JoeTrippi.com

Just because there’s a writers’ strike in Hollywood, doesn’t mean everything you’re seeing is reruns… OPEN UP YOUR EYES! The 2008 presidential race is a whole new season, with an entirely different cast of characters. Don’t just assume the plot lines will follow the same old path. Besides, who doesn’t love a surprise twist at the end?

REALITY CHECK – THIS IS 2008, NOT 2004.

1. The role of John Kerry will not be reprised by Barack Obama. Despite raising the most money in the history of presidential politics and commanding a national audience with the celebrity nature of his campaign, Senator Obama has failed to overtake Senator Clinton in national polls. And after spending the most days campaigning in Iowa and the most money on Iowa TV, Obama has yet to see any measurable increase in support in the nation’s first caucus state. Last week’s debate was the third time this cycle the Obama campaign announced it was recalibrating strategy – and yet most voters are still waiting for “the gloves to come off.” Obama is now drawing the same sharp distinctions with Senator Clinton that Senator Edwards has been making for months – he’s just not as effective at it. Voters have been exposed to the message and the messenger – and they’re just not receptive. Perceived changes in the campaign dynamics are not going to send voters back to Obama after they’ve resoundingly decided to not support him.
2. Everyone loves a good conspiracy theory, but Hillary Clinton is not Laura Palmer, Dick Gephardt, Howard Dean – and there’s not a “swift boat” in sight on this set. The frontrunner in 2004 was the anti-establishment candidate. Now, the frontrunner is the face of the broken system in Washington. And here’s a news flash – asking questions about a candidate’s position on the issues is not attack politics, it’s responsible politics. Given the choice between a candidate who defends the broken system in Washington and a candidate who has the strength, experience, and courage to fight for real change, Democratic primary voters and caucus goers will choose change. For the past ten months, this race has been framed as a choice between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But, as the past few weeks have proved beyond a doubt, the only candidate in this race who presents a formidable foil to Senator Clinton’s establishment candidacy is John Edwards. Voters know the system in Washington is rigged, and they will not support a candidate who defends the corrupt system when a strong alternative candidate is presented.
3. Starring John Edwards as… HIMSELF. He’s not playing a part. John Edwards has spent his life fighting on behalf of regular people and beating powerful interests. He grew up in a small rural town, went to public schools and was the first in his family to go to college. And despite his success, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. That’s something voters who meet him recognize and respect – and its why Edwards has low unfavorables, high favorables, and is widely liked. Raymond is not the only one everybody loves. As the first candidate to lay out detailed plans on everything from providing universal health care to ending the war in Iraq to eliminating domestic and global poverty, Edwards has led the ideas race on the issues that matter most to voters. He has articulated his vision for a bold new direction for this country – and voters know that they can trust him to keep his word.