I spent several weeks, and more weekends, in New Hampshire, and can tell you first hand, Wes Clark and John Edwards were splitting the same voters. For many, it was a toss up between them. The Communicator versus the Commander. For half charisma won the coin toss, for half Clark's experience as a military leader. The results clearly showed this in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. They played each other to a draw among independent, rural, culturally conservative voters. Make no mistake, Clark / Edwards voters will make the difference in November.
Kerry lost by large margins to Clark and Edwards among independents or moderate Republicans switching party. Those are voters we need, and Kerry is not the one who can get them. People don't vote for a VP. We need Edwards atop the ticket. Kerry's support is the strongest among the establishment Democrats who were so afraid of Howard Dean that they rushed to Kerry as a polar opposite. From rabid outsider to sepulchral insider in three weeks flat. The people who are voting for Kerry are not doing so because they agree with Kerry, but because they think "that he can win", and why do they think he can win? Because he is been winning. It's the same feedback loop or circular logic that made Howard Dean a sure thing just a few weeks ago.
In other words, Kerry's support is a house of cards. If he is no longer perceived as the one who can win - because he is winning - suddenly all bets are off. If voters start to see that the one they agree with on the issues, and the one who cares about them - Edwards - is also the one who can win: Edwards could shock the world on Super Tuesday. Nonetheless, it won't be easy. I just want to personally invite all Clark supporters to join this cause. An Edwards / Clark ticket sounds good to me. How about you?