Is Kerry-Edwards the most electable (D) ticket?

[randomturn]

I've been working on the Kerry campaign -- answering phones, calling voters, etc. And it seems like many of the voters in Iowa and NH want to see a Kerry win and run with Edwards. Even the Edwards supporters seem to want this!

Does anyone think Howard Dean has any chance to win the nomination? Just curious...

[St Leo]

If it's not Sharpton-Kucinich, the Democrats aren't worth voting for.

[Guynemer]

While I think a Dean win is unlikely, I think Iowa showed that his thing can turn suddenly on a dime, and it's way too early to count him out--especially with all the cash he has on hand.

I'm not sure if Kerry-Edwards is the most electable, but it'd certainly rank pretty high.

My gut tells me that I might not like the guy as a President, but my head tells me that Karl Rove and Dubya and Cheney are scared ****less of a Clark nomination.

[Agathon]

Kerry-Clark.

Clark comes across as a nice guy, and having two respected ex soldiers will make it really hard for the repugs to impgun their patriotism.

Dean is finished. I happen to think the media did him in, but that's just my opinion.

[Mordoch]

Originally posted by Agathon
Kerry-Clark.

Clark comes across as a nice guy, and having two respected ex soldiers will make it really hard for the repugs to impgun their patriotism.

Nah, that's overdoing the military angle. You're better off finding two people with more different backgrounds so they have a better chance of attracting different groups of voters to the ticket. Its highly unlikely that the Republicans could make much political headway attacking Edward's patriotism on an Kerry-Edwards ticket. You'd need something alot more substancial than the vice-president simply not having military experience.

[Agathon]

It doesn't matter who the VP is. Look at Quayle.

[Edan]

I think Kerry and Clark compliment each other - Kerry is a guy with plenty of experience, knows the issues and is a veteran. Clark is likeable and has youth and is from the south.

OTOH, Clark has some of the better qualities of bvoth (though he's not as likeable as edwards nor does he have the same kind of experience as Kerry.).

I think Clark/Kerry would be the best bet.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Guys, one thing is that is a pretty rare for the Veep candidate to be an opponent in primary season. Bush 1 was the most striking (especially seeing what he said about Reagan). I don't think Gore ran in 1992 as well... but I'm not sure.

If Kerry win the nomination, my bet is that his veep will be someone who didn't run against him. Perhaps Senator John Breaux or some other Southern moderate Dem.

[chequita guevara]

It's uncommon, but not rare. Kennedy-Johnson, Reagan-Bush. THat's twice in twenty years off the top of my head.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yes, twice in twenty years. I can also say it's been only twice in 43 years (since it hasn't happened since, IIRC ). And probably more when I go back from 1960.

The problem is the smoldering, lingering anger over some primary tricks... that and the fact that you got your base all mad at your rival, you'd disappoint them by appointing him as your 2nd in command, IMO.

[chequita guevara]

Depends on how nice everyone plays. They've only played dirty with Dean.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's because Dean was the front runner until Iowa. When Kerry takes that mantle, let's see how the other react.

[Boris Godunov]

Clark-Edwards is the most electable I can see.

Honestly, I don't think Kerry can really win the general election, no matter who his veep pick is. He's too northern.

[Mordoch]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Honestly, I don't think Kerry can really win the general election, no matter who his veep pick is. He's too northern.

Frankly, I think barring something dramatic happening, most of the South can be written off as Republican strongholds. Its also quite possible to win the election without carrying most of the South. The one real exception is Florida, but many of the retirees there are from the North, so being a Northerner is not such a liability. If you view that status as being a problem elsewhere, it may be an issue, but I'd argue its pretty much confined to the South. The fact Gore couldn't win Tenessee speaks volumes about how tough it is for a Democrat to currently take Southern States.

[Boris Godunov]

Agreed, but I must say there is one caveat here. Had Gore had one state--ANY state--flip to him, he would have won, even without Florida. Bush was declared winner with 271 electoral votes. So the Democrat in November simply has to carry every state Gore did, plus one. I don't know if that's such a tall order.