If there ever was a comeback kid, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is the one. He also has a sidekick, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
The two, respectively, came in first and second in the Iowa Caucus, much to the chagrin of political pundits and professional strategists.
Most critics predicted that Kerry was done for after his campaign staff engaged in internal squabbles. The arguments resulted in some firings and made the senator look like an incompetent campaigner.
After this fiasco, Kerry added some mature professionals to his campaign staff.
Kerry’s campaign ultimately succeeded in Iowa because of his ability to run an adult campaign.
Unlike Howard Dean, he did not run around with Martin Sheen, the fictional president on the popular TV show “West Wing,” or proclaim that we are not better off with Saddam Hussein captured.
Instead, Kerry ran as a senator who is a decorated Vietnam veteran.
He also traveled across Iowa with Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., a popular leader among Democrats. Kennedy said Kerry should be the next president, which no doubt influenced voters.
Edwards sailed into second place after allowing the other candidates to bash each other while he was left untouched. He told of his struggles attending college and working his way up to becoming a successful lawyer.
Edwards also focused on the economic and social problems of many working-class Americans.
What happened to the other candidates?
Howard Dean, the anointed but not establishment candidate, faltered to win Iowa voters. Iowa’s rejection of the “angry anti-war American” strategy contributed to his defeat.
Several candidates and organizations also attacked his ever-changing positions publicly.
The Club for Growth sponsored the most amusing political ad that I have seen in my life. It said Dean should take his “tax-hiking, latte-drinking, sushi-eating, body-piercing, Hollywood-loving freak show back to Vermont where it belongs.” This ad and a few more serious attacks caused Iowa voters to doubt his ability to govern.
Immediately after the defeat in Iowa, the Dean campaign announced that he was going to New Hampshire to run as an independent-moderate neighboring governor, a change from his previous strategy.
Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt has to be disappointed to see his long and illustrious career with his loss in Iowa, a state that he won in the 1988 primaries.
Unlike Dean, he had a one-state strategy which failed since he did not win in Iowa. Like Dean, he did put a lot of trust in labor unions and the Reagan Democrats, hoping to revive the glory days when union support could either make or break a candidate.
Former union boss Jimmy Hoffa is probably rolling in his grave, if he is really dead.
What’s the scenario now?
Everyone goes to New Hampshire to face former NATO Supreme Commander Wesley Clark, the liberator of Kosovo and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman.
Clark does not seem poised to get the nomination.
Not long ago, he was praising George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan at Republican fund raisers, so he will not be able to mobilize the liberal base of the party if he wins.
Lieberman can just pack up his bags and go home.
Anytime I hear Republican pundits praising a Democratic candidate, I know something is wrong. The liberal wing of the party will not stand for it.
Here are two likely scenarios.
Dean wins the nomination, and then selects former Florida U.S. Sen. Bob Graham as his running mate.
Kerry wins the nomination and selects Edwards as his running mate.
Yes, it is a near done deal that the Democratic presidential running mate will be from the South.
Which ticket is more formidable? I will let you answer that question.
If my predictions are wrong, remind me after all of this is over.
Edward Sanders is a sophomore political science major. He can be reached at [email protected].