The Final Countdown. Edwards Info Caucus Prep.

Two final Edwards videos and prepare for the caucus.

The Final Countdown

Jerome over at MyDD running with the 36-hour marathon

From the JRE blog, I just copied and pasted Thunderhawk's entire blog. And since he's been banned here, he won't be able come over here & kick my ass. ;-))

Here's some material that longtime supporter Michael from Seattle put together to use tomorrow night at the caucus to convince the undecided.

I especially recommend the general election and swing state polling versus the GOP.  Use what you need.

Also, be sure to take a copy of the Washington Post editorial praising JRE's Pakistan response:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/...

Let's win this thing.

WHY JOHN EDWARDS IS THE RIGHT CHOICE

For far too long Democrats have felt like we've had to weigh our desire to see candidates stand up for what we believe in, with the need to win the general election. Finally, we can throw that tired scale away. Finally, the Democrat most committed to fighting for us is also the best general election candidate. That candidate is John Edwards.

Because Bold Leadership Matters

Fighting for the Middle Class / Smart Trade

- It wasn't until after Edwards publicly asked them to that Senator Obama and then Senator Clinton declared their support for raising the minimum wage to 9.50$ an hour.

- Both Clinton and Obama supported the expansion of the job-killing NAFTA model into Peru. Senator Edwards opposed it.

- Senator Edwards was the first candidate to release a detailed plan for rural recovery.

Ending The Washington DC Game - Edwards is the ONLY candidate who has NEVER taken money from Washington Lobbyists or PACs.

- Edwards has repeatedly called for Democrats and Democratic candidates at all levels of government to stop taking money from Washington lobbyists. Though repeatedly asked to, neither Clinton or Obama will take this important stand.

Quality Health Care for Every American (not just politicians) - Senator Edwards drove the debate on Universal Health Care. His plan was the first to come out, and he is he only Democrat who has committed to standing up to politicians who would guard their own health care, but not pass health care for every American. A few months later, under pressure Senator Obama released a plan that is not Universal, leaving out 15 million Americans. A few months after that, Senator Clinton released a plan that is a lot like the Edwards plan. This is odd considering that at the same DNC Winter Meeting of 2007 at which Edwards called on the party to stand for Universal Health Care, Senator Clinton explained that she would only try to improve health care if she were to receive a second term.

Ending the War in Iraq / Stopping the Neocons' March Towards War with Iran

2006 Kerry-Feingold Amendment that set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Clinton - Voted No
Obama - Voted No
Edwards - Voiced Support

(2006) Lieberman vs. Lamont Connecticut Senate Race

Clinton - Endorsed Lieberman in the primary. Did not campaign for Lamont after he won the Democratic nomination.
Obama - Endorsed Lieberman in the primary. Campaigned for him, encouraging Connecticut Democrats to have the "good sense" to re-elect Lieberman. Did not campaign for Lamont after he won the Democratic nomination.
Edwards - Did not endorse Lieberman in the primary. Was the first Democrat to call and then campaign for Lamont after he won the Democratic nomination.

Cutting off Funds to Stop the Escalation of the War in Iraq

Clinton - Stopped short of supporting
Obama - Stopped short of supporting.
Edwards - Vocally supported.

Jim Webb's Iran legislation

This was the first attempt by Jim Webb to pass legislation that would act as a roadblock to President Bush if he were to attempt to attack Iran.

Clinton - Not on the record until months later, after she had voted for the Kyl - Lieberman amendment.
Obama - Not on the record until months later, after he missed to vote for the Kyl - Lieberman amendment.
Edwards - Immediately released a statement supporting Webb's legislation

"Capitulation Bill" #1
This was the funding bill for the war that became known as the "capitulation" bill because it was an example of congressional Democrats caving to President Bush.

Clinton - Was silent about how she would vote until the vote. Was among the last to vote.
Obama - Was silent about how he would vote until the vote. Was among the last to vote.
Edwards - Vocally opposed the bill from the start.

"Capitulation Bill" #2
When reports surfaced that Senate Democrats were considering a compromise on another funding bill Edwards stepped up his already very vocal opposition to any timetable without withdrawal. He made "No timetable, funding. No excuses." a theme of his campaign. A few weeks later Obama said that he would also oppose a any bill without a timetable for withdrawal. Weeks later, Clinton also took that position.
Kyl - Lieberman Amendment
This was seen by many as an amendment President Bush could someday use as the basis for one of his "unitary executive" arguments that he had the authority to attack Iran. At the very least it was a significant step in the wrong direction.

Clinton - Voted Yes
Obama - Missed Vote
Edwards - Opposed

Combating Global Warming / Achieving Energy Independence

John Edwards is the ONLY Democrat to have the endorsement of a major, national environmental organization (Friends of the Earth Action).
http://action.foe.org/...

Grist Magazine on the candidates...
http://www.grist.org/...

Edwards

"... far and away the strongest, most comprehensive climate and energy plan among the three Democratic front-runners... On these issues, Edwards has done his homework and he's not trimming his sails ."

Obama
"... on climate and energy is, well, Obaman: the rhetoric is soaring and high-minded, the policy proposals consensus-seeking and incremental...he's largely been a follower...On these issues, Obama is largely platitudinous and reserved ."

Clinton

"...toes the line on climate change and energy independence, seeing the former as a way to reach young people and the latter as a way to sound tough. She's been somewhat vague on the details ... She signed on to the Sanders-Boxer climate bill, the most ambitious climate bill in the Senate, but only in May, after Edwards had endorsed bold emissions targets."

Because Winning The General Election Matters

"I think we'd be delighted with either Hillary or Obama. The one who scares me the most is Edwards." Republican strategist John Feehery to MSNBC's Tim Russert on 12/11/07.
http://www.youtube.com/...

"I think if John Edwards wins Iowa and gets some steam and ends up being the candidate, Ohio could go with an Edwards type of Democrat... I think Ohio is very much in play for the Republicans if Hillary or Obama is the candidate ." Scott Borgemenke, chief of staff for the Republican - controlled Ohio House of Representatives in an interview with OhioPols.com
Senator Edwards has consistently outperformed Clinton and Obama in both national general election polling and polling in critical swing states.

The evidence that Edwards is the most electable Democrat is so overwhelming that despite the scant coverage his campaign has received, numerous media outlets have covered this consistent and convincing pattern. Here are a few examples...

Former Clinton advisor
Doug Schoen - Edwards Strongest Democrat In General Election Match Ups
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...

MSNBC's
Chris Mathews on Hardball 12.18.07 (speaking to Edwards about general election polling) - "Ironically, despite the fact that you haven't gotten the media glare, the klieg lights... that you are the best bet to beat the Republicans."
http://www.youtube.com/...

Pollster
Scott Rasmussen - Edwards "Generally Outperforms Other Democrats in General Election Match-Ups Against Republicans".
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...

ABC News - "Polls Show Edwards Does Better than Either of His Rivals in Head-to-Head Matchups with Leading Republicans."
http://www.abcnews.go.com/...

Real Clear Politics - Edwards, Not Hillary, is Dems' Best Chance
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/...

Besides the examples listed above, Republican strategists like Karl Rove and Ben Ginsburg have admitted their fear of facing Edwards in a general election.

A review of General Election Polling and the coverage of Senator Edwards' outstanding performance in them can be found at http://esrc08.blogspot.com/

A recent national general election poll from CNN is a good example of how Edwards usually performs against Republicans in national general election polling.
http://i.a.cnn.net/...

CNN / Opinion Research - National: December 11, 2007

Vs. Mitt Romney

Clinton - 54%      Romney - 43%

Obama - 54%      Romney - 41%

Edwards - 59%    Romney - 37%

Clinton + 11%    Obama + 13%    Edwards + 22%

Vs. Rudy Giuliani

Clinton - 51%      Giuliani - 45%
Obama - 52%      Giuliani - 45%
Edwards - 53%    Giuliani - 44%

Clinton + 6%    Obama + 7%    Edwards + 9%

Vs. Mike Huckabee

Clinton - 54%      Huckabee - 44%
Obama - 55%      Huckabee - 40%
Edwards - 60%    Huckabee - 35%

Clinton + 10%    Obama leads + 15%    Edwards + 25%

Vs. John McCain

Clinton - 48%      McCain - 50%
Obama - 48%      McCain - 48%
Edwards - 52%    McCain - 44%

Clinton - 2%    Obama =    Edwards + 8%

Averages

Clinton leads the Republicans by 6.25%
Obama leads the Republicans by 8.75%
Edwards leads the Republicans by 16.00%

Edwards has outperformed Clinton and Obama in EVERY match-up in EVERY poll in the crucial swing state of Ohio. Edwards' favorability rating is also consistently the best. If John Kerry had won Ohio in 2004, he would be president today.

Edwards also does best in general election polling that has been released for Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Here is an example of a solidly red state that John Edwards can turn blue...

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/...

Public Policy Polling - North Carolina: December 17, 2007

Vs. Mitt Romney

Clinton - 42%      Romney - 46%
Obama - 42%      Romney - 45%
Edwards - 52%    Romney - 50%

Clinton - 4%    Obama - 3     Edwards + 12%

Vs. Mike Huckabee

Clinton - 42%      Huckabee - 48%
Obama - 42%      Huckabee - 47%
Edwards - 50%    Huckabee - 43%

Clinton - 6%    Obama - 5%    Edwards + 7%

Vs. Rudy Giuliani

Clinton - 39%      Giuliani - 46%
Obama - 43%      Giuliani - 46%
Edwards - 48%    Giuliani - 43%

Clinton - 7%    Obama - 3%    Edwards + 5%

Averages

Clinton trails the Republicans by 5.66%
Obama trails the Republicans by 3.66%
Edwards leads the Republicans by 8.00%

Edwards has also consistently displayed an ability to compete in, and even win deep red states. Though many states have not been polled, Edwards usually does best in the Southern and Midwestern states that have who have. Take for instance, a recent poll of Oklahoma from Tulsa World. While Edwards averaged a win against the Republicans, Senator Clinton averaged a 21.50% loss.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/...

Because of his understanding of, and commitment to rural voters, Senator Edwards can compete ALL over the country. Instead of hurting congressional and statewide Democratic candidates in rural states like Iowa, having Senator Edwards at the top of the ticket will help them. This means that the interests of the American people will be much better represented both locally, and in Washington DC.  With Edwards at the top of the ticket and as president, Democrats will be able to reach super Majority status in Congress.  Because of this,  John Edwards will be able to really move a bold progressive agenda.

What Others Are Saying
Former President Jimmy Carter at Georgia Southwestern State University on August 29, 2007
http://www.youtube.com/...

  I can say without equivocation, that no one who is running for President has presented anywhere near as comprehensive and a accurate prediction of what our country ought to do in the field of environmental quality, in the field of health care for those who are not presently insured, for those who suffer from poverty, and with a special attention to a subject he knows quite well, and that is the rural areas of America... If you take USA Today, you probably saw the headline was 'Edwards Ahead Of All Republican Candidates'.

The Nation magazine - Behind the Edwards Surge: Right Message at the Right Time
http://news.yahoo.com/...

  To a far greater extent than Obama or Clinton, Edwards has struck at the heart of issues that should matter most in the race to replace not just George W. Bush, but the Bush agenda of corporate giveaways, job-crushing free trade deals, war profiteering in Iraq, and subprime mortgage profiteering in Indiana, Idaho, Illinois and, yes, Iowa.

  But the former senator's most effective statement at the Des Moines Register debate on Thursday was one that reflected his deep level of engagement with working people in the upper Midwest, an engagement born of long months spent in Iowa and neighboring states -- at a time when Clinton and Obama were spending considerably more time fighting over who had better relations with the media moguls on Hollywood's A-list and in the suites of Manhattan's mortgage manipulators.

  Edwards got to know workers in Iowa. He stood with them in their struggles.  Remembering the workers who have been battered by the failed trade policies of the Clinton and Bush administrations matters. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both supporters of recent trade agreements, have never connected on the same level. Edwards, who once had a shaky record on these issues but has come to be a passionate proponent of fair trade, comes across as the candidate who gets it.

The New York Times' Paul Krugman - Big Table Fantasies
http://www.nytimes.com/...

  Over the last few days Mr. Obama and Mr. Edwards have been conducting a long-range argument over health care that gets right to this issue. And I have to say that Mr. Obama comes off looking, well, naïve.

  O.K., more seriously, it's actually Mr. Obama who's being unrealistic here, believing that the insurance and drug industries -- which are, in large part, the cause of our health care problems -- will be willing to play a constructive role in health reform. The fact is that there's no way to reduce the gross wastefulness of our health system without also reducing the profits of the industries that generate the waste.

  As a result, drug and insurance companies -- backed by the conservative movement as a whole -- will be implacably opposed to any significant reforms. And what would Mr. Obama do then? "I'll get on television and say Harry and Louise are lying," he says. I'm sure the lobbyists are terrified.

  As health care goes, so goes the rest of the progressive agenda. Anyone who thinks that the next president can achieve real change without bitter confrontation is living in a fantasy world.

  Which brings me to a big worry about Mr. Obama: in an important sense, he has in effect become the anti-change candidate.

  There's a strong populist tide running in America right now. For example, a recent Democracy Corps survey of voter discontent found that the most commonly chosen phrase explaining what's wrong with the country was "Big businesses get whatever they want in Washington."

  And there's every reason to believe that the Democrats can win big next year if they run with that populist tide. The latest evidence came from focus groups run by both Fox News and CNN during last week's Democratic debate: both declared Mr. Edwards the clear winner.

  And nothing Mr. Obama has said suggests that he appreciates the bitterness of the battles he will have to fight if he does become president, and tries to get anything done.

This Is It!

This is is our chance to take back the Democratic Party, take back the White House, and take back our country.  This election does not belong to the media establishment, or the fat cat donors that fuel compromised candidates. This election, and this country, belongs to us. Together, we can send a clear message to the country by rejecting hype and poll-driven politics, and embracing bold, substantive leadership.

This is the chance for Democrats to win big, and to do it by standing up for the values that made our party and our country great.

Tonight, stand up for what you believe in.  Stand up for the middle class.  Stand up for those without a voice.  Stand up for our children's future.  Stand up for the that candidate who will fight for us.

STAND UP TONIGHT.  STAND WITH JOHN EDWARDS.

Good luck. Good vibes. Good job. Good riddance to the bastard. Meditate. Pray.