So, Would Edwards/Kerry '04 Have Won?

Check out this Washington Post article.

Here's why the 2006 elections don't necessarily translate into a great Democratic year in 2008: they don't have the horses for the courses. Kerry finished DEAD LAST among Democrats in a feeling thermometer rating of likability. Now, anyone who watched his charisma-free 2004 presidential campaign would know that Kerry is a likable as avian flu, so it isn't much of a surprise. In fact, I think a flipped ticket in 2004 would have come closer to Bush or tied like 2000. Also interesting that the poll was conducted before Kerry's hoof-in-mouth moment over the less educated getting 'stuck in Iraq'. Pretty much everyone knows Kerry is a jerk now. So memo to the Senator: stay home in '08. You've done enough damage to your party.
Then again, it might not have been good to have a young 'un at the helm in 2004. Edwards was probably too inexperienced to win it, and the lesson from Edwards goes to the New Democratic Heartthrob (NDH) Barack Obama. Oprah has practically soiled herself trying to get this guy to run, but guess what? Nobody knows who he is! 41% of respondents didn't know enough about the guy to register an opinion. Plus, Kerry taught us that the Senate is a terrible place to make a run from because your voting record can be used against you just as it can be something to run on. Give Obama another few years, let him run for governor of Illinois, serve a term or two, and THEN run. The guy's got time to run in the future after he builds a more national profile. He'll be a much better candidate in 2016 or 2020 and he will still be in his 50's.

Two other things ought to give the Dems pause right now: Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, and Joe Freakin' Lieberman came in ahead of their putative nominee, Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton is still more popular than her, for what that's worth. In other words, the Democratic pool is filled with inexperience and churlishness. Maybe McCain and Lieberman ought to run as an Independent ticket. . ..