Marathon

Edwards Rejects a Kerry-Edwards Ticket

First, the news above is bad. Let's hope it's just posturing, and that while Edwards doesn't want his supporters to flee to Kerry because they figure they can just have Edwards as the VP, he'll come to his senses if it comes down to VP or nothing. Because really, what will Edwards do after January 3rd, 2005, if he's not in one of the two slots on the Democrats' winning ticket?

Second, Joe Lieberman proved last night that he can't count. To call his finish in the New Hampshire primary a "tie for third" is quite the overstatement. He finished fifth, and wasn't really very close to the two men who did, in fact, tie for third, Edwards and Clark. He camped out in New Hampshire, literally living there for more than a month, and it didn't work. Likewise for Clark, who at least has some support nationally--though that's drying up quickly as more people watch him stumble through his stump speech. Realistically, these two, who banked it all on New Hampshire, should be dropping out now. Refusing to be winnowed isn't going to fool voters in upcoming primary states.

Third, Kerry thumped Dean, and it's hard to imagine a scenario in which Dean finds more than two states to win in the next two weeks. That won't be enough for him. But while Clark and Lieberman will come to their senses when people stop donating money in a week or two, Dean seems likely to keep on trucking through March. His rabid base will keep supporting him, and it's easy to understand why: his speech last night may have been short on details, but it promises to make right a great many things that have gone wrong. Who wouldn't want that?

Kerry, Edwards, Dean. Who will be the nominee? Realistically, these are the only three who still have a shot.