Early Support Tilts Towards Edwards Among Southwest Missouri Democrats; Quiet Unease About Hillary Lingers

*JACKSON DAYS 2007*

An unscientific survey of Southwest Missouri Democrats attending this weekend's Jackson Days rally in Springfield finds strong support for John Edwards in his bid for the presidency.

In speaking to many party officials as well as loyal Democratic donors, the sense is that the race for the 2008 nomination is wide-open and volatile. Citing substance and electability, area Democrats most often picked Edwards as the candidate they would like to see at the top of the ticket in Missouri.

Edwards and Hillary Clinton were the only two candidates with visible campaign tables set up at the Clarion Hotel over the weekend. While Clinton clearly has support among a fair number of area Democrats, that support seems to be tepid as questions of her electability remain a concern. In other instances, she's a second choice -- to Edwards.

"I think there's a following for Hillary and Edwards here locally," said one Springfield Democratic official. "Obama has the progressive crowd, but that's a thin slice here," she said.

Another female Democratic activist said that while in her heart she wants to vote for Hillary because she's a woman, she believes Edwards would be a better fit for statewide party-building efforts in the Show-Me State.

"Some people think Hillary's a nightmare scenario for Missouri, especially for us down here in southwest Missouri where we have to recruit candidates to run for office," said another Springfield party official.

Some potential legislative candidates said they would be less likely to make a run in 2008 if Hillary tops the ballot in Missouri. "It's definitely a factor in their minds," said a party official. "It makes it real tough to run in conservative districts," said another.

Liz Esther Green of Lebanon said she is supporting John Edwards because of healthcare. "Healthcare is the biggest issue for me. Our children are one medical disaster away from being medically bankrupt. He's got a plan," said Green. "Plus, it's his story, how he made it. He's the American dream, and he feels like one of us."

Bill Williams of Lebanon is more practical in his support for the 2004 vice-presidential nominee. "He's the one who I think can win," Williams said. "On Hillary, I think she has problems selling here."

The KY3 Political Notebook has also learned that Edwards won a recent straw poll of Democratic committee chairs in a vote including seven Ozarks counties. In a poll of chairs and delegates from Laclede, Camden, Shannon, Oregon, Howell, Texas and Wright counties, Edwards beat Clinton 7 to 5 with 3 undecided, according to a Democrat involved in the poll.

While this vote is early and represents a small number of people, the straw poll gives a general sense of where area Democratic activists stand on the candidates.

"Healthcare is at the top of people's minds here," said Green. "The very poor get insurance, the very rich can afford insurance, it's the middle who get left out. If you are self-employed or your business doesn't provide it, you are out of luck," she said.

"Edwards spoke about healthcare in the last campaign, and talked about the need and stayed with it. He has a good plan, but it's not cheap," Green added.

Green and some other Democrats also mentioned that they liked New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who is considered at the top of the second tier of candidates running. But Green made it clear what is most important to all the Democrats in the room. "As a Democrat, I'm concerned first and foremost with winning. We want to win," she said.