Honest John

[VPH]

CNN-John Edwards Announces Presidential Campaign

December 28th, 2006:

Today, in New Orleans, Louisiana, still reeling from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina just last year, North Carolina Senator John Edwards declared the start of his campaign for president in 2008. John Edwards, the son of a mill worker, has served in the US senate representing North Carolina since 1998. During his tenure, he has generally been a solidly liberal Democrat, although he voted for Iraq and has since expressed regret for that vote. With the backdrop of damaged houses, Edwards discussed his plans moving forward and his ambitions to run for president, joining former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel and US Representative Dennis Kucinich in the race. Edwards represents the first major entrant into the field, although sources state that Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Evan Bayh, and Reverend Al Sharpton are close to entering the race. Senator Barack Obama recently put an end to rumors of his political ambitions, claiming that he would sit out this cycle to focus on the senate instead.


Following is an excerpt of Edwards' announcement:

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[VPH]

John Edwards Announces Campaign Staff and Endorsements Revealed

-December 29, 2006

Campaign Manager: David Bonoir
Campaign Chair: Tad Devine
Senior Strategist: Joe Trippi
Policy Strategist: Heather Higginbottom
Media Director: David Axelrod
Field Director:    Craig Varoga
Scheduler: Alexis Bar
Rural Coordinators: Dave 'Mudcat' Saunders and Steve Jarding
Online Director: Zephyr Teachout


Endorsements Announced Today
Sen. Jim Webb (VA)
Gov. Brad Henry (OK)
Gov. Brian Schweitzer (MT)
Gov. Mike Easley (NC)
NC Congressional Democratic Delegation
Rep. David Obey (WI-7)
Rep. Mike Michaud (ME-2)
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-9)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-9)
Rep. Charlie Gonzalez (TX-20)
Rep. Nick Rahall (WV-3)
Fmr. Sen. Tom Daschle (SD)
Fmr. Gov. Tony Knowles (AK)
Fmr. Sen. Jean Carnahan (MO)

[GoTfan]

Looks interesting

[Progressive]

Excited for this

[VPH]

A Look Inside

Edwards: Hey, we need to talk strategy. What's our target audience and who poses the biggest threat? I'm worried most about Senator Clinton. She will be formidable. Biden could also put up a good fight. Glad Barack is staying out, though.

Trippi: We're not going to win unless we can pull off some early victories. Our base right now is likely in the South, among mainly White voters. We need to be able to make inroads into the Black community to win early states like South Carolina and Florida. For New Hampshire and Iowa we need to run strongly in small towns. Whether or not we can beat Clinton here will be the big test.

Bonior: I think Hillary starts with a big advantage here among Black voters. Sharpton will dig into her margins though. We need to be visiting Black communities and depressed White areas too.

Trippi: Remember, the Clintons are heavily respected in both those areas. Tell me why we can't tap into your energy John, and win over progressives? There's no way Clinton or Bayh will be able to win them, and Kuninich is not gonna gain much with anybody.

Edwards: Remember, I voted for the war too.

Bonior: Hillary won't apologize for her vote. Make it clear you had a change of mind and paint her as a war hawk. That'll help us gain with progressives.

Trippi: What if Bayh pushes her left by becoming the centrist option?

Bonior: That's it-trap her in the middle. Leave her rudderless on the Iraq issue and paint her as elitist. If we can take out Clinton's support among small town Whites and Black voters, we can pair it with progressive support to win. You better be spotless if this is to work, though. We're the underdogs here and a scandal will derail this bigtime.

Edwards: Don't worry about me-I promise I'm squeaky clean.

[VPH]

Senator Hillary Clinton Enters Race
January 10th, 2007: Washington, DC

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Senator Evan Bayh Enters Campaign
January 14th, 2007: Carmel, IN

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Governor Bill Richardson Mounts Campaign
January 16th, 2007: Santa Fe, NM

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Reverend Al Sharpton Enters Race
January 20th, 2007: Atlanta, Georgia

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[VPH]

Senator John McCain Declares
January 13th, 2007: Tuscon, AZ

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Former US Senator Lincoln Chafee-Surprise Bid for President
January 18th, 2007: Providence, RI

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Former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney Decides to Run
January 23rd, 2007: Concord, NH

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Kansas Senator Brownback Enters Race with Family Values Message
January 29th, 2007: Topeka, KS

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From New York to DC? Rudy Giuliani Prepares Campaign
February 5th, 2007: Manhattan, NY

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Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum
February 11th, 2007: Lancaster, PA

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[VPH]

Back to the Dems
Progressive Firebrand Kucnich Declares Campaign
February 17th, 2007: Athens, OH

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Former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber Enters Crowded Field
February 26th, 2007: Keene, NH

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[VPH]

Candidates Hit the Trail

April 13th, 2007

Over the past few months, after a wave of early campaign announcements, candidates have been hitting the road. Most have spent a good amount of time in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two states, although most have branched out and visited other places. South Carolina, Nevada, and Florida for the GOP represent enticing targets. The main goal of this stage in the campaign is all about building up name recognition. Most candidates are attempting to visit all types of voters, but some political scientists note that, in a preliminary sense, there appears to be a few bases forming.

Different candidates appear to already have targets. Sam Brownback, for example, has spent a considerable amount of time touring heavily Evangelical and Catholic parts of Iowa, visiting church dinners and various other events where there is a large contingency of religious voters. Rick Santorum has followed a similar approach, setting up a potential battle for religious right voters.

On the Democratic side, Reverend Al Sharpton is spending time focusing on Black voters, trying to capitalize on his appeals in the community. Thus, he has spent more time in South Carolina and across the South than in the early 2 states. This opens up the notion that perhaps Reverend Sharpton plans to stay in the race regardless of results in Iowa and New Hampshire. The other candidates seem to be pursuing a broad coalition, although Dennis Kucinich and John Kitzhaber have spent more time than others on college campuses and other bastions of the left. Kucinich spent a few days last week in Jefferson County Iowa, where the Natural Law Party performed strangely well in 2000. The Democratic primaries promise to be intriguing, especially as some candidates scramble to be the most anti-Bush.

The first major polling on both the Democratic and Republican sides is set to be released next week.
Rumors float around about the potential entry of other candidates, but nobody knows for sure whether more will enter after the initial rush.

[Bakersfield Uber Alles]

Rooting for my man Lincoln on the Republican side. Not sure about Dems.

Candidates Hit the Trail

April 13th, 2007
Kucinich spent a few days last week in Jefferson County Iowa, where the Natural Law Party performed strangely well in 2000. The Democratic primaries will certainly be interesting.

Hagelin got 14.69%?!?!? That sounds like an error of some kind. About 1100 votes out of 7500ish. Not like it's a county with 100 voters or something like that.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Rooting for my man Lincoln on the Republican side. Not sure about Dems.

Candidates Hit the Trail

April 13th, 2007
Kucinich spent a few days last week in Jefferson County Iowa, where the Natural Law Party performed strangely well in 2000. The Democratic primaries will certainly be interesting.

Hagelin got 14.69%?!?!? That sounds like an error of some kind. About 1100 votes out of 7500ish. Not like it's a county with 100 voters or something like that.

I was once involved in the TM movement. It's not a cult, but it's sorta weird. They have a college in Iowa and moved a lot of followers to Jefferson County.

[Hoosier_Nick]

Senator Evan Bayh Enters Campaign
January 14th, 2007: Carmel, IN

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If Bayh did his campaign announcement in Carmel, IN (My hometown) he'd win my support immediately.

[VPH]

Clinton, Romney Lead Early in Iowa
April 17th, 2007:

Des Moines Register (750 Likely Caucus Goers)

Republicans
Mitt Romney- 24%
John McCain- 22%
Sam Brownback- 21%
Rudy Giuliani- 19%
Rick Santorum- 12%
Lincoln Chafee- 2%

The GOP contest appears to be especially close in Iowa. Mitt Romney's high amount of resources has helped him establish a good presence in the state. John McCain's high name recognition and relatively strong resource pool has him right behind Mitt Romney. Sam Brownback, who appears to be marshaling a lower budget, yet highly effective values campaign, is surprising many observers who questioned whether or not he was a dynamic enough campaigner to do well. Rudy Giuliani also does relatively well in this poll, reflecting again on his name recognition and potentially on his strength with moderate Republicans.

Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 37%
John Edwards- 23%
Bill Richardson- 19%
Evan Bayh- 11%
John Kitzhaber- 7%
Dennis Kucinich- 3%
Al Sharpton- 0%

As expected, Hillary Clinton holds a substantial lead over all other candidates in Iowa. Simply put, more Iowans know who she is than any of the others. This advantage is crucial at this early stage, but as other candidates expand their campaign apparatuses, things may well change. John Edwards and Bill Richardson post decent numbers, reflecting their concentration on Iowa as the way forward. Also notable is Al Sharpton's polling at 0% (rounded). Only 3 respondents out of 750 selected him as their caucus choice.

[VPH]

Who Next?

April 19th, 2007

The presidential rumor mill continues to churn, even with a respectably sized field on each side of the aisle. Numerous politicians have been spotted in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina touring or doing events. With activity in these early primary states, some guess at who may enter the campaign at this stage. Other potential candidates are not actively touring, but instead are the focus of "draft" efforts, in which websites and groups seek to drum up support for a potential candidacy.

Media outlets have approached a number of the rumored entrants, but received different answers from each one. None of those asked could confirm entry into the race, so for now these rumors are just that-rumors. Nonetheless, it could be important to evaluate these inklings, as many candidates could shape the race. Some have the potential to upend polls, especially in early states, while others advocate for unorthodox positions within their respective party, which could change the terms of debate. Some marshal large personal wealth, while others are known names. Following, we evaluate some of the major rumored entrants, going over how they could impact the race, what drives the rumors, and what the difficulties and opportunities could be for them if they enter.

First, we start with the Republican Party.

Representative Ron Paul (TX-14)

Representative Ron Paul is one of the GOP's most fascinating figures. The longtime representative stands for unorthodox Libertarian-leaning positions like returning to the gold standard, ending the Federal Reserve, and withdrawing from the Iraq War. While Chafee so far is the only Republican candidate to stand against the war, Paul would provide a more conservative, known voice against the conflict.

Rumors of his entry have been fueled by a large "Draft Ron Paul" movement online, led by Libertarian activists, many of them young. Over 20,000 people have already signed an online petition asking him to run, and Paul himself refused to deny that he was interested when asked. The real question is whether or not Paul finds himself too far away from the party line to receive the nomination. Perhaps, the major outcome from his potential entry into the race would be to moderate the stances of more hawkish frontrunners on Iraq by providing a contrast and galvanizing a conservative anti-war coalition.

Businessman Morry Taylor

This brash Titan International CEO ran in 1996 as a populist outsider candidate. His plainspoken, brash nature sets him apart from many of calculated politicians currently running. Taylor's campaign in 1996 fell flat, but it laid out an agenda focused on decreasing federal bureaucracy, cutting regulations, and reforming the political system. While most Americans don't know his name, Taylor's immense personal wealth, which he does not hesitate to talk about, could provide a springboard from support. Like Paul, he stands out notably from the rest of the field.

In the last few months, Taylor accounted a "Revive American Industry" tour, in which he has visited numerous cities in states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Last week, he spent 3 days in upcountry South Carolina and Appalachian Georgia touring textile plants and decaying mill towns. His speeches have focused on policy changes to revive industry, and while he has not announced a campaign, his response when asked was "I'm looking at all my options, weighing the cost and reward. I think the American people deserve much better than anybody else is proposing. We'll see". Taylor's weakness may come from his relative social liberalism, although it remains to be seen how Giuliani's similarly moderate social stances will play in religious primary states.

Representative Tom Tancredo (CO-6)

This controversial Congressman has one big issue-immigration reform. Tancredo has been one of the House's fiercest crusaders against what he considers to be "amnesty". With a number of candidates in the race who favor comprehensive immigration reform, it's possible that Tancredo will enter to advocate for a tougher border policy. He is not likely to find a path to victory, but perhaps he can break out in the debates to push a more closed-border narrative.

Tancredo is the subject of a small but growing online draft effort, centered around right wing blogs. Moreover, he increasingly has made appearances on network TV stations to discuss his immigration stances. Two months ago, Tancredo denied interest in the race, but in a statement to The Atlantic, he wrote: "I will be listening to the American people and the debate between current candidates over the next few weeks and months".


In the larger Democratic field, there are also a number of candidates considering entry into the race.

Former Governor Tom Vilsack (IA)

Tom Vilsack just departed from his second term in the Iowa governor's office, and is already allegedly considering a presidential campaign. Vilsack is known as a relatively moderate Democrat who worked with Republicans in the state legislature and fundraised through the Heartland PAC for Democratic gubernatorial candidates. His main issues are energy and agriculture.

Vilsack's fundraising acumen and executive experience could make him a contender. Moreover, he would likely win the Iowa Caucus and garner national attention. The knock against Vilsack, however, is that he lacks the energy candidates like John Edwards possess or the national name recognition of those like Hillary Clinton. It might be difficult for him to stand out in the current field. Nonetheless, Vilsack visited New Hampshire recently for a speech to the Coos County Democratic Party and noted that he "might consider" a run for president.

Retired General Wesley Clark

Many voters remember General Clark from his ill-fated 2004 campaign. That year, a draft effort resulted in his entry into the race, but he was plagued by uncertainty about his positions and lacking success with the media. However, since, he spent considerable time on the campaign trail for Democrats in 2006 and plans to release a memoir later this year. Clark's military experience would give him a strong stance on Iraq, and he is known as a charismatic speaker.

Once again, a Draft Clark effort has taken off online, and the retired General has attended speaking engagements in New Hampshire and Iowa. He's openly stated that he is "testing the waters" and listening to the concerns of voters. Wes Clark could really move the race, potentially undercutting John Edwards' target support in the South and Midwest.  Moreover, he could pose a threat to Clinton's chances while also undercutting some of the more progressive candidates through his experience. It remains to be seen, however, whether or not Clark has whetted his political skills enough.

Senator Joe Biden (DE)

Another candidate whose previous campaign efforts failed-in 1988 plagiarism doomed a young Joe Biden's bid-Biden would bring a friendly, frank, and charismatic face to the table. Biden's time in the Senate since 1972 gives him unparalleled experience, especially on issues of foreign policy and criminal justice. He could likely leverage this experience against other candidates. Biden's demeanor would also play well with the retail politics of Iowa and New Hampshire. However, he, like Vilsack, must differentiate himself from other candidates in order to be successful.

Biden has been speaking at engagements all across the US, but he has stopped in New Hampshire a few times in recent months. He addressed the campaign question with a response similar to others, claiming that he is "Just out here to listen to the people".


It remains to be seen how many candidates will enter, if any, into both the GOP and Democratic fields. A number of other names beyond these have been mentioned, albeit with less fanfare. Some outlets have bounced around the name of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as a Republican candidate, but she denied interest. Paleoconservative GOP Representative Walter Jones was recently mentioned in a few articles as a proposition, but his office released a statement denying interest. For Democrats, Former Senator Mike Gravel is the subject of some discussion but he refuses to reply to media requests. The race still has a long time to go, and things will likely change, but those entering later may face the broad disadvantage of not having established themselves early on.

[VPH]

It's 4/20-Activists Call for Drug Law Reform


Near Capitol Hill today, around 150 demonstrators protested in favor of marijuana legalization. Protesters picketed and chanted "make pot legal", and the smell of marijuana permeated the air around them. The federal prohibition on marijuana possession and use remains in place to this day, but an increasing number of Americans want to see this law repealed. Few candidates, however, have released any sort of statement on the issue. A look at their websites fails to reveal much, although Reverend Al Sharpton and Representative Dennis Kucinich both dedicate a portion of their published platforms to "ending mass incarceration" and "ending the war on drugs".

Edwards HQ


Higginbottom: Hey, John, come check out this article. I think we have an opportunity to stand out and capture youth voters. We ought to be careful though, because only 40% support full legalization.

John Edwards: We'd be the first big campaign to make a statement. I personally think we ought to decriminalize marijuana, cause that's a middle ground that won't offend folks but lets us reach out to various groups. What's your thought, Joe?

Trippi: I say we draft a press release and send it out to a few papers, maybe put something out on our website. It'll gain traction today.

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[VPH]

George W. Bush Unveils New Iraq Strategy

April 26th, 2007

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[VPH]

Candidates Split on Surge

After President Bush's recent announcement of a troop surge, fault lines deepened on foreign policy issues. Most Republicans, minus Lincoln Chafee, came out in support of the surge, although some held reservations about what would be done afterward to ensure stability. Generally, the GOP candidates praised the president's leadership on the issue, but Senator John McCain called the surge "frankly overdue and a testament to the politics of reaction, not preemption". This statement echoes McCain's positioning as a maverick Republican, willing to show new leadership. Senator Sam Brownback also stated that the United States must invest in aid for Christian communities impacted by violence in the region.

On the Democratic side, the reaction predictably strayed more towards opposition to the surge. However, Senator Evan Bayh stated to a crowd in Concord, NH that he feels "very divided on the surge", praising the efforts to defeat insurgents but offering up words of caution. Senators Hillary Clinton and John Edwards struck a similar tone in opposing the surge but praising the efforts of American troops. Edwards used the opportunity to demand an apology from Clinton for her vote for the war, but it remains to be seen whether this will come about. Governors John Kitzhaber, Bill Richardson, and Representative Dennis Kucinich lambasted the administration's decision as "shortsighted", "misguided", and "ridiculous" respectively.

[VPH]

Clinton, Romney Lead Early on in New Hampshire
May 2nd, 2007:


Republicans
Mitt Romney- 35%
John McCain- 25%
Rudy Giuliani- 14%
Rick Santorum- 12%
Sam Brownback- 9%
Lincoln Chafee- 5%

Mitt Romney leads the Republican field in his neighboring state of New Hampshire, followed by John McCain ten points behind him. The rest of the pack falls farther back. The most noteworthy result is the relative weakness of the Christian Right's chosen candidates in Sam Brownback and Rick Santorum. Neither is within the top 4, even as they perform well in Iowa.

Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 33%
John Edwards- 22%
Bill Richardson- 18%
John Kitzhaber- 15%
Evan Bayh- 8%
Dennis Kucinich- 4%
Al Sharpton- 0%
 
In the Democratic field, a similar result to Iowa unfolds. However, left-leaning candidates appear to be slightly stronger in New Hampshire, revealing a potentially deeper discontent with George W. Bush among the state's Democrats. Candidates like Bill Richardson and John Kitzhaber appear to be nudging upward, attempting to pull off a respectable result, or even victory perhaps.

[VPH]

Bayh Stumbles
May 4th, 2007
Keene, New Hampshire
Student protestors from Keene State University challenge Senator Bayh on his votes for the Iraq War and the Bush Tax Cuts, and chants of "bye bye Bayh" ring out as Bayh tries, and fails, to regain his footing. Instead of countering the charges, he simply attempted to change topic and was booed through the rest of his speech.

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Brownback Impresses in Iowa
May 6th, 2007
Senator Sam Brownback is hedging his bets on a strong performance in Iowa. Across the state, his social conservatism and strong campaign organization draw large crowds and have endeared him to some donors. When asked, attendees at Brownback rallies bring up a few different topics, including his anti-abortion credentials and his tax plan, which would radically lower corporate taxes and flatten the whole tax system. Republican strategists say Brownback is angling to be one of the most conservative major GOP candidates, competing against Rick Santorum. Santorum and Brownback hold many similar stances, although Santorum holds different views on some economic issues, having called for a renegotiation of NAFTA and supporting an increase in the minimum wage. While Santorum leads Brownback in New Hampshire, Iowa will be the big event for the two most socially conservative candidates.

[VPH]

The Griz on the Horizon-Morry Taylor Announces Republican Bid for President

May 25, 2007-Davenport, IA

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Washington Post: Morry Taylor announced his campaign for president today. If his name sounds familiar, it's because the tire magnate ran in 1996, but bowed out shortly into the campaign because of a lack of interest from the public. This time, he boasts that he learned from last time, claiming that he has what it takes to win now and again in November.

[VPH]

NEW POLLS RELEASED
June 10th, 2007

IOWA
Republicans
Sam Brownback- 25%
Mitt Romney- 23%
John McCain- 21%
Rudy Giuliani- 13%
Rick Santorum- 12%
Lincoln Chafee- 4%
Morry Taylor- 2%

Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 38%
John Edwards- 27%
Bill Richardson- 16%
John Kitzhaber- 10%
Evan Bayh- 6%
Dennis Kucinich- 3%
Al Sharpton- 0%

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Republicans
Mitt Romney- 32%
John McCain- 26%
Rudy Giuliani- 15%
Sam Brownback- 11%
Rick Santorum- 8%
Morry Taylor- 5%
Lincoln Chafee- 3%


Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 35%
John Edwards- 23%
Bill Richardson- 15%
John Kitzhaber- 15%
Evan Bayh- 7%
Dennis Kucinich- 4%
Al Sharpton- 1%

MICHIGAN
Republicans
Mitt Romney- 35%
John McCain- 20%
Sam Brownback- 16%
Rick Santorum- 12%
Rudy Giuliani- 9%
Morry Taylor- 6%
Lincoln Chafee- 2%


Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 34%
John Edwards- 29%
Evan Bayh- 14%
Al Sharpton- 8%
Bill Richardson- 7%
John Kitzhaber- 6%
Dennis Kucinich- 2%


SOUTH CAROLINA
Republicans
John McCain- 26%
Mitt Romney- 22%
Rick Santorum- 21%
Sam Brownback- 17%
Rudy Giuliani- 12%
Morry Taylor- 1%
Lincoln Chafee- 1%

Democrats
John Edwards- 36%
Hillary Clinton- 29%
Evan Bayh- 13%
Al Sharpton- 11%
Bill Richardson- 7%
John Kitzhaber- 3%
Dennis Kucinich- 1%


NEVADA
Republicans
Mitt Romney- 35%
John McCain- 27%
Rudy Giuliani- 13%
Sam Brownback- 12%
Rick Santorum- 8%
Lincoln Chafee- 3%
Morry Taylor- 2%


Democrats
Hillary Clinton- 35%
Bill Richardson- 23%
John Edwards- 20%
John Kitzhaber- 9%
Evan Bayh- 9%
Dennis Kucinich- 2%
Al Sharpton- 2%

[Canis]

Love this timeline if John wins the nomination I wonder who he chooses as Vp
I would think either Obama or Richardson

[VPH]

Kitzhaber Marches in Los Angeles LGBT Pride Parade
June 11th, 2007

In a trailblazing act, former Oregon Governor and Democratic Candidate John Kitzhaber marched in Los Angeles' LGBT Pride parade. Given the opportunity to speak, he came out in favor of gay marriage, a contentious issue.

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Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton join Governor Kitzhaber in support of gay marriage, but they have not gone so far as to march with gay activists. Bill Richardson supports a slate of nondiscrimination initiatives and federally allowed domestic partnerships. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, while not backing gay marriage, have stated that they believe civil unions should be allowed on a state level. While the LGBT population is not particularly large or politically organized, it will be interesting to see this debate play out over the course of the campaign.

In the Republican field, no candidate has endorsed full gay marriage, although Lincoln Chafee has voiced support for civil unions and Morry Taylor recently stated: "I don't care about the social wedges", which leaves him ambiguous on the topic.

[VPH]

Edwards HQ


As the campaign team meets to discuss strategy, one big question looms. Will team Edwards be able to catch up to Hillary Clinton, who leads big in the early states?

Edwards: Did y'all see these newest polls? Looks like we lost ground in New Hampshire but gained some in Iowa. I like our odds in South Carolina and Michigan too, but how much will those numbers take a hit if we can't win the first two?

Bonior: We need to zero in on the first two. Forget Nevada unless Richardson drops like a fly. We just don't have the numbers we need there, and for travel purposes it's easier not to make it our focus. South Carolina has to be a big win, same with Michigan. It would be extra special to me if we could win Michigan.

Trippi: Well, our message plays best in Michigan out of these early states. Look at Flint and Detroit-there is no better backdrop for the two Americas message.

Varoga: We need to do well enough early on to have that momentum though. We should open a few more offices in Iowa and New Hampshire. We currently have an office in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Council Bluffs. In New Hampshire, we have offices in Concord, Manchester, Portsmouth, and Nashua.

Edwards: That won't be enough to win...

Varoga: We clearly need to put some more effort into the first two states. I think we should open more offices in Iowa and New Hampshire. Translating our support into organization is crucial, and if we can activate our base, we can win this.

Axelrod: Ad season hasn't really started yet, but we can work on putting together stronger progressive outreach. I think we should invest in a social network of sorts to connect volunteers and fans of our campaign.

Teachout: I like the idea of a social network. Our email list is growing pretty fast, and we're getting good volunteer sign ups. We need something to link people together.

Devine: The funds are coming together alright, but we're nowhere near the Hillary juggernaut, and Evan Bayh is raking in money like nobody's business.

Teachout: I think we will have the online advantage so let's make the most of it.

[Kingpoleon]

Chafee flip flopped? In our timeline, he supported gay marriage on a federal level by the mid 2000s. As it is, even in 2008, at least 35% of Republicans supported gay marriage, and another ten or fifteen percent probably supported it at a state level.