Looking for a candidate with a killa crossover

I am a mom, wife, vet and college student in Memphis, Tennessee. I been  active in politics since I was 18.  I was member of the Bronx Young Democrats for four years. I joined the Navy. Now I am a member of the Young Democrats of America. Young Democrats of America.  I thought a great thing to talk about is crossover appeal. Thanks.

Recently, we have seen polls that asks Democrats to measure the electablity of the Democratic candidates. Several candidates have mentioned this in their stump speeches and have used this issue to separate themselves from the rest of the pack. I personally believe polling for electablity among hard core Democrats is meaningless.

In the 2004 Presidential election, after the votes were tallied Bush won 48-51%. So only 3% of the voters determined who won the 2004 presidential election. Senator Kerry only lost by 3,012,497 votes. According to Gallup's July 12-15, 2007 national survey, they found that 37% of the voters considered themselves Independent, 32% call themselves Democrats and 29% see themselves as Republicans. I say we Democrats need a candidate with crossover appeal. We need a candidate that will be viable in all 50 states not just in Florida, New York and California (no offense to the big three). Dissenters from my perspective may say the Iraq war and the 2006 election changed the equation. Therefore advantage Democrats. This may be correct. But then I look at the Democratically led Congressional approval ratings that are between 20-25% and I see something troubling.(I personally believe this is due to the Democrats failure to act on Iraq. Hopefully this changes pretty soon with the Webb Amendment.)  It would be logical for the Republicans to exploit the fact that Congressional Democrats were unable to end the war or get passed some of the campaign promises they made in 2006. We all know that Senate Democrats need at least nine Republican votes to get things done in the Senate. But the average voter does not know this nor do they care about the political process. They just want results. This strategy would be an effective way for Republicans to display the Democrats inability to effectively govern.

We Democrats have to be honest with ourselves. As we all know hardcore Democrats determine primary elections. But it's the Independents in those "swing states" that determine what party wins the White House. If the Dems want to win we have to seriously consider a candidate with the most crossover appeal. I agree with other posters that this is what makes candidates like the former Governor of my neighboring state Mike Huckabee so scary. He can appeal to a cross section of voters in a Democratic state. Governor Huckabee even has union support. He doesn't sound like a partisan. He actually sounds sensible except for the evolution and the Iraq War bit. I understand and respect his religious beliefs though but I I cannot agree with his beliefs on the war. My hope, like many other Democrats is that Republican voters aren't smart enough to see this.

Some seem to think that the 2008 presidential election is an automatic win for the Democrats. To think this would be foolhardy. No election is guaranteed remember 2000 and 2004. (My heart still aches for the possibilities of a Gore Presidency and what it could have meant.) Just think, the top of the ticket may determine if the Democrats can hang on to the majority of the Senate and even the House, especially in the "red" seats that were gained during the 2006 elections. It is my belief that the candidate with the most crossover appeal will win the election. A win with a crossover candidate will increase the seats in both Congressional houses. The alternative could be a Democratic Presidency with an obstructive Republican Congress or another Republican Presidency with another weak Democratic Majority. Are we Democrats really prepared for that? I would greatly appreciate your comments, support and rebuttals.  
Mike Huckabee   polls   Gallup's July 12-15, 2007  Congressional approval ratings  the "red" seats