John "Lazarus" Kerry, front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, so far has won seven out of nine states and tops polls of the prized state of Michigan, which votes on Saturday. In recent nationwide polls matching the contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination against "President" Bush, Kerry beats Bush by 2 percent to 8 percent and the very toasty Howard Dean loses to Bush by 5 percent to 12 percent. Above, Kerry campaigns in Seattle tonight in the wake of his five-state victory today. (Associated Press photo)
Seven out of nine ain't bad
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has won seven out of nine states thus far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination (but who's counting?).
Kerry won Iowa and New Hampshire last month and won Missouri, Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota and Delaware today -- not that I'm keeping track or anything.
Tonight North Carolina Sen. John Edwards won his first state, South Carolina, and retired Gen. Wesley Clark won his first state, Oklahoma.
Thus far Kerry's archrival, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, has won no (0) states, but he vowed today to pointlessly go on like "the Energizer Bunny."
Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman also won no states but, unlike Dean, had the sense to finally drop out tonight, thank God. Lieberman actually said, "Today, the voters have rendered their verdict and I accept it." Gee, Joe, so glad that you accept it, as though you had the option of rejecting the will of the voters like "President" Bush did in 2000.
Kerry's also kicking ass in the nationwide polls.
In a CNN/USA Today/Gallup nationwide poll taken Jan. 29-Feb. 1, 49 percent of the Democrats and Democratic leaners polled chose Kerry as their favorite contender for the Democratic presidential nomination. Dean and Edwards came in at a distant second and third, with 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Clark was in fourth place, with 9 percent. A Quinnipiac University nationwide poll of Democratic voters taken Jan. 28-31 showed similar results: Kerry was the clear favorite, with 42 percent; Dean was a distant second, with 11 percent; and Edwards and Clark tied for third place, with 10 percent each. In that poll, when also asked to choose only between Kerry and Dean, 64 percent chose Kerry and 23 percent chose Dean. A Newsweek nationwide poll of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic taken Jan. 29 and 30 gave Kerry 45 percent, Dean 14 percent, Edwards 11 percent and Clark 5 percent. (You get the picture.)
More important than the fact that Kerry is the favorite of Democrats nationwide is that when the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination are matched against Bush, Kerry consistently beats Bush while Dean consistently loses to Bush.
In a CNN/USA Today/Gallup nationwide poll taken Jan. 29-Feb. 1, Kerry got 53 percent to "President" Bush's 46 percent. Edwards got 49 percent to Bush's 48 percent; Clark got 47 percent to Bush's 50 percent; and Dean got 45 percent to Bush's 52 percent. A Quinnipiac University nationwide poll taken Jan. 28-31 showed Kerry with 51 percent to Bush's 43 percent; Edwards with 45 percent to Bush's 47 percent; Clark with 45 percent to Bush's 48 percent; and Dean with 44 percent to Bush's 49 percent. A Newsweek nationwide poll taken Jan. 29 and 30 showed Kerry with 48 percent to Bush's 46 percent; Edwards with 44 percent to Bush's 49 percent; Clark with 41 percent to Bush's 53 percent; and Dean with 40 percent to Bush's 52 percent.
Now it's on to the Michigan and Washington caucuses on Saturday. Dean has pinned his cult following's hopes on pulling a John Kerry and winning Michigan's 128 delegates on Saturday, but The Associated Press reports that Michigan polls give Kerry a definite lead over Dean.
It also doesn't help Dean that both Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Washington Gov. Gary Locke have endorsed Kerry.
The "Energizer Bunny" should be the next to be voted off the island. Of course, that doesn't mean that the silly rabbit will actually leave the island.
While Team Dean remains in denial and Edwards and Clark split the Southern vote between each other (if Clark remains in the race), Kerry should coast to the Democratic presidential nomination and then into the Oval Office.
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