Which party is best positioned to win in '08?

[Sean]

I do not think McCain will get the nomination. I was just saying that I think he would attract too many Democrats if he did.

Obama and Hillary are just individuals I do not think the nation is ready for. I do not think voters will back a female or black candidate. I hope I am wrong.

[The Decider]

Quote by: Sean I do not think McCain will get the nomination. I was just saying that I think he would attract too many Democrats if he did.

He's an outspoken supporter of an unpopular war. Why would many Democrats favor McCain, especially with his recent spate of foot-in-mouth disease on prime-time television? I think you're discounting the importance of the war in the '08 election and within the Democratic Party itself (and increasingly within the Republican Party). Neither Giuliani nor Romney have gone all out in favor of this latest surge. They have plenty of wiggle room on the issue. McCain has none. As the war goes, so does McCain's campaign--and it's nosediving at present.

Giuliani Gains as McCain Slips in the Race for the Republican Nomination (New Harris Poll)

McCain Discusses Iraq Market Visit, Arizona Senator Speaks Exclusively With Correspondent Scott Pelley - CBS News

Quote by: Sean Obama and Hillary are just individuals I do not think the nation is ready for. I do not think voters will back a female or black candidate. I hope I am wrong.

Is this just a hunch or do you have poll data to back this up? I've seen head-to-head matches for each of these candidates against all likely Republican challengers and they do very well. Money isn't a problem either.

[Chaossaber314]

Opinion polling for the United States presidential election, 2008 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It still looks very close.

[Sean]

Quote by: The Decider He's an outspoken supporter of an unpopular war. Why would many Democrats favor McCain, especially with his recent spate of foot-in-mouth disease on prime-time television? I think you're discounting the importance of the war in the '08 election and within the Democratic Party itself (and increasingly within the Republican Party). Neither Giuliani nor Romney have gone all out in favor of this latest surge. They have plenty of wiggle room on the issue. McCain has none. As the war goes, so does McCain's campaign--and it's nosediving at present. Giuliani Gains as McCain Slips in the Race for the Republican Nomination (New Harris Poll) McCain Discusses Iraq Market Visit, Arizona Senator Speaks Exclusively With Correspondent Scott Pelley - CBS News Is this just a hunch or do you have poll data to back this up? I've seen head-to-head matches for each of these candidates against all likely Republican challengers and they do very well. Money isn't a problem either.

It is just my opinion based on previous elections. Moderate candidates that attract some Republicans/GOP-leaning Democrats are what the DNC needs. Obama and Hillary are considered very liberal to most people in the South and Midwest I would bet you. Poll data a year out is not anything I would concern myself with.

[The Decider]

Quote by: Sean It is just my opinion based on previous elections. Moderate candidates that attract some Republicans/GOP-leaning Democrats are what the DNC needs. Obama and Hillary are considered very liberal to most people in the South and Midwest I would bet you. Poll data a year out is not anything I would concern myself with.

Neither Hillary nor Obama are as liberal as the Senator from Massachusetts, John Kerry, and he came close to beating a sitting war-time president when the war was more popular. You now see defections on the conservative side, fueled in part by the war but also the growing public disinterest in issues near-and-dear to social conservative hearts, like abortion, gay marraige, etc. If social conservatives stay home, as they did in November 2006, how does either McCain or Giuiliani win, especially after one more year of Iraq chaos and death? Or do you see the Iraq War rescinding as an issue for the Democrats in a year?

I'm only suggesting that McCain and Giuiliani are not shoo-ins as Republican nominees. Both men have significant disadvantages, even in so-called moderate and conservative Midwest and Southern states.

[Sean]

Yeah, I agree with you about Giuliani; I think his family life will make it very difficult for him to get the nod.

I do not think social conservatives will stay home for a presidential election. I am staying with my John Edwards choice :) He's got the charm, geographical roots, and very little baggage.

[The Decider]

Quote by: Sean I do not think social conservatives will stay home for a presidential election.

You might want to ask George Bush I about social conservatives. They stayed home in 1992 and helped Bill Clinton win the election. Ross Perot did his part too, but there's no love lost between George Sr. and the Religious Right.

Quote by: Sean I am staying with my John Edwards choice :) He's got the charm, geographical roots, and very little baggage.

Unfortunately the primary schedule doesn't favor him. He's not leading in New Hampshire and I've seen no evidence that he'll take even one of the states in February's mega Super Tuesday. He's also trailing in the money department.

His association with the loser John Kerry doesn't help Edwards either. Damaged goods.

But, anything is possible in 9 months. Hillary and/or Obama could have a big sex scandal or some awful gaffe that torpedoes their campaigns. I just don't see Edwards catching that Hail Mary pass.

[Nono]

Quote by: Sean John Edwards(...)'s got (...) very little baggage.

Weighing in extra-heavy for me is "Every vote will be counted!"

[ericsp23]

I think its still far too early to make any predictions on the final outcome of the 2008 election, especially considering its very possible that the Republican nominee isn't even officially in the race yet. Also, November 2008 is an eternity away in political terms. The entire political landscape can change several times between now and then in ways that can't be predicted.
That being said, I do think that as things stand now the Republicans are at a serious disadvantage. The Republican base is still behind the Iraq war, and will likely nominate someone who will continue Bush's policies regarding the war. That means that if things don't get significantly better in Iraq before the election, independents are going to break heavily for the Democrats.

If Hillary gets the Democratic nomination (and I don't think she will, my money is on Edwards right now out of the current candidates), I think the race will be tighter, but I still think she will win. If it comes down to a choice between a pro-war Republican and Hillary, a lot of people are just going to either stay home or vote third party, and the Republicans need the anti-Hillary vote in this election.

[tennisdr99]

I will be shocked if the Democrats do not win big!!!
Be ready for socialism!

[Osborn F Enready]

I'll be ready to fight it, as much as the Wanna-Be Nazis in office right now.....

Its a non-stop battle between rich socialists/communists (democrips) and the big money corporate monopoly lobbyists (republoodlicans).

I wonder when common sense will prevail.......

Oh yea, the people would have to know, and actually act on their rights first.......

[xyzer]

Obama is among the 10 most liberal senators in Congress? Sen Clinton is an avowed liberal with socialist tendencies? Edwards is also among the most liberal? They scare me ..I don't want my taxes raised? I don;'t want the government any more intrusive than it already is...source of the leftward leanershttp://http://nationaljournal.com/vo...gs/sen/lib.htm

Giuliani has some social positions which lean more towards the left but I think has the experience and leadership capabilities to do a good job! Who really knows? All these pretenders talk the talk! Will they walk the walk? I doubt it.

Anyway, congress is now in the hands of the big government crowd(20 Billion in pork in one 90 Billion dollar emergency appropriation bill is a good indicator of their spending habits?) It's our money and these people show signs of spending it recklessly? Hopefully whoever is elected president will curb these spenders.

[bishop]

both parties have socialist tendencies.. taking healthcare for example - all of the republicans in congress who are running for president, save ron paul, voted for bush's socialist prescription drug program in some way, shape or form.. plus, the governors running for the job also have their own records in support of socialist policies..

to suggest that only the democrats have socialist tendencies is patently false. republicans and democrats both support these policies, they both support deficit spending out the arse, both support a more powerful executive branch (and federal government) to the detriment of states' rights, etc...

you talk about congress now being in the hands of the "big government crowd". how quickly you seem to get what 6 years of republican control produced - the biggest government in american history!

Republicans Become the Party of Big Government

this completely baseless charade of namecalling suggests to me that you haven't been honest with yourself about the records of people from the republican party, save paul.


i'd also ask one other question.. which of these policies do you support?

1. tax cuts financed by deficit spending (republicans have a strong track-record here)
2. tax increases to finance deficit spending (democrats have a strong track-record here)

[sevendogs]

Yes, Democrats are looking much stronger at this time. I do not like both parties and the elections look like a big auction. However, choosing between the two, Democrats are more appealing. Financially, Obama is not smaller then Hillary at all. I will vote for him. because he is new, intelligent and he is young.