Before Barack Obama, There Was John Edwards . . .

In its never ending search for a young face to stick on the party brand, many Democrats several years back turned to John Edwards. Here, thought some, was the answer to a prayer. Young, articulate, good looking, seemingly intelligent, a combination of Kennedy style charm and Clinton's southern accent, John Edwards seemed to have it all.

The Democrats have moved on. They found their young face du jour in Barack Obama and rejected John Edwards. Of course Edwards now is persona non gratis pretty much everywhere. He cheated on his wife suffering from cancer, may have broken campaign financing laws, and has simply destroyed whatever public image he once had. Obama did get elected, but his lack of experience has sunk his presidency into a morass it may never emerge from.

Republicans sometimes are guilty of trying to follw a model rather than set the curve. It rarely works. Republicans are not the party of the young and slick. Let's leave that to liberals who want an image that makes them feel good rather than a substantial candidate. As we move towards 2012, let's be careful as we select our candidate. We need experience, knowledge, and aggressive commitment to principle, not just a GOP version of Obama's youth and hollowness. We want a presidency, not a perpetual campaign. Our nation deserves no less at this critical juncture.

Picking a person because of how they look and how that image will play could lead to disaster. Just ask the Democrats.

Decision 2012

It takes very little time at all for the 24 hour news networks to get started talking about the next presidential election with seriousness. I doubt that Fox waited more than a year after Bush's re-election to begin discussions highlighted with the logo "Decision 2008." Certainly this caters to political junkies that crave the discussion and speculation (if not usually die hard facts) that one hears on news programs.

It was probably before the 2006 congressional elections that the various news networks anointed the nominees. Rudy Giuliani and Hillary Clinton would battle for the presidency. Commentators probed strengths and weaknesses of both, and talked about the supposed eventual losers such as John Edwards and John McCain. Would they be offered vice presidential spots? Obama never entered any serious consideration. By 2007 McCain had dropped from the radar was well.

Then we got reminded that voters decide elections. A plain spoken Arizona senator and an utterly inexperienced Illinois senator shocked the media world.

This election may have been partly a result of the early speculation on Giuliani and Clinton. Candidacies have a momentum all their own. Some build and keep building, others build, climax, and fall. The earlier one's name comes out as a certain candidate, the more likely that voters will get fatigued on the person. Also an early entry gives ample time for the press to dig up the kind of goodies that torpedoed the Giuliani attempt.

One lesson from this campaign season is to try to avoid early discussion of your candidacy. Enter later, make sure you have no foolish blemishes to hide, and try to be experienced and public enough so that people know who you are from the beginning. That is the formula for winning this season, as we will see in November.

McCain Wins New Hampshire, Obama Clinton battling

Republican (24% Reporting)

1) McCain 37%
2) Romney 29 %
3) Huckabee 12 %
4) Giuliani 9%
5) Paul 8%
6) Thompson 2%

Democrat (26% Reporting)
1) Clinton 40%
2) Obama 34%
3) Edwards 17%
4) Richards 4%

Republicans on to Wyoming, Democrats to New Hampshire

Saturday Republicans head to the Wyoming Caucus ahead of the New Hampshire Primary.

With 78% Reporting from Iowa

34% Huckabee
25% Romney
14% Thompson
13% McCain

Huckabee's strong win has surprised a lot of people, mainly at the expense of Romney. It is unclear how the virtual tie between Thompson and McCain will play out. 2 surprises; a stronger than expected 5th place finish by Ron Paul, and very low finish by Giuliani with only 4% of the vote.

With 96% Reporting
38% Obama
30% Edwards
29% Clinton
02% Richardson

Juan Williams pointed out that in Iowa, a state with 95% of the population being white, Obama's strong win over both Edwards and Clinton shows that he is a viable national candidate and race will not play a major roll as some expected. This will make Obama a more viable candidate in the eyes of many voters. The 3rd place finish by Clinton could be devastating to her campaign.

Potomac Highlands Funding Presidential Candidates

The following information is from official public records of the Federal Election Commission


Democrats

• Hillary Clinton has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands

• Amy Carpenter, Romney Employer: American Woodmark Contribution: $75
• Kermit Garrettson, Keyser Employer: Keyser Inn Contribution: $350
• Robin Dolly, Moorefield Employer: Mountain Medical Contribution: $1000
• Joanne Webster, Mathias Employer: Information Requested Contribution: $500
• Victor Wulf, Baker Employer: Retired Contribution: $250

• John Edwards has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Mayhew, Romney Employer: Information Requested Contribution $2300
• Barack Obama has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Erber, Baker Employer: Information Requested Contribution $200
  

• Bill Richardson has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Robert Alcock, Lost City Employer: Lost River Woodworking Contribution $250

Republicans

• Mitt Romney has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Jeffery Hott, Franklin Employer: Hott's AG Service Contribution $350
• Edith Shankle, Bloomery Employer: Retired Contribution $1250
• Fred Dalton Thompson has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• David Maher, Milham Employer: Self-Employed Contribution $250
• John McCain has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Carl Smith, Moorefield Employer: Retired Contribution $300
• Ron Paul has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• Jack Mullen, Keyser Employer: Starcast South Contribution $800
• James Landis, Peterburg Employer: Conquest Publishing Contribution $1000
• James Gillmore has received contributions from the following persons in the Potomac Highlands
• David Bookman, Romney Employer: Retired Contribution $500

All records are public and on file at the Federal Election Commission