The South Carolina Debate
The debate in South Carolina solidified John Edwards' position not only as the 'honest broker' between the three candidates, but as the honest broker of the Democratic party. How did John do this?
Easy.
He was honest, stuck to the issues, and wasn't personal. When he does argue, he's remains generous to his fellow Democrats.
As a result, no one candidate is surging faster in S. Carolina than Edwards. (See Zogby, JRE surge graph front page http://www.zogby.com/ )
Question were asked after the debate: "Why did John go after Obama, then Clinton... is this part of his new strategy?"
Approximate Answer on MSNBC: "No, John seems to attack whoever disagrees with him on the issues."
Ah....Isn't that REFRESHING!
The Honest Broker
John is the 'honest broker' of our party. Someone you can trust, when he's arguing, he's doing it on the ISSUES, be damned the identity of the candidate who disagrees. This is about more than a surge in the polls, this is about authenticity to the issues, sincerity and the coveted 'honest broker' status in a three way race.
Hillary nods affirmatively when John argues with Barack on interest rates. Obama nods vigorously when John challenges Hillary over Iraq. John's in quite a position here, isn't he. They seem to rush to nod when they agree with John. They're cold as ice toward each other. More affirmation that John Edwards is an honest broker who can unify this party. If he breaks out in South Carolina, it will be a SERIOUS MOVE based on the substantive reasons in this dairy. He has the heart and soul of the party on the issues. He needs support to mend this party.
People caught up between the vitriol between the two candidates start asking themselves:
"What does John have to say about this?"
"Clinton and Obama are bickering again...Where is John on that issue?"
STAY FIRM, ESPECIALLY NOW
Your firmness is our power to broker these progressive issues. It's a consensus FACT.. John has moved the issues in both of the other campaigns. First with health care. First with targeted, structural stimulus. First to challenge corrupt power frontally. First to directly address the corrupt industries that are dragging this economy down. He's been targeted and on-issue all year.
REWARD HIM
He deserves to be rewarded for this. He already is being rewarded in the polls.
John Edwards is the gold standard of this party. The more your candidate moves to John's platform, the better they prove to be, consistently, for the last year. The more they bicker and get personal, while John stays on issue, the worse they are, as proven in the S. Carolina surge.
John earned this surge and our support by his honest position in the debate. He attacked the substance of what he disagreed with, not the person. John makes it clear:
This is not personal.
Unify this Party
If you really want to unify this country or this party, you have to start here...
THIS IS NOT PERSONAL.
This is not about Barack or Hillary and a personal pursuit of power. This is simply not about individuals and their various dramas. This is about progressive issues and the direction of our party.
It may take a candidate who is NOT PERSONAL to MEND this party. This has deep issue appeal. What better lesson to the other campaigns than Democrats rejecting the personalization of politics, both tort and retort, punch and counterpunch. While people may still support their own candidates, they respect John and they respect his campaign. Therefore, who is best suited to heal?
John can heal this Party.
The surge may have come late, but building credibility is, by definition, a slow process which includes, perhaps, others losing it. Don't forget that Democrats. There is a reason time is building someone UP while time tears others down. You don't want your nominee to win a primary because the clock ran out. You should look at the candidate who surges with time and exposure, because you will have many more months to show your temperment of lack thereof. John Edwards has an excellent temperment. At this rate, imagine where the other two will be in a month. John can win the primary, the general and heal this party.
Edwards has a Renewed Status: YOU got him there.
Your fighting for him has allowed him to sort this battle out, firm his ground on the issues, and find his balance between these two extremely well-funded candidates. Edwards has his balance now and he's surging on the ground in S. Carolina. He is locked and loaded as the honest broker of the Democratic Party.
His supporters are not angry and are universally happy to support whoever becomes the nominee. That a tribute to John's campaign, his supporters, and their sense of duty to issues and party.
John is surging BECAUSE he's an honest broker in a freying party...
They are coming to us because we've never moved.