Edwards Supporters ONLY (Please) Poll, Who is your #2?

This is going to be an incredibly short diary, something that most of you who've read my writing in the past should know is not my normal writing style.

I'm posting a poll to ask Edwards supporters only who they will cast their vote for if John Edwards is not a candidate in the race.

The presumption is that Edwards supporters go to Obama if he is no longer in the race.  I think that this is dead wrong, and that Edwards supporters will most likely go to Clinton, and more importantly not vote in the Democratic primary (and many I think won't vote for either candidate in the general election.)

So I'm posting a poll, and opening the comments for Edwards supporters to speak their peace (if they want to) about why they would switch to Clinton or Obama.

•  I myself want Edwards to stay in until the

  convention, but after between Obama and Clinton I choose Clinton.

  by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:19:28 PM PDT

  •  I disagree... but

    Im finding your position to be much more common.

    I still support Obama second because of reform issues and foreign policy vision.  Obama fits with me on foreign issues, and on domestic we're not completely cool, but federal reform (lobbying, ethics, etc) to me is essential for any true progressive domestic agenda.  So that tips the scale to Obama over Clinton.  I want to change the game.

    I'm getting to the point where I dont know what I'll do if John doesnt stay in until the Convention.  I'll always support the Dem nominee, but I have to cast my ballot for John Edwards.  He's earned it.

    by BWasikIUgrad on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:24:02 PM PDT

    •  I honestly

      think that on economic issues, Clinton is far to the left of Obama.

      She's not going to be a hero, but I think that she won't block economic populism from the Congress like a President Obama would.

      by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:25:45 PM PDT

      •  I hear you....

        but I just can't bring myself to support Clinton. There has been a bush or a Clinton on the ticket for the past 28 years.

        Something about that just doesn't sit right with me. Lets get some new blood in the mix.

        (Although I certainly have my reservations about Obama as well)

        by waf8868 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:30:00 PM PDT

        •  Obama, I don't see anything different in Hill'

          I know, I know, why? Her and Bill have shared the same adjenda for a long time. He pulled the party to the center. Center to me is simply wishy washy compromise that does little to change anything. Hillary has a decent track record, but her fundamental position is not far from BC's. Will Obama? I don't know he is a bit more of an unknown, but to accomplish real change I'm willing to take the chance. I feel I already know where Hill will take us, nowhere we haven't been before.

          by Kairos on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:15:38 PM PDT

        •  This is why

          I'll just stay home for the primaries if Edwards drops out.  I fear Obama is more conservative than people think, and I can't stand to vote for Hillary for exactly the reason you say.  Nearly my entire adult life has been Bush Clinton Bush...

          I'll cast my vote in the general election for the Dem candidate, because the alternative is rather horrifying, but if I can't vote for my candidate in the primary, I won't bother.  

          by Ramelle on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:33:27 PM PDT

      •  Hillary "Tonya Harding" Clinton can lose it all.

        Don't kid yourselves.

        Presidential elections are all about likeability and perceived character.

        McCain could eat Hillary alive, particularly for Electoral College. Smaller states have the edge.

        Mrs. Clinton is winning on hispanic votes, which will go more strongly to McCain in the General.

        by vets74 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:32:18 PM PDT

        •  If McCain is their candidate, he wins.

          No matter who we run. Remember Bush has control of the votes.

          by Owllwoman on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:34:30 PM PDT

          •  Obama would beat McCain

            . . . Don't be silly.

            by dbratl on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:51:17 PM PDT

            •  Unless he's

              going to do it with a cane I see little chance of Obama beating McCain.

              The focus of 2008 is no longer the Iraq War.  It's economic issues, and on those Obama sucks balls.

              by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:52:56 PM PDT

              •  That was terrible.

                Very inappropriate. But it made me laugh really hard, so you get a recommend anyway. :)

                by Magenta on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 09:13:20 PM PDT

              •  Neither Obama nor McCain understand economics.

                Not trained.

                Not experienced.

                Not familiar with the institutions.

                So, of course, we are going to nominate them. And HRC is no better, maybe worse because she doesn't know that she's ignorant in this area.

                Don't you love it ???

                by vets74 on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 04:57:49 AM PDT

            •  What planet do you come from. He would shred her.

              by viet vet on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:49:06 PM PDT

  •  I too wanted...

    ...Howard Dean to do the same thing...but these campaigns snowball and by the time I voted in the California primary in June of '04 people were like, "Howard Who?" Sigh.

    Pssst, I voted for Howard anyway! heeheeheehee But I wholeheartedly supported JK in the general.

    by MichaelPH on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:31:40 PM PDT

    •  I voted for Kucinich in 2004

      because I wanted him to take his delegates to the convention and raise some hell, but he chickened out.

      by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:33:01 PM PDT

  •  That's where I'm at as well n/t

    by grannyhelen on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:32:33 PM PDT

    •  Me too

      Mainly it's about the kind of campaign. Hillary is running a more 'fighting' campaign. Obama seems to me to already be playing for Republicans.

      by Demi Moaned on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:09:59 PM PDT

  •  me too.

    Clinton will get my vote if and only if Edwards drops out.

    of course if Obama wins the nomination I'll move heaven and hell to help him beat the repug.

    by tgray on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:34:55 PM PDT

•  I had already pretty much decided...

  to switch to Obama, but was waiting for Nevada and South Carolina... My absentee ballot is laying on the desk.  

  That said, I can and will support Hillary if she is the nominee.

  by JWC on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:20:09 PM PDT

  •  I just can't bring myself to vote for Obama

    honestly, if he's the nominee, I will probably will not cast a vote for president.

    It's about his economic policy and his advisers.  He was the keynote speaker at the launch of the Hamilton Project, a group lead by Robert Rubin and others from Wall Street that wants to kill economic populism in the Democratic party.

    Obama voted against CAFTA before speaking there, afterwards he's been voting for trade deals including the Oman Free trade deal and the expanision of most favored nation trade status to Vietnam.  And he's been getting money out the wazoo from Wall Street.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:24:17 PM PDT

    •  I am with you ManfromMiddletown.

      Obama is to far right.

      by Owllwoman on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:28:05 PM PDT

      •  Apres vous le deluge

        I imagine you response will generate some "discussion", call it a feeling.

        by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:31:55 PM PDT

      •  ::Sigh:: n/t

        by MichaelPH on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:34:21 PM PDT

      •  Republicans in sheep's clothing ????

        by vets74 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:35:07 PM PDT

        •  I doubt it!!!!!!! eom

          by MichaelPH on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:38:40 PM PDT

•  All about the yard signs.

  I'll have to figure out which yard sign complements my shutters and japanese maple the best.

  by sele on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:21:45 PM PDT

  •  That's the best way to decide

    because there's not much difference between the two.

    by TXsharon on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:22:42 PM PDT

  •  This is a very important issue

    but first I suppose I need a yard.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:26:40 PM PDT

•  I will vote for Edwards in the primary....

  and then vote for the Dem nominee in November.  

  by landrew on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:23:19 PM PDT

•  See RenaRF's earlier diary with a similar ?

  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by FoundingFatherDAR on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:23:59 PM PDT

  •  I'm trying to force question here

    rather than being ambigous about it as the choice in that diary were.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:28:01 PM PDT

•  I have so much

  integrity I won't vote in this poll.  The rest of you?  I ain't so sure.

  by bugscuffle on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:25:17 PM PDT

  •  What bug said n/t

    by LaEscapee on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:26:40 PM PDT

    •  What bug & LaEscapee Said n/t

      by Ranting Roland on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:29:52 PM PDT

  •  Thanks

    hence my ONLY (Please) in the title.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:29:11 PM PDT

    •  I saw that and thought:

      ruh-roh.

      by bugscuffle on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:35:22 PM PDT

  •  I didn't touch it...

    :-)

    by MichaelPH on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:39:30 PM PDT

    •  Will

      I imagine at least the numbers for the people switching to Clinton are relatively uncontaminated.

      by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:41:32 PM PDT

•  Read my sig

  by LaEscapee on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:25:20 PM PDT

•  I don't see how it's in my interest to answer.

  The only possible outcome of this diary is to subject Edwards supporters to more insults and intimidation by the less pleasant supporters of the other two candidates.

  by phenry on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:26:01 PM PDT

  •  Not really

    I'm an Edwards supporter, but you have a choice if you won't vote for either Obama or Clinton if Edwards isn't in it, then that's an option in  the poll.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:30:16 PM PDT

•  I need a haven't decided.

  Our primary isn't until March 5. Obama had been my strong second choice, but I'm just not sure at this point.

  by Magenta on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:26:01 PM PDT

  •  Mrs. Clinton has 3 times the negatives of Obama.

    In a general election, that's a potential killer.

    Want to win ???

    by vets74 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:38:14 PM PDT

    •  I can't see Obama carrying any states

      that Clinton can't.

      by okamichan13 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:00:58 PM PDT

      •  Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, AR, Fl, etc.

        Obama could roll a 40-state victory.

        That's a solid result against any GOPer but McCain.

        by vets74 on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 04:54:15 AM PDT

    •  Oh, no. I desperately hope to lose.

      What a ridiculous question.

      I think "electability" is a stupid reason to choose a candidate. It didn't work out so well for us last time.

      Beyond some basic viability standards, I vote for the candidate whose policies and rhetoric I like. I don't use some crystal ball to determine who the "average" general election voter might pick.

      Further, it's a specious argument in any case. I know where Clinton's negatives are, but I also know they're not going to go anywhere. Once the GOP smear machine is done with Obama, you have no idea where his might be.

      Hell, maybe I'll just vote for Edwards regardless. I'll work for Obama or Clinton, but I just don't care which of them wins.

      by Magenta on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:04:39 PM PDT

      •  Electability protects the SCOTUS.

        And in this situation, protecting the SCOTUS takes precedence over minor legisative differences.

        Once the GOP smear machine gets rolling, both Clintons negatives and Obama's negatives will go up.

        That's what smear machines do.

        by vets74 on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 04:51:57 AM PDT

        •  Unlikely to drive Clinton's up, at least much.

          Everyone already knows about her, and those opinions are pretty much set. There's very little the smear machine can bring up that would hurt her more than the past 16 years.

          Obama, OTOH, they can bring up all sorts of nastiness (true or not, but it would be new stuff) that would raise his negatives a great deal. It's an unknown.

          I agree that protecting the SCOTUS is extremely important, which is why I'll work for whomever the nominee is.  

          by Magenta on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 05:30:44 AM PDT

•  Looks like Kos was right....

  Edwards supporters will not break 100% or even 75% for Obama.

  by Torta on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:27:09 PM PDT

•  tough choice

  Obama coulda been a contenda--but he sounds so centrist lately.  Hillary always brings up New Orleans--Obama stays pretty quiet about this--I guess he's afraid of looking too friendly to brothers and sisters--and that's sad.

  I'll work and donate for either one--or for a compromise candidate from a deadlocked convention.  Maybe Gore--or Wes Clark.

  by melvynny on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:31:28 PM PDT

•  did not vote, seince NOT jre supporter,But

  I always felt like on DKos, it would be more Obama second choice, but in the real world, it would be much more mixed, maybe even more HRC

  by rigso on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:32:01 PM PDT

  •  I think that if we're going to be honest about

    Clinton probably plays better with the 35+ working class voter, while Obama's support is largely drawn from people who in the 1960s would have been Rockefeller Republicans.

    THe real shame is that the Left has been destryed in the party.  Obama is a collaborator in his approach to the rightward shift in American politics.  Edwards was the only real resister, and I think that if he ran as a third party candidate he would through the race to the Congress.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:37:37 PM PDT

•  If JRE is still in, I'm in

  until he's out. And I'll vote for the nominee whoever it is.

  If I had to choose a 2nd choice, I'd have a real hard time. Push came to shove, probably Clinton.

  by okamichan13 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:33:26 PM PDT

  •  There's a

    poll choice for the  position you've taken.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:38:10 PM PDT

    •  Yep I chose it :) n/t

      by okamichan13 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:02:22 PM PDT

      •  Making polls is hard.

        nt

        by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:03:02 PM PDT

•  They will have to win me over.

  They haven't tried, yet.

  by Elwood Dowd on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:33:58 PM PDT

•  Well Edwards was my #3

  so I'm starting to hit the bottom of my barrel.

  I suppose I would pick Obama (largely unknown but ill defined) over Clinton (surrounded by well known bad actors such as Mark Penn and Terry McMoneybags)

  Or I might just move to Australia.

  by tiggers thotful spot on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:34:55 PM PDT

  •  I'll vote for HRC in General <== SCOTUS.

    We really do need to defend SCOTUS.

    The Clintons' campaign tactics disgust me. They have been using race as a means to go after Hispanic and racist-white votes.

    That's asshole stuff.

    But SCOTUS is too critical. Even against McCain I'll vote for her.

    by vets74 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:42:37 PM PDT

•  Confessions of a Kucinichnik Browncoat

  I almost hate to bring this up, since I've been where you all are for about 10 days now, but right now it kind of sux to be us right now, doesn't it?

  by LaFajita on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:35:13 PM PDT

  •  You didn't expect him to win ???

    What he got was front-page coverage for impeaching cheney.

    And the time at the first primaries and pre-debates for his Lefty positions.

    Good stuff.

    BTW: And we got to drool all over our t.v. sets when his wife came on !!

    by vets74 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:44:59 PM PDT

    •  No, but I was kinda hopin'

      by LaFajita on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 08:38:35 PM PDT

•  Depends

  Edwards supporters in the general population will disproportionately go to Clinton, but on Kos, to Obama. This is because we are not a good sample of the regular population. This should be obvious to anyone, and makes this poll meaningless as a general matter.

  by the new on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:37:21 PM PDT

  •  Agree

    because it's an inconvenient truth, but there's a heavy skew towards higher income, non working class voters here.  Which seriously affects the dialogue sometimes, bringing issues of identity ahead of issues of economic interests.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:40:02 PM PDT

    •  and I agree with your last sentence also.

      Something I've noticed time and time again here. Not just issues of identity, but civil liberties as well. Not that there is anything wrong with discussing identity or civil liberties, its just a matter of the extent of the discussion in comparison to economic interests.

      by the new on Sun Jan 20, 2008 at 08:10:22 AM PDT

•  My primary is May 20th

  and there's no rain, wind or dark of night that will keep me from delivering my vote for John Edwards.

  I've never been a bandwagon type, in fact the organized group activities are annoying. I'll march to the beat of my own drummer, however distant or faraway (Denver, that is ) heh!

  by OrdinaryGal on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:37:22 PM PDT

•  Just wrote this elsewhere...

  in the A. Whitney Diary:

  At the moment I'm thinking that if the other two need him, well then he still has a bit of bargaining power and the ability to ask them to moderate what they stand for.

  Maybe even put him on the ticket.

  So, for now I think I'll stick with him. It's the corporate stuff. Especially the food issues.

  Unfortunately Hillary and Monsanto make that one a really, really tough sell for me.

  by CSI Bentonville on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:39:12 PM PDT

•  A fifth choice, please?

  I would support Obama after the convention if he is the nominee and if I don't hear any more bad stuff about him. But I won't support him before the convention.

  About Clinton, I have already heard too much bad stuff-- even if her supporters weren't freakin' me out.

  by SensibleShoes on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:42:41 PM PDT

  •  That's the

    first poll choice.

    You won't support anyone in the convention, but you will the eventual nominee.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:45:00 PM PDT

    •  But I won't!

      I won't support Hillary Clinton if she is the nominee.

      And I will vote for John Edwards on Feb. 5th.

      by SensibleShoes on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:48:19 PM PDT

      •  OK

        then the second choice is the best fit.

        by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:54:01 PM PDT

        •  But that's not true either.

          You're leaving me no choice but to move to Canada.

          by SensibleShoes on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:57:10 PM PDT

          •  No

            I will not support the Democratic candidate in November if it's Obama or Clinton

            by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:03:59 PM PDT

            •  Oh. That's not the way I read it.

              by SensibleShoes on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:04:45 PM PDT

•  My number two is ...

  ... John Edwards.  He's also my #3, #4 and #5.  Get the picture?

  by mickeynATL on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:45:50 PM PDT

  •  Who's your #1? <nt>

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:46:44 PM PDT

•  I'm pretty undecided, though possibly leaning

  toward Clinton.  Both leave me very cold, but with Clinton I figure the Devil you do know, and all that.

  by electricgrendel on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:48:32 PM PDT

•  (*(*&^%$%$$

  blah blah blah

  This is a stupid diary.

  by Carib and Ting on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:49:00 PM PDT

  •  If you really think that

    why post a comment?

    Not helpful.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:55:41 PM PDT

•  I have to qualify my vote

  I cannot vote for Obama, as I hold too many things against him.  I also have strong reservations about Clinton.  I will either write in Edwards, or if the race is very tight, and Clinton is the canididate, there is a possibility that I'll support her.

  by carolyn urban on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 04:49:42 PM PDT

•  Read this from Jedreport

  about Clinton supporters helping Edwards in Nevada:

  http://www.jedreport.com/...

  by okamichan13 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:02:59 PM PDT

•  I'm with John all the way !

  That's it - all the way.

  by America08 on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:03:45 PM PDT

•  I need a 'undecided' box

  to check.  I am voting for JRE as long as he is on the ballot.

  by relentless on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:05:14 PM PDT

  •  That is an option

    two acutally.

    In the general will you support the nominee if it isn't john edwards.

    by ManfromMiddletown on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:06:12 PM PDT

    •  That is why I need an 'undecided' box.

      by relentless on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:52:28 PM PDT

•  I will write John Edwards on my ballot

  if he is not the Democratic Party's nominee. (YAY! for paper ballots).

  by liberaldemdave on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:08:02 PM PDT

•  I already voted Edwards

  I don't need a second choice anymore.  Thank God for permanent absentee ballots.

  

  by Ellinorianne on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:09:56 PM PDT

•  The people who brought you

  electronic machines will decide the general election. So let's enjoy the primaries. It won't matter who we choose.

  by viet vet on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 05:46:45 PM PDT

•  There is no #2.

  If JRE is not on my ballot in the general election, I will write him in - even if it won't count as a vote.  My conscience will feel better.

  by cjjason on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 06:14:33 PM PDT

•  hmmm..

  I will vote JE if he's on my ballot.  If not, I am not totally sure. I did give money to Obama's campaign and I can't stand the Clintons lack of ethics.  But I think HRC would be better on healthcare and poverty than BO.  Tough choice.

  Of course I will vote for the Democrat in November no matter who it is.

  by Valhalla on Sat Jan 19, 2008 at 11:00:11 PM PDT