Edwards leads in MoveOn.org poll

by David Lightman of the Hartford Courant

John Edwards today topped a MoveOn.org poll on global warming, garnering more than twice as many votes as any other Democratic challenger.

The Democratic activist group held a "Virtual Town Hall" meeting on the topic Saturday, with each of the major candidates offering his views, and then asked people "Which candidate's position on dealing with the climate crisis do you prefer?" Edwards, the 2004 vice presidential nominee who has been a favorite of more liberal Democrats this year, won easily with about one-third of the vote. Next was Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, another candidate who's a hero of the anti-war crowd, with 15 percent.

New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama were in a virtual tie with Kucinich, and the rest of the field trailed. The win is a boost for Edwards because MoveOn plans to run ads in New Hampshire, site of the nation's first primary next year, and Iowa, where the first caucuses will be held. The ads should begin running next week, trumpeting the poll's results.

"MoveOn members want leaders who will take on the oil and coal industry and create a clean energy economy," said Ilyse Hogue, campaign director of MoveOn.org Political Action in a statement.

"That's probably why Sen. Edwards' support of cap and auction systems--which force polluters to pay citizens--and his call for more green collar jobs received such strong backing."

The vote was a notable blow for Connecticut Sen. Christopher Dodd, who has tried to make his energy and environmental policy a cornerstone of his campaign. It's one of the subjects he brings up during his stump speech, and it generally gets good crowd responses. But it didn't catch on with the MoveOn voters.

Viewed a different way--among only those voters who attended MoveOn house parties, Edwards still led, this time with 25 percent. Second was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson at 20 percent. Dodd still finished seventh, this time with 3.63 percent.