CNN

Why wasn't Edwards in the poll? He has consistently polled better than Obama or Clinton against EVERY potential Republican candidate. And the goal of the Democrats has to be to get a Democrat elected.

As exciting as it would be to elect a President different from any we've ever had (in terms of race and sex), it is more important to elect a President different from the one we have now. If Edwards has the best chance of winning in November, the voters should know that.

He was proven wrong about the 200,000 homeless veterans, so Schneider, the prick he is, is saying this to overshadow his arrogance. Watch Bill O'reilly's interview with John Edwards. O'reilly was the one who got the stats sheet and confirmed there are approx. 195,000 veterans living homeless in the US. This is just to get to another subject because that one was proven wrong. He says things with no substanciating evidence. A sad excuse for a journalist.

Whoever decided to leave Edwards out of the most recent hypothetical match-up polls should have his/her competence and bias examined. Edwards has beaten all Republican frontrunners for several months in all of these hypothetical match-up polls (I think Rasmussen, Zogby and CNN have all run these types of polls). He has actually won a respectable number of delegates to the convention, albeit not as many as Clinton and Obama, but a respectable number nonetheless. There is no rationale explanation for not continuing to cover him in the polls. It would be like a telecom analyst not covering Verizon stock simply because AT&T and Sprint have larger marketshare (or because the two larger companies asked the analyst to stop covering Verizon). The fact that Edwards is still the subject of discussion despite receiving far less media coverage, the fact that Martin Luther King III sent him a letter saying his father would be proud and to, please, carry on, is a testament to this man's electability and leadership on all critical issues. In short, hypothetical match-up pollsters, keep your polls honest: include Edwards.

the real question is ..... Why exactly wasn't Edwards in the latest poll?

It is misleading, also, to decide for the voters what their options are. If Edwards won in the earlier poll, wouldn't he be the first one you'd consider matching against McCain if you were reporting the news instead of making the news?

I said Edwards was a phony, he has been citing this same poll for 6 months, just like he's a broken record on 'my daddy worked in the mill, I'm a son of a mill worker...'. He talks poverty poverty poverty. Why doesn't he sell his triple sized mansion and distribute some of the money to the poor then?

Get real Clinton used Obama in this debate. She figured if She could get Edward to look like a good son of the south, It makes Obama look bad argueing with her. this is what Clinton and Edwards chance meeting was all about. She knows the Demacrates won't put Edwards up againt Mccain or Romney. So the Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton machine wins. Obama has a real chance, and the Demacrates don't want to try him rather he wins hands down or not. Who wants the Cllintons for enemies. So is this is the kind of awful people you want in the white house, go ahead and vote Edwards. Because it's a vote for Hillary, face it.

I would suppose that not only his poll was old, but that his ideas are equally tired and old. Henceforth, he is being swept under the carpet. Discreetly of course..

If you just look at the number of GOP and Independents who selected him in Iowa...

Look at how low the objective count was for Hillary in MI where she ran alone.

Look at how the GOP hijacked parts of his agenda–to fill their own populist message...

Weigh the facts-objectively he stands a good change for drawing fiscal conservatives Dems, independents, and GOP who are in favor of centrist social values.

We think he could–and remember...there are far less African Americans in the GOP–so Obama may not be so likely to capture the women or the blacks of the GOP because his policies are less fiscally responsible.

A tie with McCain isn't good enough. What are the latest head-to-head numbers? Whoever beats all Repellicans most consistently is most electable.

CNN is starting to disgust me. It really is losing a lot of credibility.

If CNN is to retain any credibility they should include everyone who got, say 10% of the vote or higher on average over the entire race. At the moment it really seems like it's CNN's intent to get rid of John Edwards as soon as they think they can get away with it. I hope CNN can find it's way and become the news channel we all used to go to for actual news, and not go the way of FOX "news", becoming a propeganda outlet.

Great point Bill, and your analysis is shy by seven months of election night. But Bill, admit it, you know this country! The bottom line is, all of the political analysts know * that the Republicans won't have to campaign at all in states where Hillary is a bad memory of infidelity or seen to be the symbol of "pushy feminism" (Rush Limbaugh would say "feminazi" here, no?), or where Obama's ethnicity or his "inexperience" (as in, they'll say anything BUT black in attacking him, maybe whip out Condoleeza and Colin to do the talking for maximum impact!) will be easy to push from the grassroots up.

So, Edwards was right...he is the only Democrat who can win against a Republican in November. I'm almost willing to believe that Huckabee could beat either Obama or Clinton in a presidential election. Now that's scary. But then again, so were the 2000 and 2004 elections.

* Apparently Democrats are too wrapped up trying to feel good about themselves over their "happy diversity" solely because Clinton's gender and Obama's race are being plugged at every available opportunity.

Since when did the news media decide they had a mandate to create the news instead of reporting the news? From almost the very beginning the news media has made the Democratice primary a two person race and has seriously discounted a very strong contender in John Edwards. The same has not been true in the coverage of the Republican candidates. Why is this? I cringe to think that the media thinks that race and gender play the biggest role in this election. Does the media really give the American public so little credit that they think people cast their vote primarily because of a candidate's race or gender rather than basing their vote on the issues? I find this kind of dialogue trivial and insulting. Let's instead look at the serious issues that exist in this country and all of the candidate's plans to address these problems. I think news organizations who continually focus on just a couple of candidates so early in the race raise serious ethical questions about the role of the media in this country.

Not one Democrat can beat Ron Paul. He wants our troops home now! Nothing will change if you elect Hillary,Obama or Edwards, the war will go on,and on, and on,and on, and on....

POLL THEM ALL , LET THE POLLS TELL THE TRUTH!

After watching the debate this evening, it is clearly evident that CNN and other major media outlets continue to promote the Democratic race for the White House as a two candidate race. This campaign should not be about gender or race, but should strictly stand on issues and the platforms of all three candidates should be represented equally. Immediately following the debate, the primary topic of conversation was the delimma faced by African American women and whether or not they vote gender or race. Are there not three candidates in this race? It seems to me that the media outlets are so enthralled with the "historical" attributes of this race that they are not affording other candidates (namely Edwards) equal camera time. Shame on you CNN. You usually are "fair and balanced".

What's the deal with you "professional" news folks? What is the reason Edwards is not included in your polls? I watched the debates from Myrtle Beach tonight, and Edwards sounded pretty good to me. Clearly more focused on the issues and definitely answered the questions directly - how rare is that? It's becoming apparent that you news people have another agenda...

I've read accusations of media bias from backers of nearly every candidate in the race now - on both sides. While it's nice to see that people are paying attention and challenging the lead sheep, Bill's previous coverage has often included analysis of the nuances, both truths and half-truths, behind the candidates rhetoric. To accuse him of indiviudually favoring a candidate because he/she would better protect the status quo is unfounded. I also don't agree that CNN fosters some kind of organization-wide bias - however people may certainly be more inclined to believe in such a thing in the Rupert Murdoch media age.

I agree that Edwards suffers from a "lack of coverage", unfortunately that is because he also suffers from a lack of interest. Why I cannot say, but one of his problems might be that he appears to be the opposite of what he is. His photogenic, perfectly groomed style, southern ooze and corporate lawyer background are such a stark contradiction to the issues that define him that I wonder if many voters just can't wrap their heads around him. He's a great candidate and I hope he is chosen as a running mate.

Talk of a Southern running mate brings up a certain regional irony with the Dem frontrunners - two odd Yankees, an African-American and a First Lady of Arkansas...

Edwards is going to be Hilliary's vice. They both have universal healthcare on their agenda. And Edwards knows being so young he can always stump for prez after serving 1 or 2 terms as a vice.

Well, why didn't you put Edwards in the latest poll? So you could make sure YOUR two candidates wouldn't lose to him? I guess it's just too sensationalist to have a woman and a black man running for president, and CNN as well as other media outlets just can't seem to let it go. From the beginning media outlets have tried to push John Edwards, the ONLY candidate speaking issues instead of venom, completely out of the spotlight. For every 10 stories that Obama and Clinton EACH get, John Edwards gets maybe one if the American People are lucky.
Sure, he is a WHITE MALE and I guess that just doesn't push the politcally correct news meter up high enough, but he is the only one I see making sense instead of making attacks. We DEMAND unbiased media coverage! After the last eight disastrous years it should be pretty obvious that we need a decent coverage for ALL candidates, the choices are slim enough as it is. John Edwards is THE best candidate out there, the one who has taken the least amount of money from the most dangerous lobbyists out there. If he is president, at the very least, there will be a much smaller share of America's interests SOLD to corporate sponsers.
I'm disgusted with BOTH parties at this point, especially since the democrats BETRAYED us after we put them in control of house and senate. However, John Edwards is still the best choice we have... if we choose with our BRAINS instead of what CNN and other new outlets TELL us to choose. This bias is sickening, fix it right now CNN or you lose all credibility you have remaining as a news outlet.

CNN and all the media has been dismissing John Edwards too early. Put him in the poll – the American people ARE interested in what he has to say – even if they are for other candidate.

John raises the conversation – treat him like the viable candidate he is.

I just saw the debate in the rerun after reading Bill's comment. Actually John Edwards said something along these lines... "the last time I checked and all three of us were included in the poll I was the one who could bit John McCain." So he said exactly the same with you Bill! No point in fact checking him.

Sorry Edward is not going to make it, the only place for him is VP for Hillary

Shame on you Bill Schneider!

Edwards was not matched up in that poll, eh? Maybe because CNN and the corporate media machine decided to blackout his campaign. The fact that you tried to call him out here is a disgrace. Try matching him up the next poll, I bet you he still looks really good in a general election. This is the peoples election, not CNN's!

I think it's misleading for the media to leave Edwards off of polls and virtually ignore him in coverage - the media, CNN included, has been pushing Clinton and Obama down the throats of the country for a year while all but ignoring Edwards, Richardson, Biden, Dodd, and Kuchinich.

I find it objectionable that the media, CNN included, keeps portraying this race as though only Clinton or Obama really matter. I blame the media every time I hear somebody say, "I like Edwards better, but I'll vote for {Obama/Clinton} since he hasn't got a chance. THAT is directly the fault of the media for not giving unbiased and equal coverage.

Maybe Edwards could use more current stats if he were fairly represented in your polling and reporting.

GO EDWARDS - he's the only Democrat I'll vote for. No vote for Clinton/Obama - they are not acceptable to me.

again, you have shown to be biased!

thanks for rejecting my comment

ROFLMAO!

Ha Ha Poor Edwards.

I do not understand why Obama/Edward, get all of the free ride. During the debate at Myrtle Beach, Obama, is the first one to start firing rounds at the Clinton"s. Every time the Clinton's turn a coner they are criticized. This one of the reason why Hilliary won the last two states. Lets put all of the plates on the table, and stop giving one side all of the free ride. Base on said comments Hillary will end upwinning S.C. Please post my comments.

cnn is racist too . they never check facts on obama but they let people boo hollary . they r the ones spreading racism

I support Obama but I think it is ridiculous that CNN didn't put Edwards in that poll. There are THREE major Dem candidates and I want the info on all of them. What, CNN didnt have the money for the extra two seconds it would have taken to ask people what they think about Edwards. Give me a break!!
I agree with Edwards supporters, stop writing Edwards off. I expected more from you CNN!!

Obama/ Edwards(?) 08

I agree with those frustrated at the lack of coverage of John Edwards. I've been on the Obama bandwagon, but after tonight I've changed my mind. I think Edwards is the best thing going. I fear that the media has already decided that it's a two-candidate race, though.

Folks look beyond ths. Polls do go wrong. Whoever win is a win for USA.

Edwards should have said "in the last poll with all three of us." That would have covered things. As it was, it sounded like he was either misinformed or slanting the truth. At least it sounded that way to me, who knew about more recent info.

STOP excluding Edwards in your polls!
CNN has dropped to the level of FOX NEWS!

Don't push your profit making candidates on the American People! We will decide who the best candidate of change is! Not the Media. Your job is to fairly cover the race on both sides and your not doing that.

CNN has lost my respect

Since when is "reference" a verb? I see CNN.com consistently sneaking this awkward phrase into its web journalism–or is grammar optional in the blog age?

About that poll....

Edwards was not saying he was the ONLY competitive Democrat...he made the case that he was best equipped nationally to beat McCain. Obama and Clinton running even with McCain in the 1/12 CNN Poll does not change that, ESPECIALLY since we don't know where an Edwards-McCain race would lie, since CNN has decided apparently that there are only two Democrats running for president that are viable.

And, by the by, I also find it interesting that CNN saw fit to poll Rudy Giuliani, whose campaign has gotten its ass handed to them by Ron Paul more often than not in this primary season, but NOT John Edwards.

It's disengenous not to include Edwards in the poll and then to fault him for using an old poll.

What has CNN got against Edwards and his supporters? I've sent comment after comment to them, all completely clean and proper - not to mention persuasive - on this entry. Edwards scored best among the Democrats in every head to head poll they did. Then they just dropped him out of the polling - and now go out of their way to debunk his very potent and salient argument that he is the strongest Democrat to run in the general election in November. What's the matter CNN? Are you afraid to cover Edwards' strength against every Republican running" Or would you rather the Democrats didn't win in November. You sure are doing your best to stifle Edwards and his winning message.

Democrats - don't be deceived - Edwards is our best chance to win in November. That is the biggest difference between these three Democrats. Only one can win in November. There is too much at stake in November to vote for any Democrat other than Edwards.

I'm sure Bill Schneider spends plenty of time every day studying the latest poll results. That figures, since it's his job to be on top of them.

John Edwards' job is running for president. Yes, that's right; Edwards is still in the race in spite of the near-blackout on news about him major media imposed after he failed to win in Iowa. As someone who's been putting in long days and nights traveling, speaking, shaking hands, preparing for debates and debating, maybe Edwards should be excused for letting himself get a little behind on poll results.

That's reasonable if you want to be fair — as opposed to making your story read as though Edwards was deliberately trying to mislead, or maybe desperate, and therefore touting no-longer-valid poll numbers. At the least, you could've pointed out the problem to him or his campaign and requested a statement, giving him a chance to defend himself or acknowledge that the data he cited are out of date.

I recall in the 2004 election year how RNC chairman Ken Mehlman and GOP spokesman Matt Dowd appeared fairly regularly on CNN. Both went beyond the expected spinning to lie like champs, repeatedly, without being challenged or corrected during or after their appearances.

I can't help but believe there's a double standard in force at CNN.

CNN: Stop the concerted and bias effort of marginalizing John Edwards. We the People want a real , unfettered debate , campaign and election. Your disenfranchising practice must end. America is getting pist at the pundits and the bias. When will you start showing Edwards and stop calling this a 2 person race? Stop calling out front runners! The race is by far not over, and all of these candidates deserve equal media time. The American people want fair and equal coverage.

PS. Your ratings may improve if you give Edwards a full hour interview to share who he is and what he offers to America.

Geez, CNN–

Just because you folks stopped matching Edwards up in the head to heads is no reason to call him a liar. He was leading EVERY Republican in the head to heads every time you did test him! Stop trying to decide this election FOR the voters. EDWARDS is the STRONGEST of the Democrats for the general election and he has the most progressive ideas and agenda.

Let's all just face it, electability in November should be the the first, second and third most important consideration for Democrats in this vitally important Presidential race.

Edwards is living in the past and is having a hard time conceding the inevitable. But it's foolish to think Obama can pull in Independents and Republicans with McCain the GOP candidate. McCain definitely has the edge there in pulling in Independents and Democrats. Obama can't hold up under the Rezko unfolding facts and Louis Farrakhan link to Obama's church. One sentence out of McCain's mouth about Farrakhan and it's all over for Obama. I can still hear him saying that famous sentence about Farrakhan vs. Falwell. Hillary is the only one on the same level with McCain. They would be more civil than other matchups, therefore not alienating either party, but would be encouraging for new voters to enter the election.

Who can really get the job done in Washington? Clinton will fall into the same politics as usual routine, and Obama will be slammed against a Republican candidate. Edwards is a Democrat's only authentic choice.

The common American will not devote 3 hours to watching this debate or future oneslike I just did. I also gave up 4 hours of time to watch the New Hampshire debates too. No, the average American gets their information from news soundbites and ads. It is not the media's job to 'cull the field' for us- put all of the candidates out there for equal exposure when you do reports from the campaign trail. Be careful of the biased language that is always used when discussing the likes of Edwards or Thompson and Paul for that matter. CNN, Fox, PBS and so forth are American media networks, not Russian. Allow balanced and fair reporting, no matter what will happen to the ratings.

Whose fault is it that Edwards has to use old numbers to make his most persuasive case? It is the fault of shoddy polling by CNN and other pollsters who already wrote off the ONLY Democrat (Edwards) who consistently outscored EVERY Republican in the head to head matchups. This is the most important fact of Edwards' candidacy - he can win in November and the other Democrats can't. Nothing about their positions matters if the candidate cannot win in November. Democrats must keep their eyes on the ball. Ability to win in November is the ONLY salient fact here.

When you say "Edwards was not matched up in that poll" meaning the most recent one, does that mean Edwards was not one of the choices given to those polled? Gee, looks like CNN's corporate stiffs are controlling the polling – deliberately leaving Edwards off the roster so he CAN'T be voted for – then calling him on it when he references the last poll he WAS included in when he did place ahead of the celebrity kids! How could he reference his numbers in the more recent poll if he wasn't included? That's crazy. Wouldn't it make more sense to be consistent in the selections offered to get true numbers when you poll rather than completely leaving out the candidate who won a few weeks earlier? Guess not. After all, he doesn't take the corp and lobbyist money so doesn't have all that much to spend with you guys, right?

If you look at the issues and not race, then its clear that Edwards is the best for real change in American. Bush has sold off America ot BIG BUSINESS, and lets be real people. Obama and Clinton are both in debt to BIG BUSINESS. No one raises the amounts of money they have with out taking money from BIG BUSINESS. Edwards is the only person speaking out against BIG BUSINESS and giving this cournty back to the middle class.

The media has a vested instrest in Clinton and Obama becasue they are larger profites for them selfs (add Sales) so that why the media is not giving Edwards equal air time in the debates.

Pretty convenient to exclude Edwards from recent head-to-head match-up polls and then criticize him for quoting an old poll. Why is he being excluded from the polls in the first place?

Ok, so put Edwards in the poll !!!!

This is NOT (CNN's) election! We want EDWARDS!

It saddens me how it's not the candidates making the issue of race an everyday issue but the media. It's seems to be always the media playing a role in the efforts of dragging issues such as race into the mud when we, viewers and readers, no longer want to hear about it or read about it. As an African American young woman, I'm tired of the media talking about race. It seems so do the candidates. I agree, CNN stop making it a race issue. This election isn't about the color of your skin or your gender...people and the MEDIA need to remember this election is about who can bring this country up off it's knees and back to it's full glory!

You make a good point here Bill, though perhaps not the one that you wanted to make. You mentioned that a month and a half ago you included Edwards, but that the latest polls didn't include him. Perhaps the only thing that you have highlighted is your bias and the unwillingness to include those which CNN and their ilk have deemed "not top tier candidates." Edwards is suffering from a lack of coverage more than he is a lack of message.
The point that Rick made was a great one as well... since when have you started calling politicians on honesty?

Why was Edwards not matched up in the latest CNN poll? Did CNN decide he was not a worthy candidate? If that latest poll had included Edwards, he may still have` been shown to be the most competitive against McCain. After all, he was a month and a half ago. Why wouldn't he be now? Have the candidates stances on the issues changed that much in a month and a half. I think not.

I don't think John Edwards' comments were misleading at all. But I do think CNN's commments are misleading and far too often.

Thanks for the facts. This is just like the half truth Edwards told about in the last debate about his greatest accomplishment being in the bill he did to help the girl whose insurance company turned down her claim. When in reality he did work up the bill but it never made it to law. So, how is that a great achievement? While I found Edwards did do a good job in tonight's debate , I do feel that it is important to set the facts straight. This is what Hillary has been doing with both Obama and Edwards but the media portrays her as attacking her opponents. This is not true it is reporting the facts as you just posted.

I agree with Rick. The excluding of Edwards in the most recent poll (with 2000 delegates to go) coupled with the fact that the media feels obligated to "call him out" on everything only furthers my belief that the media and CNN in particular has been out for Edwards from the get-go. Otherwise, why exclude him from the new poll (in which he probably would have beaten McCain AGAIN) ? I don't see Mike Huckabee being excluded from republican polls! Lets look at the tale of the tape...very early on (last year) Edwards was leading in the first polls in Iowa. Nothing was made of that. Nor the fact that he finished 2nd there in '04. Nor that he was the runner-up overall in '04. He finished 2nd in Iowa and it was played down with commentators mocking Edwards's stating that fact saying "he only finished 1% ahead of Clinton." Given the lack of coverage in comparison to the other candidates this "surprise showing" was amazing. And the most pressing question is: WHY AREN'T THESE COMMENTATORS CALLING OUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES WITH SIMILAR SCRUTINY? Look at the other stories about the other candidates...they refer to style and presentaiton, not substance. When the country is further in the crapper because a republican wins in '08, I hope every democrat writes CNN and all the others to thank them for their slated coverage of this primary season. When Roe v. Wade is overturned because Justice Stephens retires and President McCain appoints another conservative, I hope all the women write CNN thanking them. When we go to war with Iran and/or lose another 3,000 servicemen overseas, I hope the parents of the dead write CNN and thank them. And when the straw eventually causes the back of the country to break for foriegn interests, I hope CNN can justify slanting an election for the .5 increase in ratings that resulted from covering "the drama unfolding" between a black man and a woman.

The corporate media is terrified of John Edwards, but look out, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox! Edwards WILL be the Democratic candidate and will win!

John Edwards is in fact the only Democratic candidate that beats ALL republican challengers in polls based on the national election this fall. It's a shame that the media (CNN included) have already written him out of the election and will not let the American people decide for themselves based on the imperative issues at hand. Case in point, he wasn't even included in your so-called latest CNN poll – Go figure??? Is this what we call a true democracy? I think not...

Once again Obama refuses to pledge allegience to the flag of the United States of America. There are pictures of this with others on stage and he has his back to the flag ,both hands by his side as the others pledge allegience. Think about this............Is this really who you want to lead the greatest nation in the world. Not me. I fought for that flag and Obama denies it. He wont ever get my vote.

John Edwards is the working mans president. Make it official and elect the man who works for the working man.

John Edwards is the only Democratic candidate who can be a Republican in the general election.

Imagine not even including John Edwards in the most recent poll against John McCain, when he won the previous one. And then knocking him for quoting the most recent that condescended to include him.
Just reminds us all of his media blacklist in favour of a 2 person Presidential race, after he came in second in Iowa.
What a dishonor to exclude the candidate who doesn't have the advertising wealth and backing of corporate lobbyists.
And the laughter on Anderson Cooper's panel when asked who balck Americans would endorse when John Edwards name is mentioned. I am absolutely certain Dr. Martin Luther King would be embarassed by the treatment of a viable candidate who cares so much about issues of great importance to African Americans, women, working poor and others that could use a strong advocate in Washington.

Well, Schneider, maybe CNN shouldn't have left him out of the last poll.

I mean, how are you going to COMPARE one poll to the last, if you take Edwards out of the most recent one?

Edwards was being truthful since the poll he refers to seems to be the last one done by CNN that he was included in. The big question is – why wasn't Edwards included in the most recent CNN poll? If I remember correctly, only Obama & Hillary were included, but at least four Republicans were included in a similar poll matching them up against Democrats.

I just don't get it. Edwards is still in this race, and I'm getting so tired of the media ignoring him. This media blackout has been going on ever since he announced his candidacy.

No. "Misleading" is when CNN decides Americans, 10 months before the elections, should have only two [unelectable] Democratic candidates to choose from, and rigs the polls around that.

It's not a question of if they tie; it's a question of if the WIN and if they have a good chance of winning in the general. It seems to me that in the polls I've seen John is the only one who can beat McCain by a significant margin

On a different note, did anyone notice who one of the corporate sponsors was for this debate? A clean coal company. They also sponsored the NV debate. Could be why CNN virtually ignores Edwards and keeps saying he is not a viable candidate. Edwards does not include "clean coal" as an alternative energy resource in his policy plan. When you have a corporate sponsor for a debate, how fair can it really be?

Pre primary polls are the only ones we can rely on because they assume nomination. And those polls consistantly declare that Edwards would win the election, and that the Clintons or Obama would lose outright. It's not too late. If Democrats wake up, they can still win the election in November. But it's Edwards or bust I'm afraid.

I don't think it's misleading when, as Edwards said tonight, the last poll where ALL 3 were matched up, he does beat all Republican candidates. Once again, CNN has shown their bias by not including Edwards in that last poll.

Perhaps Mr. Edwards would have been able to reference a more recent poll if CNN hadn't deliberately left his name off of its latest Presidential Match-up poll! While taking the time to point out John's "misleading" poll statement, perhaps you'd kindly take additional time to explain in detail why CNN chose to effectively drop Mr. Edwards from the list of Democratic contenders. Thank you in advance for your kind assistance in this matter. We await your reply...

If you look at how has the most experience in really representing a state in general in making law you have to give all the cu does to Obama. He was a state senator and then turned around and became a US senator. Stop making it a race issue CNN and making it about the actual issues at hand

edwards couldn't get voted for the village idiot, he thinks insane McCain is going to win the republican party elections, yup this is coming for a girl/guy that is so far behind he thinks he is important enought to win still, the dumb breck girl.

He's trying to tell the republicans andthe rest of the country who to vote for, sorry little girl, this country is smarter than that. CNN is encouraging it so they can influence the vote also, CNN, stay out of it and let this country decide who they want as a leader.

lat I checked mitt Romney was ahead in the republican side of the race.

Go Mitt!

It's completely fair for Edwards to bring up that poll. As you said, Bill, in the last poll CNN did Edwards WAS NOT MATCHED UP WITH THE REPUBLICANS! How could he talk about the last poll that CNN conducted if he was not a part of it? And by the way, why is it that Edwards was not matched up in the last poll? If I'm correct, Edwards got 11% nationally in that poll, while on the Republican side Giuliani got 10% and Romney got 9% and they were matched up with the Democrats! This is patently unfair to Edwards, and this lopsided coverage in the media is a large part of the reason why Edwards is not faring as well as he should be.

CNN, why was Edwards left out of the most recent poll? He wouldn't have to quote old info if you had included him. That just screams media bias, now doesn't it?!

As Obama said keep attacking that means he is ahead.To all of the Hillary supporters. What are you scared of if Obama can't win. You should attack Edwards.If Obama can't win why do you guys keep attacking him. Guess you are scared. HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

Well I agree with Rick. CNN should fact check Bill Clinton's claims. Billary's experience rests in dividing this country not uniting it.

I apologize for the mix up I thought that CNN reported that Obama had made that comment. Thanks for the opportunity to state that Obama is truly best qualified to go up against the Republican/Clinton machine regarding the security of our great country.

Perhaps if CNN had actually decided to include John Edwards in that poll he could reference that. But because CNN was interested in continuing the notion of this simply being a two person race, he had to reference your other poll. Perhaps now CNN will take the time to find out how ALL the candidates fair. After all, I found it odd that CNN included Rudy Giuliani in that poll when Edwards has more delegates than Rudy does, and Edwards has finished better than Rudy in every single state.

It wasn't misleading because he said the last poll cnn included him in. Cnn though decided to take him out of their polling essentially creating a push poll eliminating his candidacy from peoples consideration. Distasteful at best, especially considering how well he did in the debate! Many of us haven't had a chance to vote yet.

Where's the problem, Bill? He spoke truthfully about the CNN poll – what? he's suppose to give the dates? Obama told the truth there was a CNN poll that showed that he was best qualified to go up against McCain. And that remains true!

Being born in the south.. moved away in 67 I still have many contacts back there. Most of my friends tell me their parents and some of their friends even claim they would "leave the country" if Hillary or Obama were elected!

Scary but true.

Why do you (CNN) feel the need to fact check Edwards' statements, but not Bill Clinton's?

When Edwards makes a misleading argument, you publicly call him on it.

When Bill Clinton makes a misleading argument against his wife's rivals, why is it reported as straight news instead of exposed as misleading?

I really don't want to get drawn into it, but coverage of this race is starting to force Americans, including myself, to confront the biases inherent in corporate media. To the corporate world, anyone is better than John Edwards, and anyone except Edwards is better than Obama. Hillary Clinton or a Republican wouldn't rock their boat too much, but Hillary wouldn't rock their boat AND would give them a big woman-in-the-White-House story to fall all over themselves about. If she does become the first woman president, yeah, it's a big deal and should be treated as such, but she should only ascend that high if she is the best person to lead this country. In this era, that means healing our divisions, not drawing them more starkly.

John Edwards may be most competitive when it comes to matching wealthy white males with other wealthy white males. But, when it comes to truly solving the problems of America, the homophobic issues, the health care issues, the energy issues, the gender issues, the DEMOCRATIC issues- Hillary Clinton is the one person qualified to truly stand up against John McCain and his republican party. She is the one person with the experience and with the credibility to take on McCain, and to win.

Well, if John was included in the most recent poll, he could speak about that. He does (accurately) say that he is the only democrat that beats McCain in a recent CNN poll. Why is this so misleading? Sure the other candidates are "competitive"...

maybe if he was included in the lastest poll, Edwards would have used it to argue his electability. Include him main stream media!!

Bottom line is that Edwards, Obama and Clinton all match up well against McCain because there are a lot of rep. who dont support McCaiin. What Edwards Obama, or Clinton will have to do is engauge the voters of Michigan and Florida who have been disenfranchized by the National Dem party.

Well of course he gotta say that...he needs votes. But CNN should emphasize that on air now that the show is over.

All of the general election match-up polls I see from CNN and other sources repeatedly cite Edwards as performing the best against the Republicans. What's more misleading than his referencing the poll is the failure to include him in the more recent poll. I thought he performed very well tonight.

POLL THIS!

Since he left office in 2001, former president Bill Clinton has been paid by $3.3 million by InfoUSA, an Omaha, Nebraska company that has been identified as a key provider of specially designed databases that have been sold to criminals who use the detailed information to defraud the unsuspecting elderly.

The consulting fees to the former president were only part of the largess InfoUSA showered on the former president.

Vinod Gupta, the CEO of InfoUSA, lent the Clintons the company's jet which took them to places like Switzerland, Hawaii, Jamaica and Mexico.

The jet service was worth a staggering $900,000.

And Gupta gave the Clinton library a six-figure gift as well. Indeed, just months after he left the presidency, Bill Clinton was paid $200,000 for a speech given to InfoUSA in Omaha.

InfoUSA is not the kind of company with which a former president and the husband of a presidential candidate should associate.

According to the The New York Times, InfoUSA compiled and sold lists that disclosed the names of elderly men and women who would be likely to respond to unscrupulous scams.

The lists left no doubt about the vulnerability of the elderly targets.

The Times reported, for example, that InfoUSA advertised lists of "Elderly Opportunity Seekers," 3.3 million older people "looking for ways to make money," and "Suffering Seniors," 4.7 million people with cancer or Alzheimer's disease. "Oldies but Goodies" contained 500,000 gamblers over 55 years old, for 8.5 cents apiece. One list said: "These people are gullible. They want to believe that their luck can change."

InfoUSA sold lists to companies that were under investigation or closed down by courts because of their criminal activity. The company's internal emails show that employees were aware that the investigation for elderly fraud involved their customers, but sold the lists anyway.

The Times profiled one unfortunate 92-year-old man who entered a sweepstakes sponsored by InfoUSA. The information that he innocently provided was then sold to the predator marketers. After responding to their telemarketing calls seeking financial information, his entire life savings was stolen from his bank account at Wachovia Bank. These practices, using lists supplied by InfoUSA, were repeated all over the country.

Last week, Hillary Clinton sought and obtained an extension of time to file her presidential candidate financial disclosure statement.

Unlike the information required of Senators, this filing requires her to list not just the sources of Bill's income but exactly how much they paid him.

While Senator Clinton offered no reason for the postponement, one cannot help wondering if a desire to conceal InfoUSA's payments to her husband while the company is under fire.

The extent of the company's payments to Bill only came out as a result of a lawsuit by disgruntled stockholders against the company management.

The relationship between Bill Clinton and Vinod "Vin" Gupta, the CEO and Chairman of InfoUSA is both long-standing and deep.

A frequent Clinton donor, he has stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom, admitted to donating $1,000,000 to the Clinton Library and told the press that he'd consider an additional donation.

Again, since the Clintons refuse to disclose who donated money to the library, we don't know the total that he actually gave. In late 1999, Gupta gave $2,000,000 for Hillary Clinton's Millennium New Year's Eve bash. (They party cost $16 million and was closed to the press!)

The links between Gupta and the Clintons are extensive:

Gupta raised over $200,000 for Hillary's Senate campaigns and contributed thousands to the DNC and Democratic House and Senate campaigns.

InfoUSA was one of the sponsors of the Aspen Festival of Ideas last summer where Bill and Hillary Clinton both spoke.

Gupta built the Bill Clinton Science & Technology Center and the Hillary Clinton Mass Communications Center in his hometown of Rampur, India.

Bill and Gupta traveled to India together.

Gupta reportedly paid for a golf outing for Bill at a legendary Scottish course.

InfoUSA appointed Terry McAuliffe, the Clinton's longtime moneyman to the Board of Directors of its subsidiary company videoyellowpagesusa.com.

Clinton appointed Gupta to the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees only a few days before he left office.

Clinton also nominated Gupta as Consul General of Bermuda and U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, but Gupta was never confirmed.

Gupta's company co-sponsored the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative.

Gupta sent a $7000 treadmill to Chappaqua days after the Clintons left the White House. After the New York Post disclosed the gift, the Clintons returned the gift.

Gupta's generosity to the Clintons is only matched by his generosity to himself. InfoUSA has lately been attacked by some of its shareholders, particularly by the Greenwich, Connecticut company Cardinal Capital that went after Conrad Black. Lord Black is now on trial in Chicago for corporate fraud.

Cardinal Capital objected to Gupta's purchase of a $600,000 skybox at the University of Nebraska, his family's charges of $13.5 million in private jet charges, and $2.5 million for the long term lease of a yacht – all with corporate funds.

In addition to his 2001 visit to the company's headquarters, Bill Clinton was back there to speak at a conference on privacy issues in September 2006. Senator Clinton's disclosure statement for that period has not been publicly released, so we don't know how much he was paid.

This connection between the Clintons and InfoUSA only underscores the necessity of full disclosure of income sources and amounts by all the presidential candidates and the release of their income tax returns, a step Mrs. Clinton has, thus far, refused to take.

A politician using data out of context and to their advantage???!!! I'm shocked!!!! POLITICS AS USUAL.... maybe Edwards is more able to be in the mix than originally thought.

It is a tacky desperate attempt to get votes. Moreover, it is a disappointing disingenuious strategy. He is smarter than both Clinton and Obama and did not have to cite this poll

I guess it would be asking too much for him to note that the poll was a month-and-a half old...aye?

The Democrat 'attack machine' has started to go after McCain. They must fear him, they mentioned his name at least 20-30 times. McCain is something not many politicians are, he's honest, determined and independently-minded. Democrats and Republicans can get behind a hero like McCain.

Pretty odd that Edwards was not matched up in that more recent poll.

Can we assume that CNN, like the rest of the mainstream media, wants Edwards out?

aha! another example of media bias. WHY WAS EDWARDS NOT MATCHED UP IN THE MOST CURRENT POLL? with less than ten percent of delegates assigned, edwards is right in the mix. he will be there until the convention and just might be in position to become the compromise candidate. democrats deserve the information your poll imparts. you at cnn are not fulfilling your journalistic responsibilities. what say you bill schneider? do not selectively discard candidates for your own selfish reasons. it's way to early to argue edward's viability.

A multi-million-dollar fraud suit against Bill Clinton faces further delay after a judge ruled yesterday the discovery process – which likely would require the former president and his wife Sen. Hillary Clinton to testify under oath – cannot proceed until a related appeal is resolved.

As WND has reported, business mogul Peter Franklin Paul claims Bill Clinton destroyed his entertainment company, Stan Lee Media, to get out of a $17 million deal in which the former president promised to promote the firm in exchange for Paul's massive contributions to Sen. Clinton's 2000 campaign.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Aurelio Munoz yesterday – ruling in favor of the Clintons – decided that because of the unresolved appeal he had no jurisdiction to accept a second amended complaint from Paul, which places emphasis on President Clinton's alleged role in destroying Paul's company.

The appeal preventing the case from moving forward was filed by Paul's attorney, Colette Wilson of the a href="http://www.usjf.net">United States Justice Foundation, after a decision by Munoz in April to dismiss Sen. Clinton as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, Sen. Clinton will be deposed as a material witness in preparation for a trial scheduled to begin March 27, 2007.

It is ashame that CNN neglected to put one of the three front-runners in their more recent poll.

"Edwards was not matched up in that poll."

Why on earth not? Because, perhaps, he would have led again? You lose your credibility by limiting the field so arbitrarily.

It's fair to bring up your own poll, but it's misleading to say that it means anything.

In listening to the Dem debate tonight not one question from Wolf or comment from the candidates about Social Security and the fact that millions of baby boomers with be collecting SS soon and they will vote in this election.

I believe it is time to promote eliminating the income tax on SS (which the democratic congress voted into law). SS was not taxed when it was begun. SS payroll taxes should not be taxed again when they are received. (Tax on a tax is unamerican)

How about candidates promising to make SS solvent by including all NEW government employees, elected or hired, in the social security program instead of the "gravy train" government retirement plan they would become eligible for. If these new government employees were contributing to the SS payroll tax the program would be well funded into the 22nd century.

Stop the "equal pay for women" and "I'll bring the country together" nonsense promises, same things we have heard in the last four Presidential campaigns.

It would be nice if the candidates spoke about issues they might really influence as President and not the "feel good get applause" issues they LOVE to talk about.

.

And yet CNN's website headline after the debate say 'Clinton, Obama yadda yadda' as usual. Edwards' people poll numbers absolutely trounced the other two, yet they are the names in the headline?

Explain to me why, CNN...

The only candidate to win a a Red State was Senator John Edwards. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama won in Blue States. If Senator Edwards can carry North & South Carolina, the Democrats can win the White House. The other two candidates may not be able to carry sufficient Red States for the Democrats to regain the White House. Senator Edwards is the ONLY candidate who can carry a majority of the South, to win the White House. Clinton and Obama have already divided the Democratic Party with their fighting. The only candidate that can unite the party and win Red States is Edwards which is only way to WIN the White House.

Thanks

No, what's unfair is that the last CNN poll that included John Edwards was taken a month and a half ago. John was pointing out to you CNN folks that you have dropped him from your polling. So, include him and see how he does, PLEASE.

You, Bill Schneider, are a blaring example of CNN and the rest of the media trying to cut Edwards down. Can't you go one second without saying something negative about him. I know you hated the applause he got when he said there was a 3rd person in the race but that's tough. The only reason so many media types support Obama and Clinton is because one is black and the other is a woman. That makes you racist, sir. On all the issues (all the independent progressive issues) he is the strongest and most consistent. You should be ashamed of yourself Schneider. Why can't you just be fair and let him have his say.

And why didn't CNN include him in the new poll? I am so tired of the media trying to eliminate candidates. It is up to the electorate to choose or reject a candidate. Report the new, quit trying to make the news.

Whose fault is that Bill Schneider. This just proves that CNN and all the pollsters are trying to cut Edwards, the candidate who always has done best in the head-to-heads against ALL the Republicans. He's the Strongest to run in November and unless Democrats can win in November, the rest of this policy and disagreement talk doesn't matter AT ALL.

Don't attempt to downgrade the poll which was real sometime ago, the attempt to downplay Edwards statements about being best to stand against McCain should not be discredited by the time past since the last poll or the skewed latest polls inwhich I think all the major networks are unfairly impacting the electorate and minds of Americans. John Edwards has not received the same and fair media coverage as Clinton or Obama. If you pretend to report fair news and support democracy, END the nasty habit of making America believe this race is only between barak and hillary. John Edwards will be our next President! when the people of America see and hear these candidates up close unfettered.

Edwards won tonight! Hillary was too strident and Obama fell into the "attack the other guy" trap.

CNN POLLS ARE PATHETIC AND USELESS.

NOT fair for you to slam Edwards on his accurate comment. More importantly why don't you point out WHY CNN did not include Edwards in the latest polls? How can he compare himself in the latest poll when CNN in its wisdom did NOT include him?

Mr. Schneider...

I find it disingenuous to blame Edwards for using poll results that are a month and a half old, when it is your organization that has refused to "match him up" in more recent polls. Your comment is just a continuation of the policy which refuses to recognize Senator Edwards as a viable candidate.

Patrick McDonough
Rosendale, NY

That poll, as well as the comments by Hillary Clinton, presume that John McCain will be able to keep the voters' focus on national security issues. It's more likely over the next months that the economy and the recession will be paramount in the electorate's mind.

The bigger question Bill is why? Why was John Edwards not included in the latest poll. It is way too early to stop including viable candidates. Yet the media continues to try to ignore his candidacy. I do not want the people of Iowa or New Hampshire deciding who I get to vote for in my states primary, nor do I think that is the role that the media should play.

so, edwards was quoting the poll data correctly, yes?

glad that has been confirmed.'

and with that being said, why was edwards not included in the most recent poll if he in fact had such strong showing in the previous one?

so, if i understand your "clarification," edwards was correct in his citing the cnn poll that showed him, and only him, beating mcCain straight up.

certainly cnn would not want us to believe that to tie someone is the same thing as to beat someone in an election, now would it?>

Well actually Bill...it was not fair for CNN to exclude Edwards from the poll...considering his previous placement, his delegate count and that you included Guilliani in the same poll.

He is correct that he was the only Democrat that mopped the floor with double digits in the last set of full Head-to-Head polls. Why didn't you include him in the poll? Are you trying to just Manufacture Political Consent by cutting him out?

I believe that voting for Hillary Clinton would be taking a step backwards for the whole nation. Especially since her husband disgraced the white house in so many ways. Remember what he did in the oval office...the cigar? i don't think either one of the Clintons deserve to step one foot in the white house. And Hillary's health insurance would have people paying double. They would pay towards there insurance from there job and then again towards the universal mandatory health care. Also i would not feel safe with Hillary as our president when our enemy wants to kill us. Why have a woman do a mans job!

If it is the latest poll in which you included Edwards then it is fair to mention and not in the least mis-leading to say that someone who beat McCain while Obama and Clinton merely tied McCain – IS THE MOST viable candidate asgainst McCain in the fall. Perhaps you should have included Edwards in the last poll.

The easy answer is to not leave Edwards out of your polls, John had no other poll to draw from.

Perhaps he should have been included in the latest match-up. Media is working hard to minimize Edwards.

I worry any time polls are used not to measure public opinion but to shape public opinion. That's what Edwards is doing.

Maybe I have missed something, but beating and tieing are not the same thing. Edwards said he was the only one who BEATS McCain not who ties McCaain

Well Bill Schneider,

Whose fault is that? CNN needs to keep doing full head to head polling, not just arbitrarily cutting out one of the viable candidates. Edwards has consistently polled strongest among the three Democrats in head to heads against ALL the Republicans.

On healthcare – Obama does have a mandate for children- because they do not have a choice! You got it wrong here.

Mandates do not work for car insurance. They won't work for healthcare. They are necessary for children.

Thanks
Wil

"But there's a problem — that poll is a month-and-a-half old."

Doesn't anyone make up their own mind anymore?

Are the voters really like a school of ducks swimming madly to the nearest politician tossing out crumbs of bread?

Thats the real problem!

John Edwards is the only candidate that can win back the white house. He is the only candidate that talks about votors as though they are real and thoughtful people. Both Clinton and Obama have diminished votors to segments to be duped or won simply because of the attributes they were born with...and hollow words.

John Edwards was not matched up in the most current CNN poll because the media has this two-person thing going on and doesn't consider him. It's a THREE person debate and let's be fair about it. John Edwards did very well in the debate and he never gets enough credit for it! He has my vote and alot of other people are looking at him too. They're tired of all the bickering that is going on with the other two candidates.

The reason he references that poll is because that was when he was receiving a decent amount of coverage, not even, just decent.
Lately, he is practically being ignored, which would hurt poll persceptions.

After tonight, I hope Americans will re-consider John, who does have the best chance against ANY Republican, which is crucial since their spread is a four way tie.

Please Please my fellow Americans, we all need the change John will bring. He has the best for all Americans in mind and he is willing to FIGHT for us.

Just check his policies, I think you'll see what I mean.

With hope for our joint future for a better America, Jen

Wow, what a shock, John Edwards left out of the debate (in this instance the CNN poll).

In this "folksy" part of the debate, both Obama and Edwars grab at the time, e.g., "...they had their time, now let me have some too". Only Clinton appears to be adult about this. No whining, just very pragmatic, focused. She should be named the winner of this debate, hands down.

OK, lets see how CNN will make Clinton the winner.........Come on CNN, your predictable

WHY DOES CNN DO THAT ALWAYS. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE HOW THE CANIDATES INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND THE AUDIENCE AFTER THE DEBATE

He's just being the politician we all are familiar with.

RUDE BARACK, DID NOT EVEN SHAKE HILLARY'S HAND AT THE END...NOT A GENTLEMAN.............AT ALL

As an independent, McCain is an alternative for me if he is the Republican nominee. Don't tell me what the month old poll said, but why you think you can beat McCain. I prefer McCain over Edwards at this point.

CNN's coverage is biased against Edwards... instead pandering to Race and Gender

I think that it is understandable that Sen Edwards would reference that poll, and that he would make the assertion that he is the only competitive Democrat. I think that despite the polls, it is acceptable for Sen Edwards to make that claim because it is what he, personally, believes, and he wishes to deliver that belief to the voters.

Wow, sounds like cherry picking to me. Something they all do well at.

This debate is broken, empty, blame-game-like, and unfulfilled.

Why WASN'T Edwards matched up in that poll? Maybe you guys should stop counting Edwards out. Obviously, he is still a very viable candidate, with real policy plans who doesn't just sit around talking about abstract ideas like "experience" and "hope". I mean, COME ON.

i'd like to know why Edwards wasn't matched up in that poll. i'd bet that he still beats McCain while Clinton and Obama tie.

Will White Americcan actually vote in mass for a woman or an African American?

Hilliary Clinton was very effective and strong yet feminine. Avery effective debate, not made artificial by too much injection of news commentators.

Edwards is clearly fighting for his political life. He either came off well by not being in the fray or showed how marginal he was because he was not a main player

Andy why wasn't John Edwards matched up in the newest poll? Because CNN has already ruled him out as a competitive Democrat?

It's not about the polls, but about the issues at hand. Example: I notice there is a continuing debate in politics regarding the economy and even a discussion regarding rebates to stimulate regression.

If politicians are really doing the public service intended of the position and really want to create relief to the American people, why are senators and representatives making 100's of thousands yearly? Why did Congress vote for a raise and not vote to put the money back in the economy?

We have serious issues and it is time for a serious candidate and not a time to argue who is on top. It's time to listen to America!

Edward has apparently seen that ganging up with Obama against Hillary will not lift him up in the polls, therefore he has sitten up

Perhaps Edwards was left out of that recent poll by design! Corporate America and the current Republican power structure fear Edwards.

why didn't wolf call him on this – cnn has become the network of baffoons who pimp their books.

Yes, polls are always changing. By the way, the second half of this debate is far better than the first half. The setting and opportunity for each to speak about important issues is most helpful to the electorate.

He said he does the best against McCain, which is true. If John Edwards were in the most recent poll he would have still done better than Clinton and Obama

please change your cnn headline..
obama scores at debate..

so did hillary and john...

be fair...

I've been watching the debates quilte closely and I can safely say that Hillary Clinton has my vote. It's not because she's a woman or that her husband was an excellent ex-president, but it's because I feel she has the passion and the brains as well as the personality to pick up the pieces that have fallen the past 7 years with our current no-good president George W. Bush. I'm happy to see that in each debate, each candidate has attacked George Bushs' presidency pretty hard, I wonder whether or not George himself has realized that he basically drove our country to the ground. I cannot wait for the history books to lable him as trully the worst president to ever live in the white house. I personally hope they burn every chair and bed he's laid in in that house so the negative energy can be released. Go Hillary!

Polls schmolls. Seriously lets leave the polls in the strip malls right next to the bus stops.

Why are all three saying McCain is the one to beat when CNN's estimated delegate count puts Romney in the lead?

once again, if the media would give Edwards the same coverage as they give Obama and Hillary, perhaps the polls would have been the same as they were a month and a half ago......

John Edwards is just a constant campaign commercial. Time and time again, he says the same thing over and over. He isn't human, very robotic in his answers.

Hilliary is a CLEAR WINNER here!

WHY wasn't Edwards matched-up in that poll??? Isn't this illustrative of the mainstream media's managing the outcome of this election?

If you listen to Senator McCain and asked him the hard questions he answers and gives you honest answers. To me if McCain runs against Hillary both will look about the same to me. Economy, Immingration, Iraq.

I think that Clinton nor Obama can win in November – Most of us Independents are more lean to the moderate and not to the far left- Edwards is a liberal-moderate than left and McCain is a conservative-moderate.

How about the fact that that they all anointed McCain to begin with. I wonder if that is better for them, if Romney is not the nominee.

Hillary looks pissed becasue Obama got the real distint point about the difference between them on day one with the foreign policy issue

Edwards always mention about lobbyist supporting Hillary, don't play innocent, lobbyist are essential in his campaign too.

Poeple are willing to support Hillary because she is the most qualified candidate to lead this great nation! She has leagues of supporters because they believe she can defeat the Republican candidate and she can be our next president who can lead us out of this mess created by Bush!

I'm glad that there is someone here 'ticking' on all the comments made ... it clears up information which would normally be confusing! Thanks, jps*

laughable to bring up polls that were made over a month ago. just shows to how misleading a candidate can be for his own interests.

I think he has to work harder to establish his footing, as he has been ignored so completely, probably because he is not as novel as Clinton, a white woman, and Obama, an African-American man. I still think Edwards would get everything accomplished that he has set forth. Clinton will get bogged down by the opposition of the Republicans. Obama doesn't have the experience in his record to show that he has the fortitude to stand up to the Republican opposition. Edwards is the complete package.

It is misleading but if he isn't being put in new polls what is he to refer to.

Those guys just let Hillary slip out of the net on corporate lobbyists. Edwards won that round by having Obama let Hillary get away. Hillary looked and sounded like she had got punched in the gut. Edwards ends round by sounding best on foreign policy.

BTW, I am an Obama guy

Edwards needs to keep himself in the race, for a position
as Vice-President. Showing Americans he is a man of the people.

Except that since last spring, Edwards has been the one that beats EVERY Republican candidate in general election match-ups. Neither of the others have, and his margin of victory has always been larger than theirs.

Maybe the latest poll was biased and didn't even include him, but the fact still stands that over time, he has been the most competitive. Thats just fact.

Edwards, Edwards, Edwards!!!

Obama speaks utopian. The rhetorics is just getting too much from him. Its becoming untrusting. He is like the lawyer you go face in court. The lawyer who will charm you but bring you down

Match him up in a poll–see how he does–what is the media afraid of? That people would truly consider him?

And it will be different tomorrow as well!

Bill, had John said "your most recent poll said I was the only one who can compete with McCain", your point would be well taken...

Its too bad that he was left out of that poll. Why does the media and the pollsters insist on leaving out candidates that are still in this race?

he will realize that mistake when they tell him.....Hilary and Obama didn't catch it..... but then again that goes to show you that they want to sit there and give us stats, however incorrect......CAN WE AFFORD THEM TO BE OUR PRESIDENT????

No way can Edwards compete with MC Cain a flip flop as he is HA!! Not to mention where is Edwards National security policy?

Nice point Bill. Polls are not always accurate. Especially Edwards responding with good information.

Obama on security: very vague. Clinton and Edwards both have better answers.

Thank you very much for that info... now to go look at other polls..

Bill is right... Edwards is not ready for the position of Commander In Chief. Hillary is... and Edwards will make a great vice-president for her! GO HILLARY!

Just like a trial lawyer.

I guaranty if he is elected..the words TORT REFORM will never leave his lips.

Well it is the last poll YOU included him in, so I think it is far for him to reference it–the media decided he was out f this campaign, yet, as this debate has made clear, Edwards is a serious candidate!!

Your right Bill... John Edwards is not speaking with the times. Obama and Clinton, whoever gets to Represent the Democrats with win, enough said.

Clinton is right on saying she would be the most credible on national security. She looks "steel" enough.

I'm getting sick and tired of Senator Edwards using this poll, regardless of whether or not it's up to date. Once, it might convince me. Twice, he's just being annoying.

It is still the truth Edwards is the most electable Democrat. That is the point of this is it know? Who can win in Nov. Edwards is that person.

Polls are more-or -less bunk

That's because he doesn't have a leg to stand on. Hopefully after losing SC he will drop out and suport hillary or obama.

poor Edwards. He's so last month.

well , the bigger question to CNN may be, why the heck wasn't he included in the latest poll? you guys don't get to elect the President, someone needs to explain that to Cnn, Blitzer, Fox, and esp. NBC and GE.

because you left edwards out of the poll.
edwards BEAT mccain, not simply tied. The tie is the same thing we saw in the poll a month and a half ago, which is the best indication that we have now, that John Edwards would still actually beat McCain, not simply tie.

So what, what a waste of internet space.

Edwards is doing well in this debate..but he has to realize he's against 2 front runners that are blowing away his numbers

Thank you for the fact check.

Politicians use polls all the time that benefit them. I think they cut them out when they see they are winning. Wouldn't elections be interesting if we didn't have polls? People not basing their votes on what the polls are telling them? NOw that would be democracy.

More importantly, why did Obama change the subject when it came to Lobyist, i think thats a point for Clinton.

They all may be competitive, but Edwards is the Only one that can win in November.

One more question-

How do any of the candidates measure up against the current Republican front-runner? It's still Romney, remember?