Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry captured blowout wins in nine outof 10 “Super Tuesday” primaries and caucuses, muscling NorthCarolina Sen. John Edwards out of the race for the Democraticpresidential nomination and clearing the way to challenge PresidentBush in November.
“Before us stretch long months of effort and challenge,” Kerrytold supporters in prepared remarks at a rally in Washington. “Wehave no illusions about the Republican attack machine and what ouropponents will try to do. But I know we are equal to the task.”
Kerry’s victories in California, Connecticut, Maryland,Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and,narrowly, Georgia gave the veteran lawmaker a significant boost inthe number of delegates he needs to capture his party’snomination.
As of 9 p.m. Tuesday, Kerry had 854 delegates.
Edwards, who edged up to 269 delegates, failed to win a singlestate on Super Tuesday. Though the freshman senator did notofficially drop out Tuesday evening, the Associated Press reportedthat Edwards would make a concession speech in Raleigh, N.C.,today.
In a speech to supporters, Edwards congratulated Kerry, saying:”He’s run a strong, powerful campaign. He’s been an extraordinaryadvocate for causes that all of us believe in: more jobs, betterhealth care, a cleaner environment, a safer world.”
In a defiant display of state loyalty, former Vermont Gov.Howard Dean, who dropped out of the race after the Feb. 17Wisconsin primary, won his home state’s primary — making Vermontthe only state Kerry did not win.
“Throughout this campaign, I have appreciated the strong supportfrom the people of Vermont,” Dean said following his surprisingvictory. “I look forward to continuing the energy and the campaignfor change that our movement began.”
Kerry’s sweep of the other nine states brings the contest forthe Democratic nomination for president to an early close, withKerry almost halfway to the 2,162 delegates needed.
But with Edwards — recently Kerry’s only serious competition –out of the race, Kerry, whose campaign lagged until acome-from-behind win in the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses, can focus hisefforts on campaigning against President Bush.
These facts bode well for Kerry supporters such as recentNorthwestern graduate Joe Bubman, a former Kerry staffer whocampaigned for the Massachusetts senator in several states earlierin the primary season.
“This is a culmination of what I and thousands of other peopleacross the country have been working for for the past year,” saidBubman, Weinberg ’03. “It was a terrific race.”
But for Edwards supporters — who were encouraged by thesenator’s single victory in his home state of South Carolina andhis close second-place finish in the Wisconsin primary two weeksago — Tuesday night was sad.
“I don’t think Kerry is going to have as a good a chance withoutEdwards in the race,” said Edwards supporter Teran Loeppke, athird-year student at the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.”I really think Edwards in the race was necessary for theDemocratic Party to have a strong shot at the White House.”
Kerry’s victory, while sweeping, will be short-lived, accordingto Kenneth Janda, an NU political science professor emeritus.Kerry’s media attention will quickly taper off, Janda said, leavinghim to face his most daunting opponent: Bush.
“Kerry has enjoyed a lot of press coverage as a consequence ofthe continuous campaign — it’s going to run out now,” said Janda,who studies American political parties and elections.
“There will be a little coverage as the primaries continue with(Al) Sharpton and (Dennis) Kucinich still in the race, but it seemsthat this opposition is going to be so token that there won’t beany coverage there,” he added.
With the media frenzy over, Kerry’s most important task in themonths ahead is to “look presidential,” he added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
