John Kerry Endorses Barack Obama
According to Eric Kleefeld - who writes for TPM - “Kerry and Obama will be making an appearance together today in Charleston, South Carolina” because Senator John Kerry will endorse the Senator from Illinois for the Democratic nomination.
Eric points out that American cable networks say that this is a major blow to John Edwards. Although I can see where they’re coming from - he was Kerry’s running mate four years ago after all - I don’t think that it’s as much a blow for Edwards as it is for Hillary Clinton. Both are establishment figures. If the establishment breaks with her, it’ll become increasingly difficult for her to win and one wonders what this means for the rest of her career.
And Obama? Well, it’s an important endorsement but I don’t know whether it’ll make much of a difference. Kerry is popular among the liberal blogosphere, perhaps, but there are also many Democrats who don’t seem to be too fond of him: they believe that he lost an unlosable election in 2004. Having said that, this race is so tight that every endorsement, and especially an endorsement by a big player such as Kerry, can make a big difference.
Liberal establishment Democrats for Obama?
Tell me if I’m wrong here, the Democratic party and especially its internal politics isn’t my expertise. I’ll contact Pamela Leavey to ask her what she thinks of this development.
To add my two cents to this article, it’s interesting to see the break-down of those who supported each of the Democratic front-runners. Obama seems to be preferred by independents, and it’s interesting to see how women will continue to choose between him and Hillary. He enjoyed their support in Iowa, but they switched back to Hillary in New Hampshire. Check http://www.projectweightloss.com for an interesting and somewhat unusual survey of the characteristics of each of the Democratic candidates’ supporters.
my guess would be it is mostly insignificant at this time. Most of Kerry’s supporters would have gone for Obama in Primaries anyway, probably a large % do not care for Clinton to begin with.
But if she were to win the DNC Nomination than they’d vote for her in the General anyway - or at least in large enough numbers.
This is a pretty big slap to Edwards personally. I don’t think it will have much impact politically (Kerry ceased to be relevant after losing in 2004 and then making numerous blunders in speeches since). However, the endorsement is definitely a personal offense to Edwards. I voted for Kerry in 2004, but I am definitely voting for Edwards in the upcoming primary, and Kerry’s endorsement of Obama does not influence me in the slightest.
Contrary to the post by Interested, if Clinton wins the nomination, I will not vote for her. I don’t trust her - I think that she lacks a set of core beliefs to guide her decisions and just makes political choices based upon what is likely to upset the fewest number of people. Her dishonesty is clearly evidenced by her attempted smear campaign of Obama in both Iowa and New Hampshire. When Obama was a state senator, Planned Parenthood had asked the pro choice Ill. state senators to vote "present" on a series of bills involving a woman’s right to choose (it is a strategic move sometimes used by organizations). Obama followed Planned Parenthood’s instructions and voted "present". Clinton rolled this voting record out in Iowa as evidence that Obama is not truly pro choice. Planned Parenthood corrected her misinformation and stated publicly that Planned Parenthood had asked Obama to vote this way and that indeed his vote was a pro choice vote. Despite this, Clinton again rolled this voting record out in New Hampshire, after she clearly knew that his vote was pro choice! This JV move by Clinton not only shows that she is dishonest, it also shows that she puts her own election above the good of the causes she supposedly supports - this move has the potential to undermine the Planned Parenthood strategy because in the future politicians will be unwilling to follow its requests.
Anyway, I am 100% pro-Edwards, I will vote for Obama in the general election but under no circumstances will I ever vote for Clinton.
New England Voter, never? Even if Huckabee is nominated? If the right to choose is a big issue for you, I think you prefer a somewhat sneaky woman (I agree with that) to a man who wants to put forward a Constitutional ammendment to ban abortions.
I probably won’t vote for Clinton if she runs against McCain, or even Romney. But if it comes down to Huckabee or even Giulani, I will.