John Edwards, WDCPix
Clinton, Obama Already Courting Edwards Supporters
Rival Campaigns Look to Scoop Up Blue-Collar Voters
By Holly Yeager
01/30/2008
| 9 Comments
Illustration by: Matt Mahurin
Even before John Edwards officially ended his campaign Wednesday, the Democratic front-runners Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama issued statements praising his efforts and making not-so-subtle pitches to his supporters.
They were also courting the candidate himself. Joe Trippi, a top Edwards advisor, told Talking Points Memo's Election Central, "They're banging down the doors," trying to win an endorsement, preferably before Tuesday's massive primary contests.
In a midday speech in New Orleans, Edwards continued to stress the central issues of his campaign: providing universal health care, fighting poverty, ending global warming. He showed no preference between the two remaining candidates, but declared, "If we continue to hear the voices of working people...a proud progressive will occupy the White House."
With Obama closing in on Clinton's national lead, Edwards supporters could play a central role in deciding which Democrat wins the nomination.
Most of the analysts who spoke with The Washington Independent said a quick assessment pointed to Obama, but hurried to temper that with reasons why Clinton might benefit.
Jennifer Duffy, senior editor at the Cook Political Report, a Washington newsletter, said, "You make an assumption that if they were with Edwards, they were probably a little anti-Clinton because she’s the establishment. Then logic would tell you that they would probably go to Obama."
Edwards is credited with pulling the Democratic candidates to the left. Clinton and Obama both tweaked their campaigns to reflect his populist message and put forward aggressive plans on health care and poverty reduction.
While Clinton is seen as more of a centrist than Edwards, her call for universal health care through an individual mandate may appeal to Edwards supporters. Like Edwards, she has won the backing of many working-class voters who make up the Democratic base.
Obama has drawn much of his support from better-educated and higher-income voters. But Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's endorsement of Obama on Monday may be well-timed to help him take advantage of Edwards's decision to exit the race.
Kennedy is expected to campaign heavily for Obama -- he will be in New Mexico on Thursday and California on Friday -- and his presence on the stump could help Obama make inroads among union members, urban ethnics, and other key Democratic constituencies that Edwards was focused on.
Michael Kazin, a Georgetown University history professor who studies populism, said Edwards drew support from many income levels, not just union members and blue-collar workers. "One of the problems he had was he didn't connect enough with the people he was trying to reach."
Instead, Kazin said, Edwards connected especially well with people who favor economic liberalism, "something that looks like a second coming of the New Deal, together with a passionate mistrust of corporations." For them, the question is whether they want to return to the centrist economics that characterized the first Clinton era -- and are expected to dominate a second Clinton White House -- or make a break with it by backing Obama.
Kazin also cautioned that many working people do not make their decisions based simply on economic grounds. "Maybe you don't think anybody is going to solve your problems and you'd rather go with someone you like."
Recent polls give an edge to Clinton in the race for Edwards votes. Four in 10 of his supporters said their second choice was Clinton, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo poll this month. One quarter of Edwards supporters said they preferred Obama. A Los Angeles Times poll also found that slightly more Edwards voters named Clinton their second choice.
But Donna Brazile, a longtime Democratic activist who managed Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, said by email it was hard to tell what voters who had backed Edwards would do now. "I spent most of my day talking with his key supporters and honestly I cannot tell."
Tom Schaller, author of "Whistling Past Dixie," a book that urges Democrats to build a winning coalition without relying on the South, said the Clinton and Obama camps are both counting on attracting Edwards voters. Each camp uses different logic -- and both may be basing their approaches as much on hope as on rigorous analysis.
"The Obama people view Edward voters as having an anybody-but-Hillary mindset, in which case they get the lion's share," said Schaller, who teaches political science at the University of Maryland.
The Clinton camp sees Edwards voters as favoring a white male populist. "Though perhaps wishing to vote for neither a woman nor an African-American, they will see Bill Clinton, their standard bearer, behind Hillary, and she will get the lion's share."
Duffy noted that in states where primaries have already been held, "Obama hasn't got a lot of the white vote." There is also anecdotal evidence, she said, that blue-collar voters who didn't vote for Edwards went to Clinton. "You have two very conflicting theories there, and I think we're going to have to wait and see how it falls out."
Duffy cautioned that in many states where primaries will be held on Tuesday, early voters have already cast their ballots. She also warned about the limits of predicting large shifts in voting based on the withdrawal of Edwards from the race. "I never believe that voters move in a pack."
But for Clinton and Obama, it sure is worth a try.
CATEGORIES IN THIS STORY:
© 2007 The Washington Independent
Comments:
Posted 02/02/2008 05:39pm with
The MSM better wake up and watch what is REALLY going on in this campaign. As an Edwards supporter, whatever vote I make is staying firmly with Edwards as are MANY of his supporters. We are more energized, more viable, dedicated, motivated and focused than ever before! As John Edwards said in his speech when he suspended the campaign, we will not forget, we will not abandon…not now, not ever.
Posted 02/02/2008 06:14pm with
Clinton and Obama need to realize that we know when they both started
plagiarizing John Edwards platform…neither of them started as the
candidates of “Change”. It is on Edwards campaign bus. In December of
‘07 Obama, and in January Clinton both started using John Edwards’s message, word for word. More so Obama, who started with “Hope”. John
came out with his book “Building One America” and released his health
plan in February of ‘07. Later in the year, August or September, Clinton revised her plan to match John Edwards’s plan. We will not settle for candidates who can’t think for themselves, we want the original candidate of change: JOHN EDWARDS! He has our votes, he has our hearts…we stand with John Edwards now, we stand with John Edwards in November! John Edwards is the PEOPLE”S PRESIDENT!
Posted 02/02/2008 06:51pm with
One thing I know for sure, my vote will not be going to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. I will be voting for John Edwards. He was the man with the ideas, the candidate who put forth the first policies for a comprehensive Universal Health Plan, then a plan for pulling out of Iraq, and a detailed plan for ending poverty. I will not have the MSM or the Democratic Party influence who I am to vote for on February 5th.
I refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton. We have had 20+ years of Bush/Clinton/Bush, now Americans want to put another Clinton into office. We need to get rid of the Bush/Clinton dynasty. Barack Obama sounds good with all the rhetoric of Hopes, Dreams, and Change. Don’t get me wrong, that’s great, but give me some details, give me some substance. It amazes me when I speak with Obama supporters, many do not even know where he stands on many issues. John Edwards was the true candidate of change. He built the platform the other two candidates are standing on. So, on February 5th, I will vote for the true leader and the true candidate of change (John Edwards) and I refuse to walk behind the two “followers”.
I urge all Americans who heard John Edwards message, who heard him win every debate to vote for him on February 5th. Take a symbolic stand against the MSM, DNC, and the Washington “interests” – vote for John Edwards “The People’s President” on February 5th.
Kind Regards,
A Edwards Democrat
Posted 02/02/2008 07:20pm with
I have been grieving for days what I have perceived as the loss of my one true champion: John Edwards. Here at last, in Holly Yeager’s article, I find an unexpected glimmer of hope in this quote: “[Edwards] showed no preference between the two remaining candidates, but declared, ‘If we continue to hear the voices of working people…a proud progressive will occupy the White House.’” Maybe, just maybe, the miracle I crave is possible.
God works miracles, so I’ll be praying and voting my conscience on 2/5: John Edwards for president in 2008. However, I know that sometimes God expects us to help the miracles, so I ask of you this favor.
Please, dear reader, remember that a “suspended” campaign need not be an ended one. A difference of four little letters can make all the difference at the Democratic National Convention, but only if WE the people MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. In most primary states yet to vote, Edwards’ name should remain on the ballot, so with our votes for Edwards WE CAN bring this “proud progressive” to OUR White House. Yes, please also keep in mind that the White House is OURS to give to candidate deemed most worthy. I pray you agree that John Edwards is that man.
Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama, take note: I don’t think either of you is all that. Certainly not compared with John Edwards.
Edwards Rising ‘08
Posted 02/02/2008 08:02pm with
I’ll tell you who Edwards supporters are going to vote for…..
JOHN EDWARDS! The people who support him are hard core. We’re not going anywhere.
Check out John Edwards website and you’ll see there is a major grassroots effort going on. We plan to do everything we can to make sure people still vote for Edwards. Why don’t you help us out and write a column about it. Thanks for your time.
Posted 02/02/2008 08:13pm with
I’m a realist guys. As much as I like Edward-were screaming up a long black tunnel and he’s out of the race and out of our choice. I want my vote to count.And it’s a dead vote and a voice slaping a brick wall if I continue to believe in a fairy tale of havein Edward as president. I like Mccain, but he’s from the old school, and don’t see him running our high tech world of today. However, we can still have the dream, if you raise your voice to a OBAMA AND EDWARD ticket. This guys could still be your Miracle. I want my vote to count,and it won’t count if i FOOL MYSELF into believeing what is not possible. Edwards can still help change our country. I Believe OBAMA WILL LISTEN to a more experienced voice at his side, and adopt a lot of EDWARDS PROGRAMS. gUYS, DO YOU REALLY WANT HILLARY CLINTON AN BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL RULING OUR LIFE’S,POCKETS,AND OUR GIRL CHILDREN. Some MORAL example he would be for our kids. So be careful how you waste your vote on this one. Because you don’t get no mor chance’s. You don’t get a second vote, and niether does Hillary on the Iraq war—-so keep that in mind how she wasted her vote to.
Posted 02/02/2008 08:52pm with
If you want to know where Edwards’ supporters will go, I think that everyone should know that his supporters are not going anywhere. We are going to continue to vote for him in our primaries, and write him in if we need to.
As Edwards has said in his suspension speech, I do not know when our party (DNC) stopped listening to the people. Personally, I think it was when special interests money was easier and more available than energizing voters to our side. The media’s blackout of our candidate is also case in point—it has simply become much more easier to buy popularity than to work for the real solutions in our country and fight for those. Edwards was always the leader in this race on every issue, health care, global warming, poverty, the economy and the war in Iraq. Edwards did more to re-shape our party’s platform than any other candidate, and he held the others’ feet to the fire to make sure that they too heard our voices.
Thousands of us are sticking with John Edwards for many reasons, the least of these is that neither of the two left overs have earned our votes. Our votes are not wasted, they are a message to the DNC that unless they want to give us back our direction, our country, and our democracy, the hallow rhetoric and invocations of Edwards’ name will not be enough. They must earn our votes, or lose them forever. This is the only means left we have to speak to the corporatists and elitists in control of our party.
While the supporters of other candidates bicker over who is being misogynist or racist, Edwards’ supporters have only cared about the issues, and doing what is truly right for our country. So, until someone else has earned our votes, they will go to the grown-up wing of the Democratic party, the people’s president, John Edwards.
“You can be disappointed, but you cannot walk away.”
Posted 02/02/2008 10:02pm with
How interesting it is to see all of the media coverage that John Edwards is getting now that he has suspended his campaign.
Too bad you blatantly failed to adequately cover his campaign when it was in full swing, and instead chose to cover—or perhaps were dictated by your corporate bosses to cover—the two American Idol candidates.
What a shame the American people en masse have not heard Edwards’ message. His message is our message.
Mainstream media speculation about which candidate the Edwards voters will choose to support is laughable. The answer is neither. We cannot be bought or persuaded.
And please remember that John Edwards has only “suspended” his campaign. He still retains the delegates he has won and in all of the primaries and caucuses to come, he is still on the ballot and votes for John Edwards still count.
Obama and Clinton have stolen every policy that John Edwards was first to come out with and have tried to claim it as their own. This speaks for itself.
Obama and Clinton are now trying to copy John Edwards’ message but they fail to measure up. And what they say just sounds phony.
So, to all of the Obama and Clinton supporters putting in overtime to call us, write us, beg and plead with us to change our vote, please stop.
John Edwards is the heart and soul of the Democratic Party. John Edwards is a once in a lifetime candidate. There is no other.
Posted 02/02/2008 11:18pm with
John Edwards is not only the heart and soul of the Democratic Party, he is the heart and soul of our vision for a brighter tomorrow, when the lower class becomes a class that can actually survive in this economically-deranged nation, when people who need medicine can actually afford medicine for just a minor infection, when Union workers can actually get their voices back and stand up for their own rights, when corporations see penalties for shipping our jobs overseas and then forcing those products that were cheaply made and toxic back down our throats monopolizing the market.
I will continue to support my candidate on Tuesday and one thing that I can assuredly state is that I know for once, my vote does count because I voted not only my heart, but my head, for the next leader of this country. Let me clarify this, what Edwards’ supporters are speaking of in their continued support for their candidate is not a “fairy tale,” it’s a movement to give the voices back to the people so that they decide their own future.