Edwards on electability

I think this is how John Edwards really ought to be handling the electability question. It's a much, much more liberal friendly--and for that matter compelling--explication of American perceptions of the Democratic contenders than what we've heard from him to date.

I think most journalists would agree that I'm the most progressive, Senator Obama next, and Senator Clinton closest to the center. But I'd be willing to bet that if you ask most Americans the same question, they'd reverse it." That's not only, he says, because "she's a woman and he's an African American and Ah talk lahk thee-is. It's simple geography. Ask Middle Americans: You've got three Democratic candidates. One's from New York, one's from Chicago and one's from rural North Carolina. Who do you think is most like you?

And this from Elizabeth:

I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified. I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will. It's hard for John to talk about, but it's the reality.

This is all via TNR, which happened to run an article yesterday by Josh Patashnik quoting at length several consultants suggesting ways for Hillary Clinton to spruce up her public image. Some of the suggestions are better than others, but none really makes me confident that she can actually swing more than a small percentage of the people who hate her.