Rasmussen Reports' polling shows Edwards' national support down from a high of 23% on January 6, the day before Clinton's show of emotion and Edwards' response to a question about it, to 15% on the 10th. The rush to be a supporter of a perceived winner is always in play, but there could be more than that influencing such a sharp decline.
Edwards' poor performance in New Hampshire's primary had been attributed by some pundits to his remarks about Clinton's emotional moment, but the real cause may be a layer shallower than that. Voters were more likely turned off by their exposure to widespread hyperbolic rhetoric characterizing his remarks as sexist.
Even respected progressive bloggers have participated in the MSM method of degradation - Taking key situations and carefully selected quotes, adding a bit of inflammatory opinion, and creating a context that engages our most intense and conflicted emotions, thus manufacturing a dirty little docu-drama - part truth, part fiction, part theatrics.
"Edwards, speaking at a press availability in Laconia, New Hampshire, offered little sympathy and pounced on the opportunity to bring into question Clinton's ability to endure the stresses of the presidency. Edwards responded, 'I think what we need in a commander-in-chief is strength and resolve, and presidential campaigns are tough business, but being president of the United States is also tough business.'"
