Early in the primary I had a blogging conversation with someone explaining why I chose John Edwards. At that time Kerry was my 2nd choice but I was dismayed at the way his campaign was being run. The question asked was what did I think of the organization now & what did they do to turn things around. I am entering my answer here as a diary entry to see if I belong on this blog. I have been reading and occasiolanly commenting but am not sure.
You sure do know how to ask questions I can't resist answering.
1. Kerry has been a known entity (insider) for years and had the organization in place to take advantage of his opportunity when he saw it. He out spent everyone except Dean in Iowa & NH.
2. Dean was getting killed in Iowa with the negative ads from the Gephart (now Kerry) people. I've heard numbers over $500,000. So he went negative in return.
3. The Des Moines Register debate was an excellent format and allowed John Edwards to show his stuff. Thus the endorsement.
4. Edwards went from 5th place to a strong 2nd & I have heard that another week & he would have passed Kerry. But he didn't.
5. NH saw the numbers but only heard stories about Kerry's (who they know well)"come back" and Deans scream. Kerry got the Iowa bounce. Edwards got screwed.
6. Kerry's people are reported to have called all the Edwards & Clark leaning or undecided and suggested voting for Kerry & writing the other in as VP. Clark got over 6,000 writ ins for VP Edwards over 15,000. Since you were in NH you know what a large number that is. Take that away from Kerry and it would have been a much tighter race.
7. Now the Democratic Party insiders relieved that Dean has lost steam and unwilling to take any risks with outsiders Clark & Edwards all gather round Kerry and talk about inevitability and electability. (don't get me started on the bandwagon jumping, backslapping, brown nosing...)
Kerry is sitting in the middle of a bubble created by the media and the Democratic establishment. Let's see if it pops before the general election. If not, then let's hope it doesn't pop until GWB is out.