Join the "Healthcare NOT Warfare" campaign!
PDA 2006 Election Video
» 56K modem
» broadband
Stop Funding War Video
» All
formats
Click here for the Congressional Schedule
Election Information
Results of PDA-endorsed Races
The New Organizers, Part 1: What's Really Behind Obama's Ground Game
The GOP Goes Back To Its Ugly Roots
McCain and Team Have Many Ties to Gambling Industry
Has Sarah Palin Motivated the Very Voters That Obama Needs to Win?
Current Endorsed Candidate Campaigns
Click on candidate's name to see list of articles.
Geoghegan, Tom (Congress, IL-05)Other Races of Interest
Marcy Winograd: Jane Harman Profits From Anti-Generics Amendment She Helped Eshoo Pass
PDA MA Endorses Mike Capuano for Senate
ANC-PAC Endorses Marcy Winograd in Race Against Jane Harman
Jane Harman Challenger, Marcy Winograd, Pledges Support For Armenian American Issues
Taking Back Our Constitutional Rights
PDA Chapter Endorses Tom Geoghegan to Replace Emanuel in IL CD5
Geoghegan: Rhymes with Reagan, Thinks Like Wellstone
Rep. Jackson Is Our Choice to Be Senator
PDA-Illinois Endorses Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Barack Obama for President
10/02/02--The Day Obama Took the Lead
The Wall St Crisis, the 2008 Campaign and What To Do About It
Obama Gaining Crucial Ground, Polling Shifts in Some Key States
Solving Our Financial Crisis
VEEPSTAKES: Obama-Biden
Thomas Looks Towards 2010, Returns to Georgia Senate
An Hour or Two of Your Time Could Change the Congress
The America We Love
Clinton Concedes, Endorses Obama
Sen. Kerry Addresses PDA Members' Concerns
Obama, Clinton and What Has Been Achieved
Advantage Obama
USW Endorses Obama
PDA CO Chapter Endorses Joan Fitz-Gerald for Congress
Party Like It's 1932: The Obama Option
Obama Is Right
Mary Pallant Receives Ventura County Chapter Endorsement
Clinton Has What It Takes
Barack the Vote In the Remaining States
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)

In my progressive circle, people are split between Edwards and Kucinich, but when it comes to Hillary Clinton, everyone is in agreement–none of us want her to win the nomination. To a person, we feel a Clinton nomination would have the same effect on Republicans as Bush has had on Democrats. Republicans who have been inactive will all of a sudden get active and vote for her opponent, no matter who it is.
The progressive vote could swing this election to or away from Clinton, depending on whether or not we can come together and vote as a block.
Recent polling data is very favorable towards the populist candidate, John Edwards. A June 11-14 poll by Gallup matched the three leading announced Democratic presidential candidates—Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards—against each of the three leading announced Republican candidates—Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Mitt Romney.
In a match-up of the three top Democratic candidates against Romney, Edwards wins with 61% of the vote, Obama follows with 57% of the vote, and Clinton gets 53% of the vote. Against McCain, the poll indicates Edwards garners 50% of the vote, with Clinton at 49% and Obama at 48%. When matched against Republican front-runner Guiliani, all three candidates score at 50%. All three of top tier candidates running for President can beat any of the top three Republican candidates, with Edwards leading the pack.
Other polling data among Democratic voters reveals that Clinton currently has a commanding lead. It is interesting that, although Edwards out performs the other two in a match up against Republicans, Clinton is seen more favorably by Democratic voters than the others. Why, heaven only knows, except she is terribly well funded by the corporatist DLC, and her corporate cronies.
While it is inarguable that Kucinich’s platform more closely aligns itself with PDA’s, Kucinich remains only a blip in voters’ minds, if at all. Edwards’ platform is still progressive and, if these polls are accurate, he is the best candidate Democrats can nominate if they hope to defeat whomever the Republican nominee turns out to be.
Fields of study are “devoted to examining” why citizens vote for candidates. Known as the “likeability quotient,” it appears that, more often than not, voters choose a candidate based on emotion rather than on the positions a candidate takes. This is unfortunate indeed, and it proves why the work of organizations like PDA is so important.
After the last six years, this election is shaping up to be something other than a discussion of positions. Many voters are disgruntled with the liberties this administration has taken with our Liberty, and they are looking for a candidate in whom they can put some trust and faith. As a progressive populist, Edwards has the qualities that reach across party lines and speak to our shared humanity.
These factors must be considered by progressives when choosing whom to back in the upcoming elections, or else the Democratic nominee will certainly be Hillary Clinton.
Please add your comments to our blog.