Premise: We need to beat Bush. Therefore, we need to pick the most electible candidate. *
*The arguments:
"Dean is most electible!"
"No way, Dean's a wildcard. Kerry's most electible!"
"No way, Kerry's a liberal and a bore, Edwards is electible!"
"No way, Edwards has no stature. Clark's most electible!"
"Clark? He's an amateur. Anyone else would be better."
Continued...
The next step in the progression:
"If Dean doesn't win, the Dems are toast! It's Bush in '04!"
"If Kerry doesn't win, the Dems are toast! It's Bush in '04!"
"If Edwards doesn't win, the Dems are toast! It's Bush in '04!"
"If Clark doesn't win, the Dems are toast! It's Bush in '04!"
And then comes:
"Kerry's a loser and an ass! I'll never support that guy."
"Dean's hopeless. If he wins the nomination, I'm staying home."
"Clark is annointed by the Establishment. He won't get a dollar from me."
"Edwards is Bush Lite. Not worth my time if he wins."
--->Now, what was the premise again?<---
How 'bout we try this as an alternative approach, then:
"Dean's my man. But I'll put up with the war with Kerry, and if Kerry wins, he's our leader against Bush - and I'm in."
"Kerry's my man. I don't see what people see in Clark, but if he's good enough to win the nomination, he's good enough for me. Keep our eye on the prize."
"Edwards is the guy for me. How can anyone could think Dean's the stronger candidate. But If he's our candidate, then he's my candidate!"
"Clark's got it all - why don't people see that? I mean he has stature, military experience, and spirit - someone like Edwards only has the last of those. But if it's Edwards, I'll accept the wisdom of the primary voters."
Oh, and one more thing...
"This is a great bunch of guys. Any one of them can beat Bush."
Let's start talking like allies. We need to prepare mentally for this transition or the whole concept of a "bloody primary season weakening the Dems" becomes a reality.
OK?