Poll: No Home-State Advantage for Edwards
A new poll shows Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton leading North Carolina's own John Edwards, with 37 percent of respondents indicating their support for the former First Lady.
Posted — UpdatedThe poll, conducted Sept. 24-27 by the Elon University Institute for Politics and Public Affairs, surveyed 664 North Carolina residents. It has a margin of error between 6 and 7 percentage points.
"I think we're really starting to lose our connection to Edwards," said Andrew Taylor, a political science professor at North Carolina State University.
Taylor downplayed Edwards' home-state disadvantage, noting North Carolina's presidential primary is so late in the process that it likely won't matter in choosing the Democratic nominee.
South Carolina could pose more of a problem for Edwards than North Carolina, he said. The Palmetto State is the only primary he won in 2004, and it's early in the primary process next year, which makes it important for momentum.
"He is not getting much traction there, and the African-American vote is really falling away from underneath him," he said.
Taylor also said Edwards' decision to accept public campaign financing signals a problem for his campaign. By opting for public money, Edwards ties himself to a $40 million fundraising cap, far below the $100 million spending level that many analysts predict will be needed to secure the nomination.
"If you really wanted to be a serious player in this, you needed to forget public financing," he said. "It's a sign of weakness. It's a sign of trouble. But it's not necessarily a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Edwards said his decision is a sign of integrity – he's holding the line on the money chase.
"I don't mean to sound holier than thou, but I think the system is broken. It doesn't work, which is why I called on all Democrats to say, 'We're not going to take Washington lobbyist money,'" he said.
The uncertainty was much greater among Republican choices for governor, with two-thirds polled not choosing a candidate. Salisbury attorney Bill Graham had 12 percent of the vote, following by state Sen. Fred Smith and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr at 11 percent apiece.
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