Edwards continues to be ‘most electable’ Democrat. Moderate Liberals MUST get involved in the primaries.
Recent CNN Polls reveal the following: In national matchup against Republican presidential contenders, only John Edwards beats ‘em all, actually blows them all away:
Edwards (D) 53%, Giuliani (R) 44%
Edwards (D) 59%, Romney (R) 37%
Edwards (D) 52%, McCain (R) 44%
Edwards (D) 60%, Huckabee (R) 35%
To bad for Edwards, though, right? Clinton’s got a lock, right? Oprama has the momentum, right? So you Edwards supports can just stay at home, right?
If you are a typical moderate liberal, you are certainly planning to vote in 2008’s “really big shoe” Presidential Election. But in this election cycle, the ‘liberal liberals’ are attempting to co-opt the primary/caucus process. This is so very clearly obvious to party politico’s that they have been tripping all over themselves trying to schedule their state primaries to be first or second or third.
But it doesn’t have to be this way, and it is YOUR FAULT. Yes, you! Because you are only planning to vote in the national election, you have proxied your all imporant primary voteto those who will show up and nominate the party’s national candidate. The way things are going, you will be expected to vote for Clinton, because you proxy voted for her.
This may indeed tick you off, and perhaps you will become indignant and agry. After all, you “don’t like Hillary, and refuse to vote for her,” and you don’t see the U.S. Presidency as a family heirloom or monarchy. Because of your indignation perhaps you will instead cast a protest vote in November ‘08 for the Green Party Candidate (they match your concern on the environment), or the Libertarians (they match with you on civil rights), or Ralph Nader (he matches you concern for corporate responsibility) or whatever third party du jour decides to run.
Get your butt out on Primary day and vote now for the Democratic candidate that you want to see in the national election. You’ve never done this before, I know — neither have I! That’s why we’re moderate liberals and not radical liberals. However, the stakes are so high in this election cycle — you have to do this. Do not let the process be co-opted.
When you see polls that indicate that Clinton is ahead of Obama by 40% to 22% — those figures represent “likely voters” in the primary. They don’t include you, because you have never previously voted in a primary, and thus your vote is not likely.
Change the rules! Get your butt out next year and vote in the primaries! The presidential election is simply the culmination of a politicla process. The reality is, you have to show up to be counted, both on primary day as well as in November, 2008.
Plan to vote in the primary. Learn how now, put it on your busy calendar, and go do it. Vote for your candidate in the primary, so that you can vote for your candidate in the national election. Otherwise, just suck it up and expect to vote for Clinton.