Gallery of losers: National Journal’s PollTrack notes that while Americans may favor Democrats in the 2006 midterm elections, the outlook is anything but certain for the minority party’s presidential contenders in 2008.
About a third of respondents (35 percent) to a Gallup poll released this morning said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., would have the best chance of defeating a Republican in the 2008 presidential election. Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards (D) was the second-highest vote-getter among the four Democrats tested with 24 percent; former Vice President Al Gore and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry (D) received 17 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Still, should Clinton be the nominee, a majority of respondents said she’ll make a better candidate than both Gore and KerryThirty-four percent said there are Democrats other than the four named above who can prevail over the next Republican presidential nominee. But, according to Gallup’s analysis, Democratic respondents are not overly optimistic: Forty-six percent agreed and the same amount disagreed that some other Democrat can succeed. Eight percent don’t have an opinion at this point.
Still, should Clinton be the nominee, a majority of respondents said she’ll make a better candidate than both Gore and Kerry were in the last two presidential contests. Respondents didn’t think, however, that she will be a better competitor than her husband was; 58 percent said she’d make a worse contender than Bill Clinton in 1992.
Let’s review the choices again: Hillary Clinton, who voted to go to war in Iraq and who would be unlikely — as the first female candidate for U.S. president — to win; John Edwards, an empty suit who never even served a full term as senator from North Carolina (and who lost); Al Gore, who had the election stolen from and who’s “Gone Hollywood” and says he isn’t running anyway; and Kerry, who blew the last election so badly he should be disqualified from playing politics. If that’s the best the Dems can do, I guess they’ll just have to be content to control half of Congress and put up with at least four more years of Republican shenanigans until the electorate gets completely fed up with the GOP.
In order to get the votes of the religious right Hagel will have to take positions that will make him unelectable in the general. As will Giuliani and McCain.
The nominee will be Al Gore, whether we like it, or him, or not.
He could win — he’s done it before, after all.
Forget Hillary. She gets thrown in the list because most people have heard of her, but it’s the rightwing who wishes she’d run. Hardly anyone on the left wants her to.
Their support of her is like mine for Newt: Gingrich for GOP Nominee in 2008. He’s got my endorsement!
you forgot mark warner and wes clark