AND FROM THE OUTSIDE POST POSITION....

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- Advisers to Hillary Clinton have been pushing the notion that John Edwards poses a growing threat in the Iowa caucuses, suggesting their internal data show something of a mini-surge for the former senator from North Carolina. Barack Obama's advisers have countered that it makes for a convenient story line -- and is evidence that the Clinton campaign is threatened by a two-way race with Obama.

On Wednesday, Clinton took Edwards on over his signature issue, indicating that she may view the Edwards improvements as quite real. "People talk about poverty in this campaign," Clinton said during a crowded event here, noting that her husband's administration was an era of great progress on the issue. "Well, we lifted more people out of poverty during the 1990s than at any time in our history.

"We had policies that actually helped to create 22.7 million new jobs. The typical Iowan family saw an increase of $7,000 in their incomes during the '90s."
During an appearance in Portsmouth, N.H., on Wednesday, Edwards responded sharply. "There are 37 million people living in poverty in America. Alleviating poverty is the cause of my life," he said. "What I would ask Hillary Clinton and the other candidates to do is to join me for calling for an increase in the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and to put forth a comprehensive plan to eliminate poverty, which I have done."

The above story is from today's Washington Post.

The phrase that caught my eye was HIS SIGNATURE ISSUE.

HIS SIGNATURE ISSUE, simply put, is.......

TO END POVERTY IN AMERICA

A highly successful trial lawyer running for President whose primary objection is to end poverty in America, can't be a totally bad idea.

We have spend so much time focusing on Barack and Hillary because of certain connections they both have and because they both offer an interesting option within the realm of racial and gender awareness growth.

Six months ago I predicted that the convention would be deadlocked after the first ballot and that on the second ballot JOHN EDWARDS would get the nomination.

I'm not sure the American public could handle that type of excitement....

And there is always the possibility that he could win on the first ballot, but I think the Barack and Hillary machines are just too powerful to succumb until a second ballot is needed to secure the Democratic nominee.

Neither of them is going to placate the other.... or the American public.

And the only concession will be when they realize that neither can win the nomination....and then the scramble will take place on the floor, behind the doors, in the bathrooms...and for the first time in American politics..... iphones and blackberries will be the machines that help resolve the stalemate.

I think Hillary's people will move to Edward's because there might be a chance for her to be named Vice-President and EDWARDS/CLINTON has huge upside potential against anything the Republicans can conjure up.

But I'm really getting ahead of myself.

JOHN EDWARDS MIGHT POSSIBLY WIN IOWA

JOHN EDWARD MIGHT POSSIBLY WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE

People are a funny lot....and just when you think you've got them figured out....whack!

All the OPRAH stuff and the BILL stuff might just be tooooooooooo freakin much for the average American voter....

and from what everybody is saying.....

IOWA IS THE HOME OF THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN VOTER.

IF THAT'S TRUE....THEN THERE EXISTS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY ARE ALREADY TIRED OF THE TWO BIG MACHINES OPERATING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR PRECIOUS FARM LAND.

and JOHN EDWARDS is the most sensible alternative option....even though I really don't understand people's problem with Joe Biden.

Hell, the guy looks like he's already President of the United States....and if one is looking for experience.... no one comes close.

But when the numbers aren't there...they just aren't there.....

Now maybe after all the hoopla has finally died down it might just be that.....

EDWARDS/BIDEN

makes the most sense.

Wasn't Lincoln a trial lawyer?.......I think that worked out fairly well within historical perspectives.

EDWARDS/BIDEN

Has a ring to it.....don't you think?

The only thing that matters right now is what IOWANS are thinking.

And if you know any Iowans....then you know that anything is possible within the framework of their realities.

After all, they are the......

quintessential american....

and the ball is in their court....even if it is a court made of corn and soy.

Except of course for the magical Field of Dreams.

I wonder how many candidates have stopped by that field to yell.....

Play ball!

Michael Timothy McAlevey