While I usually don't blog polls, I think today's Rasmussen Reports tracking poll should effectively end those myths. It shows Hillary is no longer inevitable, and probably never was in the first place. It also shows that John Edwards is not as distant a third as many would have us believe. Lets look at the new numbers:
In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Clinton continues to lose ground as well. The former First Lady now attracts 35% of the vote, down from 41% a week ago and 43% two weeks ago. Today’s result matches the lowest level of support recorded for Clinton since Rasmussen Reports began daily tracking in mid-July.
While Clinton has lost ground, Barack Obama’s support remains steady at 23%. John Edwards gained two points on Tuesday to 17% while Bill Richardson is the top choice for 7% of Likely Democratic Primary Voters nationwide. No other Democratic candidate tops 3%.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...
With a +/- 4% margin of error this poll shows Edwards close, if not tied for second. It also shows Edwards as the only candidate gaining ground. It seems everyone in the media and anywhere else who have been trying to push the inevitability of either Hillary or Obama might not be as smart as they think. Despite all the smearing and ignoring of John Edwards by the MSM, voters seem to feel different about inevitability, and a two-person race. Edwards is remaining firmly in the top-tier through it all.
And this is not the only poll released by Rasmussen Reports today that argues against the inevitibility of Hillary or Obama in a two-person race. Just look at these numbers from purple Colorado, which has been trending red, but could turn blue with the right candidate:
The survey also finds that Clinton trails both former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Senator John McCain by four points in proposed general-election match-ups. In each case, the GOP contender leads the former First Lady 44% to 40%. But Senator Clinton is just a point behind former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in Colorado (42% to 41%) and she has a three-point lead over former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (43% to 40%).
On top of losing to all Repug candidates besides Romney, Coloradoans simply don't believe that she is the best candidate for their state, or Obama either for that matter, that title goes to John Edwards:
That a large plurality think Clinton will win the nomination doesn't mean they believe she is the best candidate for their state. Nineteen percent (19%) say former Senator John Edwards is "most in tune with" the needs of Colorado; 18% say Senator Barack Obama; just 15% say Clinton.
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/...
So, while Clinton is our frontrunner, she is anything but inevitable. While the media fawns all over her and Obama, this is anything but a two person race. Edwards is not only still alive and moving up, but is showing that in the purple states we must win, he will be very competitive.
The myths of inevitability and a two-person race at this point are ranking right up their with the Gods of Olympus in the annals of mythology. John Edwards is every bit as much a viable candidate as Hillary or Obama, and considering his stances on the "War on Terror" and the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment is actually a better choice for Democrats seeking to repair the damage of the disasterous Bush years.
So while the MSM has desperately tried to nominate Hillary or Obama and forget Edwards, this strategy is clearly not working with the American people. As more and more people tune in, expect to see Edwards rise further, and win Iowa, and quite possibly take one or two more early states. This campaign has shown amazing resiliency through all the smears, and all the media fawning over Clinton and Obama and is now poised to surprise a lot of people.
And yes, you can quote me. The race for our nomination is not inevitable, and is a THREE person race!!
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