PDA 2006 Election Video
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Election Information
Battle of the Hawks
The Democratic Race Will Continue...
Will Pennsylvania Matter At All?...
If You Were Opposed to this War Before It Started, the Choice is Clear--Barack Obama Got It Right!
Edwards, the Obama Movement & the Fight for a Progressive Congress
Current Endorsed Candidate Campaigns
Click on candidate's name to see list of articles.
Butcher, Vickie (Congress, CA-52)Other Races of Interest
Party Like It's 1932: The Obama Option
Obama Is Right
Mary Pallant Receives Ventura County Chapter Endorsement
Barack the Vote In the Remaining States
Clinton Has What It Takes
Armitage Wins Endorsement of Greater Daytona PDA Chapter
Clinton's Cringe-Worthy Moment
Give Dennis Kucinich His Due
A Personal Note from Dennis Kucinich
John Edwards Suspends Campaign
US Corporate Elite Fear Candidate Edwards
Kucinich: For the Record
Obama Thanks Kucinich for Encouraging His Backers to Make Obama Their Second Choice
Take a look at Joe Biden--There's a lot in him for Progressives
PDA Energy for Kucinich for New Hampshire!
PDA Members for Edwards take aim at Iowa
Ralph Nader supports Edwards' anti-corporate message
Edwards Delivers Speech On Lifting Up America's Middle Class
Kucinich Hits Homerun in Jefferson's Hometown
PDA - The Freedom to Choose
PDA Rocks!
Bill Richardson
Why I'm supporting John Edwards: It's time for a Progressive President with Coat Tails
Why Should PDA Support Dennis Kucinich?
Signs of Desperation?
Edwards: Senator Clinton Must Take a Stand on Peru Trade Deal
Kucinich Will Introduce Privileged Resolution To Force Vote On Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney TODAY
Kucinich's Challenge
Will Democrats Follow John Edwards On Trade--And Win Elections?
John Edwards: Sick of Bush's Rank Hypocrisy
Why is John Edwards leading in Iowa?
"To Build One America, End the Game"
Saving the Middle Class: A Real-Not Rhetorical-Plan
'Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win'
John Edwards and "You"
As if our lives depend on it…
Why Progressives Should Support John Edwards for President
Edwards is the only progressive candidate who can win the presidency
Introducing Dennis Kucinich
Edwards will give Kucinich a fight for the progressive vote
Dennis Kucinich represents the Heart & Soul of PDA
What Makes Laura Bonham Run: PDA Staff Member Runs for Utah State Legislature
Clint Curtis is changing the tide in Florida
PDA Welcomes Sen. Feingold to Maryland
Rep. Conyers Endorses PDA National Board Member John Bonifaz for Massachusetts Secretary of State
John Bonifaz for Secretary of State (MA)
Many progressives find themselves in a quandary in picking a presidential candidate this time around. The campaigns are in full swing as a jam-packed February of primaries is just around the corner. If you know who your candidate is, then now’s the time to start getting involved with the campaign. For those of you still wondering, this series of articles should provide you with some insights and hopefully will enable you to draw a conclusion in time to help get your candidate elected.
Some serious evaluation is called for if progressives are going to unite to bring our weight to bear. Two candidates are attracting the most attention on the left—John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich. If one had a little more of what the other brings to the table, progressives would have the perfect candidate. Instead, a choice must be made.
While it is true that Dennis Kucinich has a solid progressive platform which reflects PDA’s positions, John Edwards, like PDA, has demonstrated his ability to engage people through grassroots organizing, has the most progressive platform after Kucinich, and is with us on our substantive issues.
Among the most important domestic issues facing us today is poverty. John Edwards has done more to elevate the issue of poverty than any other candidate in a generation, a defining issue for Democrats, progressive or otherwise. It is an issue that can unite us within and across party lines.
It is true that Kucinich has a very principled position on poverty, but it was John Edwards who organized college kids to spend their spring breaks in St. Bernard Parish following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and worked right alongside them. And he has demonstrated this capacity repeatedly since the 2004 election, working with union organizers in Ohio, organizing an online anti-war campaign, and bringing the country’s youth together to perform community service projects in One Corps.
As things stand now, Edwards is pretty close to PDA on most issues and has done a terrific job organizing the grassroots. Meanwhile Kucinich has talked a lot about the progressive movement, but he’s done little to help organize it. That makes the two pretty even–even, that is, until you ask the question, “Can this candidate win?”
While running for office does provide a good bully pulpit, elections are about winning, and the campaign is a test of the candidate’s abilities. Does the candidate have a campaign that is well enough organized and funded to win the election? On this score, Edwards outshines Kucinich. He is far and away raising more money, he has a devoted and skilled campaign staff, a great website, and better press coverage. Right or wrong, this makes a big difference when it comes to who the average voter picks.
So right now, Edwards has pulled ahead of Kucinich for this progressive voter. It’s still early though, and a lot can happen.
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Join the PDA Inside the Democratic Party working group, contact Sherry Bohlen.
This series of articles will help define who PDA might endorse for President; however there are two candidates running for Congress right now. Jamie Eldridge in Massachusetts' Fifth Congressional District and Peter Mathews in California's Thirty-Seventh Congressional District already have a PDA endorsement. Please make a generous contribution to the PDA Political Action Fund today, and help send two more progressives to Congress. (Enter PAF in Special Funds box.)
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