Yes, by now we're all aware of the news. Edwards has decided to accept federal matching funds for the primaries.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Now, I'm personally of the opinion that the decision handicaps Edwards if he becomes our nominee, and as a result I'm personally less likely to support him in the primaries.
I'll also note, it's a historical FACT that Edwards once was planning to opt-out, and his decision to opt-in now is clearly one that is being made out of necessity, so PLEASE do not try to spin that away. Not here, anyway, because I'm not buying.
(more on the flip)
All that said, even though this is DailyKos, the biggest left blog around, I hope everyone here realizes that only the TINIEST fraction of the electorate is going to have even the remotest clue about the ramifications of accepting federal matching funds.
I know it's all the latest rage and angst here, and that there is much criticism, attacking, defending, and wailing and gnashing of teeth about it. I know that everything comes under the microscope here, and that we specialize in up-to-the-minute speculation, analysis, prognostication and reading of tea leaves, not to mention goat entrails.
Again, I reiterate: THE VAST MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, MUCH LESS CARE ABOUT IT.
So sure, knock yourself out here, defending your candidate or picking another one. Do that for as long as you like. And when you're done, get outside, organize your tails off, make your phone calls, donate your money if you feel like it, and you will end up being much more productive than lounging around here.
Support Edwards and still do? Great! Go out and prove all of us naysayers wrong.
Don't support Edwards and never will as a result of this news? Great! Go out and pick someone else and work to elect him or her.
As for me, I'll probably take option three, which is to continue to fence sit. Which pretty much only leaves me with speculation, analysis, prognostication, and reading of tea leaves (no goat entrails, though) here.
Yeah, I know, shame on me. But I still don't have a dog in this fight. For now, I'll continue to save it for the general.
DTH
PS: I'm including a poll for the heck of it, just to gauge the waters of this particular microcosm; again, I will bet lots of money that 90-95% of Democratic primary voters will not know or care about this issue.