Political Forecast

Or why the Register endorsed Hillary Clinton.

I’m not bitter, of course, but I think that it just stupid that the Des Moines Register decided to look past Edwards because he wasn’t as happy-go-lucky as 2004. When Atrios highlights Edwards’ statements on ABC’s This Week, I think we get a pretty good look at what Edwards is thinking, and it is about right:

“I didn’t consider it a consolation prize. I’m excited about being on the cover of Newsweek. The only thing I would add is, we did have a very serious debate when I was at the editorial board about a really fundamental difference that I have with them, which is, I do believe we have to take on a very serious issue of too much influence of corporate power in Washington and how it affects the public policy in this country.
[…]
I mean, they have a position. I respectfully disagree with it. I think that if we’re going to have serious change in this country, universal health care, attacking global warming, a tax policy that works for most Americans instead of just a few, a trade policy that creates jobs instead of costing jobs, I mean, all those things are going to require us to have a president of the United States who’s tough and willing to fight these powerful corporate interests that stand between us and the change that we need.

And I think the notion that you can sit at the table and negotiate and compromise, and these powerful interests will give away their power, I think is a fantasy. If it were true, it would have been working over the last few decades. And it does not.

I think we have a huge fight, an epic fight on our hands against those powerful interests, not against politicians. Nobody cares about politicians fighting. But I think we need a president who’s tough enough to take these people on and win, and I’ve been doing it my whole life.”

Simply put, the Register is being naive. And their endorsement of John McCain is just another example of wanting the status quo.

But that’s ok with me. Because I’d rather not have the endorsement as a way to keep up the fight against the conventional wisdom and against the status quo. That’s why I’m glad to have First Lady Mari Culver’s endorsement. I’ve met the First Lady several times and she’s a dynamic part of the Culver political duo. She’s a big part of the reason that the Big Lug is governor right now, and I think most Iowans know that.

Anyway, that’s why I enjoyed Simon Stevenson’s fisking of the endorsement over at Bleeding Heartland. A bit harsh? Maybe. But there is some pretty good argument and analysis, too.

In the end, it is going to be things like Edwards’ rural strategy here in Iowa that help him on caucus night. He was the first candidate to visit all 99 counties and has been to lots of small towns more than once–which can really help him come caucus night. While some of the candidates are still focusing on a big statewide blitz or drawing huge crowds in the big towns and cities of Iowa, Edwards contrasts that with a populist message of change and a fight throughout Iowa. With new polls and new observations, Edwards may be “mounting a comeback” (if you look through the media lens) or we’re finally seeing the true strength of the Edwards organization that was left over from 2004.

With a message that promises a fight and promises change, it won’t be long before we get to see just how strong John Edwards really is as a candidate.