He wants to immediately begin the draw down, over his hair.  Visiting beauty salons around the country for expensive hair cuts and treatments hasn’t done anything to make his image more rugged.  John Edwards has been dubbed “The Breck Girl” by Rush Limbaugh and other conservatives (remember Ann Coulter?) have gotten themselves into trouble for their references to him as…ahem… effeminate.  Is this fair?  Probably not.

Edwards is not the first to be unfairly labeled by the media.  Who remembers Dan Quayle?  Actually, Quayle and Edwards have similar good looks and charm with seemingly endless energy.  Why then does that make them seem soft, intellectually light, and not serious enough? Are these types too pretty to be President?

Edward’s agenda issues are not so different than his adversaries for the Democratic  Nomination.  He wants universal health care, is pro-choice (apparently, he means universal health care for everyone but Gestational Americans), pro-union, anti-big business, pro-gay marriage, and bigger is better government size.  They thread needles about the war in Iraq (Edwards wants all combat troops out ASAP and to leave the Iraqi’s to their own devices) but are definitely on the same page about getting out. 

Interestingly, in last night’s televised debate from New Hampshire, Edwards was on the attack against the H word.  He is recieving glowing reviews all over the blogosphere about his ability to distiniguish himself from her.  He brought his brass ones but what didn’t get as much notice is that he kind of lumped Obama and the H word together and then blasted them.  Atta boy.

He’s not going to be President.  It’s not about his hair.  It’s not even about his position on the issues.  It’s about his smell.  He smells just a little bit deperate.  And that doesn’t win people over no matter how great you look.

“We can’t be like Democrats – a party of big spending.
We can’t pretend our borders are secure from illegal immigration.
We can’t have ethical standards that are a punch line for Jay Leno.
When Republicans act like Democrats, America loses.
It’s time for Republicans to start acting like Republicans.
It’s time for a change and change begins with us. “

It is not surprising that a Republican candidate would try and distance himself from the current administration and some high profile seediness (Larry Craig, anyone?).  But to build his whole campaign around veiled criticism of George W. Bush, is that who Republicans are now?  In light of the unpopular Iraq war, a raging federal deficit, and the Hurricane Katrina debacle they better be if they want to win.  In many ways, Romney’s framing of Bush’s presidency as “acting like a Democrat” is possibly the only way to win as a Republican in 2008.

Mitt Romney has been given a lot of press on his stance on abortion (currently he is against it) and his immigration stance (he is against what he calls “sanctuary cities” like Giulliani’s New York and would like to toughen America’s standards on Illegal Immigration).  One of his tag lines is “strong economy, strong military, strong families” (another way to say that is : pro-business, pro-business, and anti-gay).  He talks a great bi-partisan game about Social Security and Healthcare.

He looks like a winner (right out of central casting).  He plays well in Peoria.  Can he then deliver the Presidency?  The short answer is: Probably. 

In small groups he is a huge hit (his larger forum and debate performance has been less stellar).    He is good with the people, he’s pretty good with the issues, and he has a discipline about him that comforts people.  He’s also smart to grab immigration as an issue because it’s one that he can win on, especially in the primary.

Can he beat Obama?  Can he beat the H word?  If he frames his national election with the brilliance of his primary election then yes and yes.   On many of the issues he agrees with the criticism of the current administration but he is also answering the questions like What Do We Do Now?  Which is the most important question America is answering today.

The Illinois Senator is running second in most of the reputable polls out there.  He is eating John Edwards lunch, Edwards is running a distant third according to these same polls. (Shockingly, those pricey visits to the beauty salons in various states haven’t provided the bump Edwards expected). Obama was nearly even with the H word in June but has recently dipped to “I’m also running but I’d rather hang with my girl Oprah” status. Frankly, his pro-choice, anti-war, pro-civil unions, anti-education vouchers, “big government is the best” ideals should make him the darling of the democratic set but, alas, no.

So what is this fresh faced (yes folks still fresh) young (he’s 46) man (his wife confirms this) doing right?    He’s staying the hell away from Jena.  What’s Jena?  What are you a rock? The Jena six are the black teenage media darlings who beat up a white kid and then were sentenced to death….okay that’s not exactly what happened.  See the actual details here.  Unlike (unsuccessful) black presidential candidates in the past who’ve paraded themselves before every black cause celeb Obama has shown remarkable savvy in staying out of that fight.  By this act, he proves he is bigger than the black community in Jena.  He is bigger than the black community in this country.  He might just end up being the big enough for all of us.  Keep an eye out. 

Extremely confident in his abilities, he even makes appearances where few conservatives dare to go, including “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO.  Famously, when Maher asked him about an evolution question during a recent debate Huckabee said, “I believe God created the Heavens and the Earth.  Now how He did it, I don’t know.  I thought the question was utterly silly to be asked in a Presidential debate.  None of us are running in order to be an eighth grade science teacher.  We are running to be President.”  If you like that answer then Mike Huckabee is your guy in 2008.

However likable, however confident  however willing to use the word “silly” on national television, it’s highly unlikely the former Arkansas governor will be elected to the highest office in the land.  He’s too quirky.  He throws his support behind  things like the Fair Tax which would effectively do away with the IRS.  He supports a National Smoking Ban (um, Mike, you may want to brush up on how REPUBLICANS feel about the FEDERAL government passing laws for their own good…I think it will be an eye-opener).  He’s also received some grief in the conservative blogosphere for his programs in Arkansas that were labeled “nanny state” programs (i.e. Body Mass Indexes for every student and banning soft drinks from schools). 

Look, Mike Huckabee seems like a terrific person.  I think most people, regardless of their political affiliation, would enjoy having dinner with him.  He’s bright, funny and charming.  He’s just not electable in 2008.  His platform is bogged down by obscure ideas and too saturated with his personal faith for him to be elected post-Bush II.  I like the guy, but he will make an early exit in the primary or my name’s not Larry Craig.