How can we get a progressive presidential candidate at the top of Democratic ticket in 2016?

[cascadiance]

58. Edwards WAS campaigning to the left of both Clinton and Obama in the primaries...

He was talking about how the middle class was getting shortchanged, while Clinton and Obama were more nebulous in banners like "Vote for Change".

Yes, Kucinich was arguably more progressive on his stances than Edwards was, but many were trying to be pragmatic in finding a candidate that might have a shot at winning (Edwards was on the ticket with Kerry the previous election), and at the same time have more commitments towards progressive stances on issues. Edwards seemed like that choice at the time. No one knew then his personal baggage would make him less "pragmatic" than Kucinich. If they had known, Edwards would have been withdrawing a lot earlier, or Kucinich would have drawn his votes when voters saw the real Edwards. I do believe that those who knew the complete story had the media push the story that Edwards was the "progressive choice" alternative to Obama and Hillary at the time.

So the corporatist PTB wanted to have the party either vote based on identity (first person of color or first woman) or on a candidate they knew they could pull the plug on and pay less attention to a candidate like Kucinich who didn't have personal baggage and could appeal to the party's constituency on his issue stances.