Kucinich First, Edwards Second in PDA Straw Poll

[Guest Tim Carpenter]

Not surprisingly in a field of eight contenders, no candidate came close to gaining a majority of the total vote in PDA's recently completed presidential straw poll. But two candidates--Dennis Kucinich (41%) and John Edwards (26%)--combined for more than 2/3 of the total vote. Over 15,000 PDA activists voted in the presidential straw poll.

 

PDA Presidential Preference Straw Poll Results

Votes cast between November 27 and December 4, 2007

Poll of PDA Membership as of October 27, 2007

 

Summary:

Total Members 80685

Total Votes 15810

Total Turnout 20 %

 

Total Votes by Candidate:

 

Biden, Joe 537 3 %

Clinton, Hillary 1470 9 %

Dodd, Christopher 182 1 %

Edwards, John 4168 26 %

Gravel, Mike 112 1 %

Kucinich, Dennis 6510 41 %

Obama, Barack 2063 13 %

Richardson, Bill 768 5 %

 

Progressive Democrats of America is a grassroots PAC that works both inside the Democratic Party and outside in movements for peace and justice. Our goal: Extend the victory of Nov. 2006 into a permanent, progressive majority. PDA's advisory board includes seven members of Congress and activist leaders such as Tom Hayden, Medea Benjamin, Cindy Sheehan and Rev. Lennox Yearwood.

[Guest John Edwards for President]

Here we are, just 30 days from the Iowa caucuses, our effort is in high gear -- and we've just heard that the dirty tricks against John's campaign are about to begin in full force.

 

This follows a news report just two weeks ago at Politico.com of polling calls in Iowa that tested the response of voters to John's decision to carry on campaigning.

 

Why am I not surprised?

 

The lobbyists, the special interests, the Washington insiders who want to continue playing politics-as-usual -- none of them want to see John Edwards and his bold ideas for real change succeed.

 

Who stands to benefit from the politics of destruction launched by these insiders? It's those who believe the inside track is the best track for our country -- and that a lobbyist always knows best. They're afraid of John's plan to take on the rigged system and return our country to the American people.

 

Mark my words: In the coming days and weeks, these special interests will put millions of dollars into attacking John. They'll open up their bag of tricks and use any tool and every means they can to tear apart his vision for One America. They may think it's fun -- but millions of Americans without health care won't see the funny side of their attacks.

 

Don't be surprised when you hear or see these attacks. Know and understand that these are the actions of those who are desperate to maintain politics and business-as-usual in Washington.

 

What you can do, however, is make a contribution to our campaign today -- a contribution that will allow us to continue taking John's message of transformational change to Iowa and New Hampshire and the other key early states.