It is time for me to weigh in on the outlook of the political landscape. Really, I should have done it sooner because I predicted a Kerry win in Iowa - but no one believes me now!

So, tonight the candidates debate in New Hampshire. Here are my predictions:

1) Edwards shines as most eloquent.
2) Kerry is stayed and distinguished, but a little cold (nothing new in NH).
3) Lieberman is most intelligent, but he just doesn't look like a president.
4) Dean tries too hard and looks fake.
5) Clark has no fire in his belly - he'd be a great grandpa and we'd all like him.
6) Kusinich (sp?) - intelligent and boring and...geez, those ears!
7) Sharpton - entertaining as always - look to see who he can ruffle this time.

The thing is this - unfortunately we pick our presidents based on looks. Lieberman is just a nice guy and a smart guy and he just will never be president because he doesn't look like one. It's like running Bob Dole against Clinton. Dole was a good man - what the heck was the Republican party thinking though?!

Democrats have a better grasp on the "looks game". Which means Edwards will be back if he's not offered the VP this year. The thing with Edwards is that he just can't get rid of that Southern accent - and probably doesn't want to. It's charming to me, but sadly we know that Southern accents do not carry with them the best connotations. Another thing with Edwards - I really think he needs to tell us how old he is again, because he looks to young to be president. But even in NH, expect him to do better than the poles say (which wouldn't be hard).

Kerry will be the nominee. He should, if he has any brains, take Edwards with him as VP. However, I don't think this will beat Bush because when Bush and Kerry square off in the debates, Bush will just be too likeable for those in the middle. Kerry will be too reserved. The swing votes are going to come not from the northeast, but from Missouri, Arizona and the like, and people in these states will go for the more relaxed, "having fun" candidate - Bush.

There is this difficulty with Bush getting re-elected. The tight race in the Democrat Party has caught the attention of otherwise sleepy-eyed Democrats - those who would have forgotten about the whole thing. The more people paying attention, the more people get invested, the more people turn out at the poles.

In the end it will be close, but I predict a Kerry/Edwards campaign to lose to the Bush/Cheney(?) campaign. Don't worry, though, Edwards will be back.

Oh, and Sharpton won't ruffle Edwards, even if he tries.

"pundited" by Lois

posted by Headless-in-GR @ 1/22/2004 05:16:00 PM