Primary Dolor: Edwards Snaps Edition
•"Snappish" debate givesEdwardsa chance to make waves prior to Super Tuesday.Kerryrolls his eyes at the snark-fest: "That was a debate?"[WP , NYT and NYT ]
•Edwards'belligerence at the debate may have been"the biggest gamble of his candidacy."[NYT ]
•Kerry, Edwardsfight for New York;Edwardslooks forsurge among working-class voters upstate, but uncertainty about employment isn't an election issue for them: "People are almost resigned to the fact." [ NYT and LAT ]
• Domestic issuescould pose a problem forBush. "When President Bush goes to make his case for a second term, his domestic performance will not be his strong suit.It's not a hopeless thing, but boy. . . he has some work to do to get people to feel better about what he has accomplished," says pollster. [ LAT ]
• Edwardsnomination determined the science of the probable: "Proportional representation makes dramaticcomebacks essentially impossible." [ NYT ]
• Kerry-Edwardsticket seems less likely after yesterday's date as their true chemistry is revealed. [ WP and WSJ ]
• Edwardscould be the firstClinton-echocandidate, appealing to angry Southerners, but their differences are deep: Edwards ismore disciplined, less wonkish. [ WP and LAT ]
•Black voters mostly supportKerry: "For black Democrats and white Democrats, theircalculus is pretty much the same: They want to get rid of George W. Bush. George W. Bush represents everything -- war, violation of civil rights, tax cuts for the rich and program cuts for everybody else. There's not one issue that really much matters; it's the whole package." [ WP ]
• Kerryon party labels: "Labels are so silly in American politics.I think it's the silliest thing I've ever heard. . . . Is this president a legitimate Republican or conservative?" [ WT ]
• Bushfocuses on the green as he closes in on goal ofraising $170 million; Democrats focus onBush. "I'm beatingGeorge BushandJohn Kerryis losing by double digits," saysEdwards. [ BG and LAT ]
• Kerry, Edwardsunderstand the force of theAFL-CIO. [ LAT ]
• Kerrypockets Massachusetts vote;Edwardsneeds Georgia. [ NYT and NYT ]