RICHMOND, Va. -- As John Kerry pulled ahead in the televised primary results, a group of John Edwards supporters gathered last night to watch the primary unfold and discuss the future for the second-place finisher.
A small number of students, teachers and business professionals attended the meet-up. Despite an atmosphere of disappointment, many said they were optimistic that Kerry and Edwards would be better matched in the future, should more candidates drop out of the race.
"Hopefully, other candidates will drop out," said James M. Nachman, chair of the City of Richmond Democratic committee. "Once that happens it will change things -- people will have a clear choice between who they're nominating."
Many of the attendees said they were frustrated by the primary results.
"It's all the media," said Mike Ingenito, co-founder of Students for Edwards at James Madison University. "They made Iowa look like the presidential election."
Several people at the meet-up, including Ingenito, said they switched party affiliations during President Bush's term.
"I'm just concerned about the way Bush is running the nation," Richmond resident Craig Wood said. "I voted for him in the last election, but he has failed in so many ways."
Many people at the meet-up said they had doubts about Kerry's potential to win a presidential election in Virginia and the South.
"I worry about Kerry because he's from Massachusetts and so liberal that he might have some problems, especially in the South," Nachman said. "He can't identify with most middle class people -- that's what attracted me to Edwards."
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