John Edwards Strikes First In Iowa
March 5th, 2007 at 05:56am Geraldine
John Edwards recently sent out the first mailing of the 2008 primary season to 70,000 Iowans. The mailing includes a detailed description of his health care plan and a DVD (found here) that describes the plan. The video is quite effective though it’s unclear how many of the 70,000 people who received it will actually watch it. However, it is a clear sign of how serious Edwards takes Iowa and also of the emphasis that he is placing on health care. It also gives away his campaign strategy.
Edwards’ focus on health care makes Iraq a secondary issue for him. Although he voted for the Iraq War in 2002, he has since made a very public mea culpa and has been forgiven by anti-war left (as Ed Fallon’s endorsement of Edwards shows). This enables him to dodge the debate over Iraq, which will be the most divisive part of the campaign. From this, one can surmise the Edwards’ road map to the nomination. The second tier candidates (Biden, Dodd and Richardson) are running on experience, specifically that they have the experience to help avoid further American embarrassment in the Middle East and one of Barack Obama’s major selling points was that he was against the Iraq War from the beginning. And we all know how Hillary Clinton voted on Iraq. They will all tear each other apart while Edwards can avoid the entire mess. Edwards then sails through the early primary states as the field narrows. Once it becomes a two-man race, he takes on the wounded survivor of the Hillary-Barack fight over Iraq on February 5th. He defeats his badly bruised opponent and becomes the nominee.
With l’affaire Geffen and Artur Davis’s comments in Selma, Clinton and Obama seem to be doing all they can make this scenario possible. However, with Edwards tipping his hand, both Clinton and Obama still have time to change gears before Edwards successfully takes advantage of the media obsession with them so that he can become the nominee.
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Entry Filed under: President 2008, John Edwards, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Campaign 2008, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden
Related Searches: ed fallon, mea culpa, artur davis, barack obama, edwards road
2 Comments Add your own
1. tw | March 5th, 2007 at 11:18 am
The problem with tipping your hand so early in the process is that it allows your opponents to do excellent oppo research on your campaign plans and policies. Edwards’ healthcare plan is going to be scrutinized to the bare bones by the rest of the Democratic field.
There is a sayin — When it comes to policy, you never tip your hand first. I don’ t think Edwards camp is being smart with this strategy.
2. desmoinesdem | March 9th, 2007 at 1:02 am
Edwards knows the path to the nomination is to the left of Clinton. He is not a media darling like obama and needs to do something bold to get attention. I think this is a smart move. His health care proposal has already been praised by people like the NY Times’ Paul Krugman.
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