The Hindu : Kerry wins Wisconsin narrowly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 19, 2004

International

International

Kerry wins Wisconsin narrowly

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, FEB. 18. The Senator of Massachusetts, John Kerry, has won the Wisconsin primary but not handsomely as opinion polls suggested. He managed to squeeze past his colleague from North Carolina, John Edwards, by a five per cent margin — 39 per cent to 34 per cent — with the former Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, finishing at a distant third with about 18 per cent.

The close race has pepped up Mr. Edwards' campaign and he announced that he was going about Super Tuesday of March 2 seriously. At stake are more than one half of the total delegates needed for the Democratic Party nomination. It is being pointed out that his showing had a lot to do with one of the highest Republican turnouts of the primary season.

"Republicans who would consider voting Democratic and independents are the people we have to win over to win the general election. That is why I am the best candidate to take on George Bush," said Mr. Edwards.Mr. Kerry had to take some heat from his rivals at least on his free trade policies and agreements which he supported in the past.

Mr. Kerry has posted 15 victories out of 17 primaries or caucuses held thus far; and has shown that he can win in all geographic regions of the country. But Mr. Edwards has sent the clear message that the race is not yet over. If he had come away with a poor showing, the `coronation' of Mr. Kerry as the party candidate would have happened by this time. Including Wisconsin, Mr. Kerry has 608 delegates; Mr. Dean 201 and Mr. Edwards 190. A total of 2162 delegates are needed to get the nomination.

Mr. Dean has gone back to Vermont to ponder over the next steps. It is said that he is in consultation with the Kerry and the Edwards campaigns. Both would like to have the backing of Mr. Dean who at one time showed tremendous potential and in his creative use of the Internet to rake in millions to his campaign chest. Both Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards would love to tap into the hardcore Dean supporters and the money that follows.

The first indications are that Mr. Edwards is thinking of keeping California open — the biggest catch of them all on Super Tuesday with 370 delegates. Instead, he will concentrate on Georgia, Ohio and New York. Exit polls in Wisconsin showed that voters had placed a premium on the economy and jobs. And the thinking is that his criticism of Mr. Kerry on his support for free trade should help him in Ohio and upstate New York which have been hard hit by job losses.

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