Morris and McGann observe on Townhall.com that John Edwards has ranked second (just behind Obama) on the question, “Which candidate would best lead us out of Iraq?” on Moveon.org‘s poll of 42,000 readers:
Edwards’ second place showing [25%] in the Moveon.org vote, a few points behind Obama [28%] is also interesting. Obama?s indication on the Letterman show that he would likely be satisfied to vote for a war funding bill without a withdrawal schedule but with fuzzy language about the need for a political and diplomatic solution to the war may alienate the Movon.org crowd. That language won?t appease the left by a long shot. The Moveon.org vote indicates that Edwards might be ideally positioned to move to the left of Hillary and Obama over the war funding issue and pick up even more support.
Obama and Hillary [who only scored 11%, to Edwards’ 25%] both face a crucial decision when the war funding resolution comes to a vote. If they vote for the fuzzy language compromise that Obama appeared to endorse on Letterman, they open the way for Edwards. With his domestic message of protectionism and anti-globalism not selling, Edwards could become the anti-war candidate and get back into this race if the two front runners oblige him by shooting themselves in the foot over the war funding resolution.