Call it organized chaos. As we near Super-de-duper Tuesday, the most wide-open presidential race since 1928 has become neatly compartmentalized and remarkably symmetrical.
Each major party has narrowed its field to a genuine cross-party consensus-builder and a more conventional, divisive politician intent on playing hardball. And each has a third-place finisher—backed by voting blocs traditionally vital to the party’s success—poised to play king (or queen) maker.
Barack Obama’s hope of landing the Democratic nomination may rest on a John Edwards endorsement. More than any other candidate, Edwards ran a traditional Democratic campaign, wooing labor unions and crusading for the less fortunate. Sadly, he also garnered support from those Democratic voters uneasy supporting a woman or a non-white candidate. If Edwards can bring enough of those voters to the Obama camp, it may be just enough to overcome Hillary Clinton’s increasingly negative campaign.
Conversely, Mike Huckabee can probably guarantee McCain the Republican nomination by staying in the race and not endorsing anyone. Huckabee’s main supporters—conservative evangelical Christians—have never trusted McCain, and would be more likely to back Mitt Romney in a two-way contest. As long as he remains in the race, he keeps these votes from Romney, whose bottomless pit of corporate money and endless attack ads will probably not be enough.
Each major party has narrowed its field to a genuine cross-party consensus-builder and a more conventional, divisive politician intent on playing hardball. And each has a third-place finisher—backed by voting blocs traditionally vital to the party’s success—poised to play king (or queen) maker.
Barack Obama’s hope of landing the Democratic nomination may rest on a John Edwards endorsement. More than any other candidate, Edwards ran a traditional Democratic campaign, wooing labor unions and crusading for the less fortunate. Sadly, he also garnered support from those Democratic voters uneasy supporting a woman or a non-white candidate. If Edwards can bring enough of those voters to the Obama camp, it may be just enough to overcome Hillary Clinton’s increasingly negative campaign.
Conversely, Mike Huckabee can probably guarantee McCain the Republican nomination by staying in the race and not endorsing anyone. Huckabee’s main supporters—conservative evangelical Christians—have never trusted McCain, and would be more likely to back Mitt Romney in a two-way contest. As long as he remains in the race, he keeps these votes from Romney, whose bottomless pit of corporate money and endless attack ads will probably not be enough.
Our country is desperate for more leadership and less politics. Let’s hope both parties reject slick politicians in favor of true leaders.
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