Sam, can I intrude a moment on this question of why Biden doesn't poll better. I have a guess but it's only that.
I think some large number of Dem voters are like me, first choice is to find someone to make certain the Reps are no longer in the WH and in control of congress. So it's electability rather than personal policy preference that counts.
Biden is a very large risk on the electability score. All the candidates, of course, are to some degree, but the degree seems much greater with him. He hasn't drawn much money, he hasn't established a coherent campaign theme, he seems only half way interested after all, and then there was that disastrous presidential run in which he was caught stealing from the speeches of a British PM, name escapes me, Neal someone.
To say it another way, and talking only about my personal preferences, if I were reasonably certain the Reps were going to lose in 08 regardless of the Dem nominee, my favorites would be Obama, Edwards, and Biden (with Dodd in the picture). But, and here's the rub, the minute I type that I find myself regretting not supporting Clinton as the first serious chance to have a woman president. And likely the last serious one for some time. I don't see anyone else on the Dem side.
So I'm torn. But then I find I don't have to make those choices because electability is still the issue. And, for the moment at least, Clinton seems much better on that score. She is running an absolutely superb campaign. By all accounts. |
