If Edwards loses badly on Saturday, should he be in the next debate?

Edwards own staffers admit in private that he can't win a single state. He'll lose his birth state South Carolina--badly--despite the fact that he WON it in 2004.. He'll lose even his home state of North Carolina. Just like he lost Iowa. And New Hampshire. Just like he was a non-entity in Nevada.

If we have two serious, viable candidates in this race, shouldn't we let those two duke it out on stage? The choice is Clinton or Obama. Why introduce a non-viable option on stage? His voice has been heard, he has introduced issues into the discussion. But, it's time to pick a nominee, and he is not part of that equation. Or, at least he won't be after losing by 25 points on Saturday.

Massive numbers of people aren't going to wake up one morning and realize "oh, __________ sucks. How could I have supported them?"

we're dealing with human beings, with 24/7 coverage. We're dealing with a volatile domestic and world stage.

ANYTHING can happen to affect the campaign(s) still.

I mean, you said ANYTHING could happen.

is going to change the landscape.

we are dealing with human beings, in a 24/7 coverage environment. And who knows what's gonna happen in the world to influence this race?

That's why these predictions baffle me.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN, PEOPLE. ;)

he has been relevant in setting the tone for the debate, IMHO.

Of course, I think he does much more than that...lol. I wish Dennis and Gravel and anyone still on the ticket could have been participating as well. We tend to miss the forest for the trees if we narrow it down to those two too soon (as if that wasn't done months ago...but I'm talking about the debates themselves).

It boils down to Clinton or Obama.

more than one other person in debate.

Just my opinion.

when Obama or Clinton go up against McCain.

how they engage others in their own party, though at the same time imagine them on stage with repubs.

This is a fundamental difference here at DU. Some of us want to have a real primary, others want to annoint before the show begins.

I can't think any narrowing would come too soon with that perspective.

Think about just Hillary and Obama up there sniping and growling at each other.

good defense, who can throw a sharp elbow without resorting to dirty politics.

Keep the focus on the actual players. It's much too late to bother with also-rans.

Once he dips under the Kucinich Line of Non-Viability, then it'll be time to go, but he looks fine for now.

drop out. In fact, why not urge their public stoning, as long as we're on the topic.

No violence, verbal or actual, visited upon a fellow Democrat should go unconsidered.

definitely should. Even if he can't win, I like the fact that he helps keep them focused on poverty, the economy, the free trade problem, etc., rather than sound bites.

Nice try.

None of the candidates are that far apart from each other on that front. That's the funny thing about how the media presents things.

Two straight shut-outs would not bode well.

of delegates from the big states.

None.

He doesn't have any organization or advertising in CA, IL, NY, NJ, etc etc. Clinton and Obama will get 90% of the delegates from those states.

He's not playing to win at this point.

His current status, from national polling, to past primary / caucus results, to current number of delegates seem to all qualify him for participation in a debate.

Come super Tuesday, ask me again and it may be different.

4% in Nevada doesn't rate 33% of the air time.

He is also polling in double digits at state and national levels. He seems to have thus met any relevant requirement that could be constructed for participation in a debate.

In yesterday's Marist poll of NY, he's at 9%. In most national polls he's around 12 to 14%. In Alabama he's under 10%.

no one has a say in who gets to be in the debasement but them. they will decide who we are to choose.

the ghoul has worse numbers than dennis but he is still in the debasements while dennis has to go to court to be heard

the big three say nothing about the censorship of dennis because they do not want to upset their masters.

If he doesn't win any delegates, there's a good chance he'll drop out before the next debate anyway. But if he is still winning delegates, sure he should be in the debate.

With Hillary & Obama the only ones left...all choice is taken away.

Bad enough their attempt to silence Kucinich...they eliminate Edwards and it HAS to be obvious to everyone at that point its the corporate MSM that has chosen...NOT the people!!

Why do "serious candidates" have to *duke it out*?? Our primaries are a big fat f'ing joke people. Wake up.

Fuck obama and Hillary - don't expect JOHN to step down because they can't hold their own!
He creamed them BOTH last night! I for one would like to see him do it again!

the credulity is astounding...

nt

How else with the two others know what to say?