes, so that's not doing him any favors.

He's actually my favorite candidate of the bunch, and corporate America hates him because he's pro living wages, health care, unions, etc so they're going to bury him forever and ever.

He's the only candidate on either side seriously talking about the failing middle class, economic stratification and inequality, which are going to be huge issues in the near future as the rich become richer and everyone else gets a hell of a lot poorer. Think of him as Jimmy Carter II.

I've been impressed by Edwards' integrity at standing up for what's right (unlike many D's today in their condemnation of MoveOn), as well as his willingness to be bold in detail. His detailed health care plan makes a lot of sense, for example. (Paul Krugman had a nice analysis of it here .)

I agree with Levislade that the Dukakis and Kerry "electability" arguments didn't work. All that does is show the American voters that you're a wimpy, afraid-to-stand-for-anything-except-getting-elected party. I'm favoring Edwards or Obama right now. Clinton is too wishy-washy for me, although I do think she's competent. Considering how far down Bush has driven America, I don't think competency should be underrated.

That "I'm just not there yet" business pisses me off.

Guess what John, I'd really like to vote for you but I'm just not there yet.

@3 - I wish I could fit this onto a bumper sticker:

...think about who represents their views and whom they would like to see in the oval office, rather than who they think is "electable." It's getting old, and it never seems to work.

Maybe a t-shirt? Sandwich board?

Equally annoying is deciding who the Republicans "want" the Dems to nominate. Horseshit! How about we nominate and elect who we want? Then we hope and pray (against many of our atheistic beliefs) that they can at least start to clean up the mess created over the past eight years.

I don't care what he says, he is still a douchebag in my eyes. He is just comes across as sneaky to me.

And Andrew @ #7, I already think of him as Jimmy Carter II and that's another strike against him as president.

I love Jimmy, don't get me wrong, but he was not a good president.

@9 - do any of the candidates - aside from Kucinich - actually support full gay marriage? If you want a candidate who believes exactly what you do, point for point, maybe you should run?

@ 9 and all who echo monkey's sentiment,

"i'm just not there yet" is code for i'm 100% there but i can't say it because it will kill me in the general!

get with it, people. i realize this is a big issue, but edwards (along with obama and clinton and the whole rest of the field) all support gay marriage; just like kerry did. THEY JUST CAN'T SAY IT. like it or not, america is not there yet. and they know they will get torpedoed on this issue. it is not worth falling on this sword in exchange for another 4 years of a republican administration.

edwards is basically screaming that he supports gay marriage through his "i'm on a journey" line (guess which direction he's going on his journey?) and through elizabeth.

there are a lot of subtleties and pragmatism in politics. fdr would have never been elected on a "new deal" platform. sometimes you just have to read between the lines and elect the most progressive candidate who can win. imho, that's edwards.

I concur, Xiu Xiu. We all better start to cram on Politics 101, since we miserably failed in 2000 and 2004. The Jagger lyrics (Sympathy for the Devil) have dogged me for seven years now: “Y'all well learn your politics or I'll lay your souls to rest.” Let's hope Lucifer does not save the best for last in this final eighth year so that those who do need a remedial in Poli Sci still have time to open their books.

Edwards is an evangelical rich white man, just like every past president. Sorry evangelical rich white men, you already have your representation in leading almost all of congress, business, law, and the media.

I actually supported Edwards in the 2004 caucuses, but I can't bring myself to support him this time around. Besides, this time around, we have Hillary and other very competent candidates to support. It's not the same half-empty bag we had last time around, trying to jump behind Kerry just to jump behind someone who wasn't Bush.

I think he learned a lot from his past mistakes, and I don't really like what he's doing with that knowledge. I don't believe that he really does support gay marriage but won't say it. I think he feels like he should because he's liberal, but that he really honestly doesn't. I'm having a hard time getting past his and Obama's responses several debates ago regarding how their faith informs their policies. I think Edwards kind of made up for it in the LOGO debate, but it still seemed like all the gays were making him squirm a bit.

@11 (not me) - I don't see how you could say that. Just because he's like 90 percent of the in-the-closet Gay electeds who oppose gay marriage, doesn't make him a douchebag.

[caveat - I don't think he's gay, but ... the logic is the same]

I was a LD District Coordinator(45th) for Clinton in '92. Many gay activists opposed him highlighting some then obscure and now forgotten positions he took in Arkansas as Governor.
My response hasn't changed much. I still ask "Do you think the Repbulicans will be more supportive of gay rights? What about all the other issues such as Poverty, Health care and War or Peace?"
I get that some people are single issue voters. It's their vote.

My gut tells me that Hillary would be problematic in the general election with independent voters and swing states, while Edwards has polled best out of all the democratic candidates with indie voters and swing states.

Edwards also has the most comprehensive biofuels program to wean us from foreign oil of all the candidates

Unfortunately, between Hillary's money and name recognition and the Corporate media's marginalization of the Edwards campaign due to his Economic Populism, John's going to have a tough time winning the nomination.

20, you are right, imo. too bad. edwards is a decent man, not a sell-out, and his wife gives me hope for humanity, i like her sooo much. he needs a coach, the one who trained bush senior out of using "those" hand gestures, so he can be more charismatic. sigh.