Kerry's Nomination in Jeopardy: The Impact of Dean's Continued Presence in the Primary

Democratic presidential nominee hopeful John Kerry is facing an unexpected challenge to his front-runner status, thanks in large part to the unexpectedly strong showing of Senator John Edwards in the Wisconsin primary. Kerry's ticket to the nomination was previously thought to be a foregone conclusion, but Edwards's performance has shaken things up, and the potential for a closely contested nomination process is now very real. Dean's surprise presence in the primary has also made things more interesting, as his continued participation has split the not-Kerry Democratic vote and kept Kerry in the news.

Key Takeaways:

• Kerry's momentum has been checked, and his frontrunner status is now in jeopardy, thanks to Edwards's powerful showing in the Wisconsin primary.
• Edwards's performance was particularly notable among independents, which could signal a shift in the Democratic Party's base.
• Dean's continued presence in the primary has given Edwards a potential path to the nomination, should he choose to throw his waning strength behind the Senator from North Carolina.
• A Dean endorsement of Edwards could help transform a routine Boston coronation into a closely contested nomination process.
• Edwards has already begun to gain traction, with a strong showing in Wisconsin and a ripe opportunity to capitalize on Kerry's perceived "fuzziness" on key issues.
• The media attention surrounding the nomination process has shifted, with a renewed focus on Edwards and his populist platform.

Statistics:

• Kerry has not made a policy speech since December 2003.
• Edwards has received over $25 million in medical malpractice lawsuit verdicts.
• Dean's campaign has raised significant funds through online donations.

Sources:

• The Washington Post, "Kerry's Fuzziness on Issues" (no date)
• The Post's Fred Hiatt (no date)
• "When the water reaches the upper level, follow the rats."; Claude Swanson, quoted in "F.D.R.'s secretary" (no date)
• Steven Grossman, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee (no date)