Why IS Edwards only attacking Clinton?

I'm an Obama supporter, and Edwards supporters argue with me on this site all the time. But Edwards HIMSELF is reserving his longest and sharpest attacks for Clinton. Why? She didn't win Iowa, probably won't win New Hampshire, and her star is falling on a national level.

But very few stinging remarks have been pointed in Obama's direction. Does he want to come out ahead of the guy with the greatest momentum or not?

Fundamentally, we're all on the same team.

I'm merely a poster on Democratic Underground--what the hell am I gonna do?

Democratic Underground and its members are the very soul of the progressive movement, even the ones I spar with have my deepest respect just for BEING here.

Chris Heinz used to post here during 2004 and Elizabeth Edwards is a member who doers post.I am sure she is still lurking.Hi EE! Love ya if you read this.Don't you think if anyone who supports a particular candidate "knew" strategy they would keep it to themselves instead of publishing it for the "other " side to be able to read it and mount a defense?
Everything written here is "public".I found out the hard way when a post of mine complaining about some voter reaction and asking how to approach certain voters after a walk was used against the Kerry Camp by the WSJ picking it up and quoting it from a post here on DU. It is hard to remeber to be careful but still, we should try.Some readers may not be on the same "team" as we are!

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already more susceptible to injury because of the public's opinion of her, dunno. or maybe because he doesn't have much to go after obama about. he can't say "experience" they have similar time in the senate.

...THEN target Obama?

Might be too late at that junction.

finish her off and be 1 of 2 maybe. i agree, i always thought it would be better to go after #1 too. i dunno. i don't like it.

--Obama and Edwards in any combination would make a formidable team against the GOP. Is it possible that Edwards HASN'T ruled out the possibility of being Obama's running mate if he doesn't beat him?

Before Super Tuesday when the big axe falls so he can really separate himself and steal the nomination out from under Barack.

so he can go one on one with Obama.

Plus, he fights back against those who attack him--in other words, he's only been responding to HRC's attacks on him.

Obama has been VAGUE on positions, but JRE susses that they have more in common than different.

Clinton is quite obviously the no-change candidate on so many issues. She touts having "delivered" real changes with her experience, but they are simply not in evidence.

If Obama gets the nod, it will be a victory for JRE even if he gets nothing. Change will have won.

If Clinton gets the nod, it might not make much difference for the status quo. That is, of course she would be far superior to a Repugnican.

Also - let's say the "attacks" (i think they are jabs not real attacks) force Clinton to become more change-oriented.

There is always the possibility of redemption. Clinton could be serious when she swings into her new change mode (that is now the order of the day it would seem). Let's see what she comes up with ! But without such pressure perhaps she wouldn't say anything !

Let's also remember that JRE reserves his REAL attacks for those who deserve it most richly - the corporations who hold the nation by the short & curlies and game the Washington system so blatantly. Jabs on Clinton are good politics and good for the debate, he gets his share of the pummelling as well.

...if he chooses to attack the person he most disagrees with, instead of the person who's actually ahead in important regional polls.

I like Edwards, but you'll never convert me to his side--he did too many things while in power that clash with his positions now.

:shrug:

nt

It is a strategy that may work.

the long term stronger candidate is probably Hillary - she is weakened now and vulnerable so Edwards is given an opening to take her out so he is taking it.

I am of the thought that Edwards is thinking that Obama's inexperience, in the long run, will cause him to slide downward and off the stage leaving Edwards as the only real viable national level candidate for the Democratic run.

Not a bad strategy...risky....but it could pay off.

he genuinely views Hillary as being a major part of the problem.
As John says, there are 2 candidates for REAL change running this year... and Hillary isn't one of them.

Sticking with the status quo is only going to screw the country more. It's entirely possible, likely even, that
he is so concerned about the situation this country is in that he is willing to support Obama if he himself can not get elected.
After all, he has children of his own & I am sure he is looking at the future thinking... "IF I don't get elected, who is the next best choice?"

I think it's a moral thing.

If he can't win the nominatin, he wants Obama to get it.

Maybe for a cabinet spot. Maybe on moral grounds.

lol

Kind of like paying off your debts. You pay off the easier ones first before you tackle the toughest one.

he's a second-to-none smart lawyer. And smart lawyers don't do dumb things.

That smile isn't there because he has no plan. Look what happened to HRC in Iowa.

A ninja isn't going to let you know he's there.

Edwards is smart - he knows voters like Obama & want change. So, he associates himself w/Obama as the "agent of change" & attacks Hillary as the old status quo. His goal IMO is to take her out before Super Tuesday & make it a Obama/Edwards race. Worse comes to worse, he gets a spot as running-mate on the Obama ticket. It's very calculating.

In this way he hopes to stay alive and continue the contest, hoping that Obama will eventually stumble, or the magic will wear off, and that way he'll still have a chance.

So, what we have is John snarling at Hillary like she's the anti-Christ while at the same time shoving his nose so far up Obama's butt that if Obama moves to fast one direction or another John's nose is going to snap right off.

That's want I see. Not exactly admirable behavior, imo, but I think any of them would be fine as a President.