Edwards out: Now his supporters must decide
The surely leaves his supporters with a tricky decision of their own to make.
Even if Edwards goes for Obama, many of his blue collar supporters will move towards the Clinton camp.
But if Edwards himself continues to campaign with the energy he has shown so far, and his wife does the same, it may well be that he can bring his people with him - with potentially huge consequences.
Another point: the Obama camp is attempting to rid itself of the impression that it is na茂ve in its operations. I thought Obama's people made a terrible error in allowing journalists to think they would win in New Hampshire, but they are fast becoming much more savvy - and with Edwards they have plainly done some deal behind the scenes.
Watch out for more high profile endorsements of Barack. I see Jimmy Carter has refused so far, but efforts continue to get him on board.
The CNN Democrats' debate on Thursday night is now the (latest) biggest moment in American politics this year. It will be Him and Her. No funny lights telling them to shut up. No third candidate to scold them for being silly. No Mike Gravel. He (Obama) needs to outperform her. It is as simple as that.
Hello, I'm 
颁辞尘尘别苍迟蝉听听 Post your comment
An Al Gore endorsement for Obama would surely be the biggest possible boost he could get. Clinton and Obama would both be even then: Clinton with the support of a former president and Obama with the support of an overthrown president.
Mr Obama should seek better endorsements--endorsement without baggage.
1 not from a TV show host or action-comedy actor which raise questions of credibility
2 not from those who reinforce his identity as The Black Candidate
3 not from a dynasty which makes his camp's attacks on Mr Clinton's womanising hypocritical
4 not from a failed Presidential candidate who made Mr Bush the less-alarming choice in 2004
5 not from someone who was an incompetent President
6 not from a twice-failed candidate who has just quit because he could not win even a single state
Shame that content and message is no match for Bling and Glitz...
At best, Edwards was a hopeful contender. The GOP hopes that either Clinton or Obama gets the Democratic nomination and these are the two left in the race. Is either one electable in a country that put George W. Bush in the White House? I doubt it.
I live in the US and it angers me that we're not even half of the country has had a chance to vote in a primary and the democratic ticket has been wittled down to two candidates. What a joke our democratic process has become. The debates on Thurs are inconsequential especially if McCain takes the republican ticket. Both Clinton and Obama face a great challenge in winning the support of the entire nation. Democrats are notoriously awful at picking candidates and unfortunately this year proves to be no different.
I feel so sad, I waited until after the Florida election to mail my absentee ballot for Arizona primary--he said just a couple of days ago he was in it for long haul. Mailed my ballot for him yesterday and today he drops out---I want my vote back! I just feel sad because I've always thought he was the best candidate, too bad!!!! I'll have to choose from second-best now for election.
It is sad to see Edwards leave but with the system that we have to day, it's hard with little money. Edwards should endorse Obama I believe because the Kennedy's endorsement is a big deal and should make a difference. If Democrats truly want a new ruling majority then they need to go with their values & ideals and not with calculation. Often times we get side track with the thought of losing that we end up with 4 years of a worse mistake that creates the 8 years of dominance the Republicans have had of late. The change and excitement that is in the air is about the prospects of a candidate who truly brings us together and inspires us to a higher calling. A candidate who has brought out new voters, independence and Republicans to the conversation. Imagine a President inspiring us through a bully pulpit to have universal health care that isn鈥檛 mandated to everyone who already have insurance, unifying red and blue states, picking topics that unit the country and a leader who actually try diplomacy first before going to war. That is the American strength that we are lacking!
I wouldn't jump to conclusions on whether Edwards and Obama "have made some kind of deal", but if they did, that's too sad and upseting of course-that shouldn't be going on in any nations electoral process. But you are fulling yourself if you think it doesn't, indeed, occur in other countries (cash for honors).
I was going to vote for Edwards next Tuesday, so now it's Obama. At least Edwards will continue to be a social activist for the working class.
If Edwards dropping out doesn`t ovbiously help Obama then why would the Obama team have helped behind the scenes as you mention in the blog above.
Having Edwards stay in was useful for Obama.Super Tuesday was only 6 days away - why now?
At the last democratic party debate there were three adults on that stage - one of them was a grownup and it wasn't Obama or Hillary.
Obama and his camp just aren't naive - they are poorly experienced, have little to offer other than giving "hopeful and inspiring" speeches. Are we electing a cheerleader or a President??
We are down to two candidates because the US Media chose to cover certain candidates that caused sensational news headlines and ignore better but "boring" candidates like Edwards and Biden who only had knowledge and workable plans to contribute. Sad.
Today Edwards proved once more that he is a class act.
I think it is absolutely disgusting Mike Gravel is being excluded from the debates still. Whilst true he hasn't got any delegates, he has outlasted all the other candidates other than Obama and Clinton. Democrats still have a third choice and they shouldn't be stripped of their chance to see him debate.
I loved Edwards, but am going towards Hillary Clinton, I feel she stands for Democratic principles that Obama clearly isn't ready to take on....because we must believe in America again.
Time for change, Time for Hillary.
The upcoming democratic debate marks the revival of the Man vs. Machine rounds of the 1990s. In the past, man (Kasparov) had the edge.
It is a sad day for Progressive Democrats. John Edwards will always be my first choice, but now I must decide between two others although neither one is as strong as Edward on the issues that I care about. Hopefully Edwards will have some major influence on Hillary and Barack as they vie for his endorsement. It is my dream that John Edwards will have a prominent role in the winning administration.
Hello!!!! Has anyone cared to view the candidates plans and reocmmended policies. As far as the dem candidates, all I keep hearing is "Obama doesn't have the experience Clinton has" or "Clinton isn't inspiring." I would mention John Edwards, but he recently dropped out of the race (and I felt he had some good ideas also).
As far as Obama and Hillary, the list of "changes" they would make fall along the sames lines as what many Democrats and some independents and maybe even Republicans want to see (depends on the many various issues), with some differences in how to reach those goals. So instead of relying on comments from others about how this candidate has "experience" or how that candidate is "inspirational", check out their positions and plans and judge for yourself.
I myself was torn between Hillary and Obama, so I did the research (I didn't want to rely on claims pushed by media or others). I didn't want to vote for Hillary just because she had "experience" as many folks say; nor vote for Obama because his speeches sound good. I decided to support Obama because I agree with the actual plans he recommends (and not just the fact that he calls for change). And I agree with his focus on bringing all sides to the table (business/emply/cust, rep/dem/ind, politician/people, etc.); we do need to do more to encourage this). All in all, we definitely need more focus on each candidates plans for major issues.
Please research not just records, but what plans these candidates are pushing for. We don't know what the future holds, and yes we can be cynical and say, "Oh, all politicians lie," but we need to hold these candidates more accountable to what they say and what they want to do and critically examine their campaign promises.
Don't get me wrong, things such as experience, judgement and an ability to inspire Americans are important to consider; but I think we shouldn't rely on heresay or assumptions nor make voting decisions based soley on theoretical discussions -- "who said what about this group" or "they did this in the past, so surely they can make it work in the present/future," or "they're the right choice becuase they keep saying the word change"...you get my drift. Check out the facts and decide for yourself. Both candidates have announced plans for change, check it out (go on their websites, look at their records, etc.).
So for those that say Obama doesn't have the experience or he won't know what to do -- check it out, his plans look very sound to me.
For those that say that Clinton doesn't care or will probably continue her past mistakes -- check it out, her plans also look sound (although, my objections have to do with how her plans dump money into state programs/control with out details on how to watch/ensure progress and avoid mismanagement, which is very common).
Let's talk about those issues.
I don't think any hopeful contender in the top 3 should be allowed to drop out of the race. Especially right before a big vote like Super Tuesday. So what if other contenders fought for the top in the few states that have voted. What if Edwards would have won in the 20 some odd states next tuesday? Then he would have been top dog. We'll never know because he dropped out.
Many of us who supported and volunteered for John Edwards did so because of his progressive, populist message, his compassion, and his determination. He led on all the issues while the others just followed. I also supported him because I knew his hands were clean. After so many of the others dropped out, he was the one honorable, ethical person in the race.
What I鈥檓 about to say will anger supporters of the other candidates, but today I can鈥檛 say I care much. In Iowa precinct workers reported that young people were bussed in and paid $250 to caucus, posing as University of Iowa students. Nevada experienced the same sort of bussing in of non-Nevada residents, only this time it was the other campaign. People registered to vote without providing either identification or proof of residency. (We told by the Democratic Party not to ask for it.) Additionally there are ongoing reports of a campaign paying the wages of people who had to take unpaid leave in order to caucus. New Hampshire is in the middle of a recount. Along with the hype about fundraising and a 鈥榟istoric鈥 race between a woman and a black man, the American mainstream media (MSM)reported on all these results as though they were an honest indication of the levels of support for the candidates.
Now, because of the MSM's decision to create the news rather than report on it, and the unethical behavior of some candidates, I find myself, a staunch Democrat, unable to support either of the 鈥渞emaining鈥 candidates. (Unlike the MSM, I haven鈥檛 forgotten that Gravel is still in the race.)
What I鈥檝e found, and I鈥檓 not alone, is that I no longer have faith in the
process. John Edwards was wrong about one thing - this has, in fact, been an auction. The MSM chose our candidates and candidates with money spent it to guarantee their results. They win. The American public loses.
If this is the sort of change the candidates and Democratic party had in mind, then I鈥檒l pass. It used to be we only had to worry about what the *other* party would stoop to in order to win.
Justin,
On Tuesday evening, 29th, I came across a most interesting commentary on a Boston Radio station ( ) in a show hosted by Jay Severin. It took a little while before I realised it was the Party Political Broadcast that often passes for political commentary on American radio. What was shocking for me, however, was the carefully and not so carefully worded references to Obama ("Halfrican American鈥 being one of the less reprehensible). Severin carefully described a 鈥渇ictional鈥 film plot to one of his callers, in which a person of a certain racial and religious background could gain the White House, with all that this could entail by way of risk to the USA. More than that, he suggested that if Obama were to win the Democratic nomination, but lose the White House, there would be race riots as never before seen. Does America not have Race Hate laws ?
"I thought Obama's people made a terrible error in allowing journalists to think they would win in New Hampshire,"
Did the journalists really think they would win? Watch your antecedents, Justin.
More to the point, what are you on about? All campaigns believe their candidate will win ... er, um, what are you alluding to? Dish.
"but they are fast becoming much more savvy - and with Edwards they have plainly done some deal behind the scenes."
Again, what are you on about? It's natural for the ABC people (ANYBODY but Clinton) to realign themselves.
Obama is by far the best choice.
As far as Hillary getting the "blue collar" vote! Would'nt count on that
one,or the majority female vote.
I was going to vote for Edwards this Tuesday and now I'm just staying home. Unless he's the VP nominee, I'll probably stay home in November too. Just ONCE, I'd like to know it's like to vote for a candidate I believe in, rather than for the lesser of two evils. So much for democracy in America.
the Maryland primary is the week after next and Edwards' name will still be on the ballot so I'm going to use the opportunity to cast a protest vote for the only candidate who had been worth supporting.
I have long held that one votes optimistically in the primaries and defensively in the general election; on that basis come November I'll dutifully vote against the GOP nominee but can't imagine it will make any more of a difference then than it does now.
the prospect, guaranteed today, of four? or eight? more years of Republican administration is distasteful in the extreme.
I am surprised by all the hypes re Obama as a potential candidate.....Here we are talking about the world's most powerful position in the world's most powerful nation. The Americans must realsie they cannot take chances with someone like Obama as a president..just look at President Bush, he had his dad plus all the backing and yet he stuffed it up, badly.
What the general Americans need to know is, it is good to want changes, dreams, etc but the key ingredient is, you also need experience to carry out these changes, etc.
Hillary will bring changes regardless simply she is in a woman and she will bring in a different perspective to the role. Guess what, she will have the experience and skills to push through the changes.
As Australian, even i can see the folly of going with Obama !!
Edwards dropping out - predictable, always lacked the cutting edge that both Obama and (less so) Clinton displayed during public outings.
Suspect that Clinton will get more of the Edwards votes due to the middle ground (establishment democrats) that Clinton and Edwards shared.
For me - Clinton is tainted by the past. She has not seemed very accute during the campaign, always stating rehearsed lines. Obama has seemed the most engaged, in-touch and capable.
A big saver for the Democratic Nominee (whoever) is how lame the Republican candidates are - saw them this morning on TV debate - they seem like a spent force.
As a British citizen, and therfore someone who does not wish to take a partisan stance on US elections, I feel it is worthwhile pointing out that one thing the world is in sore need of right now is an elected American leader who has a good grasp of not only how the rest of the world functions, but also why it functions in the way it does. This quality has been sadly lacking in the last 8 years, and the world has, arguably, suffered for it.
I would suggest that one of the major problems here is a highly introspective US electorate, thus ensuring that domestic issues will always take precedence with voters in Presidential elections. The potential downside for the rest of the world is another uninformed US foreign policy driven by special interest lobby groups.
Irrespective of party politics, please give us a leader of yours who won't get lost beyond your eastern seaboard!
Go Go Obama Go, I see you in the white House, go you are the president.
As a young American, this is really the first presidential campaign I've paid more than a passing amount of attention. While this has been a fascinating study of how the media portrays candidates and the campaigning process... I must say I agree with a previous poster. It just plain sucks that instead of picking the BEST candidate, I'll have to choose the 'lesser of two evils.' Not only is it the lesser of two evils... both of the candidates who are in the MSM's focus right now aren't even in my top two choices... they're third-string. With Dennis Kucinich out to focus on being the best congressman he could be, with Edwards transitioning out of the race... who is left to believe in?
yes it is upsetting for many US citizens that John Edwards decided not to continue running. Since that only leaves Clinton and Obama left, would it not be wise to get to know as much about them as possible? You can choose to not vote in primaries but you can also choose to not vote in November, but November is 10 months away and you may change your mind by then. You may be really upset that Edwards decided not to go any further, but since he chose to do this we now have the choice to vote for who is left or not at all, which is fine. But at least let us know who is running. Let us keep in mind that what they are saying, will they make a good president? will they do what this country needs in all areas? People say that Obama has little experience, but would that necessarily be a bad thing? Would it be that bad with a fresher start in the political area with what is going on now? There are government websites for the democratic candidates. Check them out...Right now we can only rely on what they say rather then what they will do. Read them then make your own decision whether you will vote in the primaries if you can, and in the national elections or neither.
I have to do more research because I want someone that I feel is best for the President and I do not feel I can do that with little knowledge.
I would have liked to see an Edwards/Obama ticket, because it was heartening to see a progressive Democrat emerging once more (and one not in his seventies) but now I'll just hope for Obama. I agree more with Clinton's stated positions on domestic issues, but I was not impressed with the Clinton campaign's personal, factually incorrect, and downright mean attacks on Obama during the South Carolina debate and in recent days. I think they demonstrate that Hillary really is politics as usual (win at any cost). I am ready for some civil and positive political discourse and I am willing to vote for the less obviously liberal of the two viable Democrats remaining in the race to get it. Plus, I think Hillary as the Democratic candidate will turn out the vote--for the Republican Party.
I was going to support Edwards because of his progressive platform, but now I'll go with Obama. Obama has at least tried to maintain a civil tone during the campaign and his platform is hopeful and realistic at the same time. Besides, if we choose Hillary as the Democratic candidate, dormant and dying Republicans will turn out to vote just to vote against her.
The logical second choice for an Edwards supporter is Obama. Edwards publicly aligned himself with Obama's stance against special interests frequently over the past few months.
bt arack obama stand for change in our time. we the good people of america are all praying for a candidate of change
I saw someone complaining about not voting yet -- it's not half the country only 4 states officially have voted-- For the first time in my life I got involved in a grass roots group for Obama and it's been a wonderful experience. I am a 60+ white woman, there are other grandmothers there along with young women and men, the men are in the general age group that polls are stating -- we have a woman who immigrated to our country 20 years ago who became a citizen because she was excited, we have signed up highschool students who will be eligible to vote in election regardless of party or candidate, in stead of complaining get active, go on line and do something for your candidate, the country is hungry to have a say -- I switched my party designation a year ago because I wanted to vote in the primary this year and to vote for Obama (I knew this last year) I wanted a voice before it went to national election -- you don't know how good it feels to be with people from all walks of life sharing and working together -- I say -- YES, WE CAN!!
To the person that posted the trash remark about people being paid to caucus in Iowa. Please give me a link. Please give me a name. I was in Iowa, I caucused for Obama, and there weren't any buses in the Cedar Rapids airport (or Moline) there weren't any busses on campus. I have pictures and it has not been published in any paper. Moreover, people students in Johnson County would not have made that much difference. By the time we were on the 2nd round the election had been called in Obama's favor. Johnson County precincts hadn't even given their results! (my precinct was #20 at the senior center). Also it was well known in Iowa that Barak was the 2nd or 3rd choice of Republicans in that state, once people get to actually talk to the candidates, you realize their is a world of difference. Let me also say that when the popular vote in Iowa is released, you will see a margin off victory on par w/SC. (of course paid posters like your self don't care about the facts or the truth).
Down with Hillary! With Edwards out of the race, it'll have to be Obama, although some of his policy ideas arouse suspicion. . .
America, please choose the candidate carefully. Obama is saying he will attack Pakistan. This is not what america want right now. We want eliminate militants in Iraq and afganishtan and stablise young democracies of these nations. Can we affoard another war with pakistan?
Its sad Edwords is out. I will go with Hillary. She can use diplomacy very well to bring peace in the world and will help americans here at home to live better lives.
You know, Edwards came to where I live, and I know a guy who works in his local office. This guy was chosen to drive Edwards around the city for the weekend, however, he was not to bother or talk to the "candidate". This guy puts in 50 hours a week for a third place candidate and he can't even get a hello? Way to strive for working class heroism.
What this race needs, and what the world needs, is someone with economic and international savvy. 21st century society is essentially based around economics, and in Blair/Brown, Bush and now President Sarkozy we're getting a succession of world leaders who are staunch free market capitalists whose only concern is their own position and who implement lots of policies that restrict the effects of welfare states - the whole reason we have those is to make up for the inquities of free markets, so more free market capitalism is definitely not good.
Firstly, the next president needs to be one who can get America out the economic mess Bush has so generously bestowed upon it with his militarism and general incompetence. Next, they need to realise that there is now such a thing as the global economy, not just a set of national economies, and they need to start going about finding the best way to sort it out. America needs to lead in this respect as it is in a position to do so as the current economic and political superpower in the world; with great power etc etc. There is a lot of inequality in this world, and the best solution for everyone is to get rid of it (as has been elaborated upon by plenty of top economists, see Jo Stiglitz, Jeffrey Sachs, William Easterly). The last twenty years or so of economic thought and policy has mainly been devoted to improving the efficiency of economies through right wing poilicies, which apart from not working half the time and making financial crises like the 1997 Asian collapse and the sub-prime mortgage crisis far more likely, aren't exactly geared towards the welfare of working people. This has pretty much been off the agenda in developed countries lately but it needs reawakening. As a Brit I still find it amazing that the US has a private health system, that definitely ain't right.
All of this is therefore going to require a much less militant and more left leaning president who does not think they know it all and is prepared to listen to the experts. And especially one who is not going to drag their feet over climate change and moan about the effect on economic growth of preventative measures. The Stern Report commissioned by the British government says it will take 1% of world gdp to take measures now; if we do nothing the long term effects could be a loss of up to 20% of world gdp every year, and that's just the purely financial side.
From what I've read (newspaper reports and some biography/autobiography), Obama looks the best candidate now that Edwards has pulled out. I think a Democrat is a definite, they're not perfect but they're better than four more years of a Republican administration. The problem is that there is virtually nothing made in the (British) media of the policies that each candidate stands for, just vague references to Edwards being a bit more leftist or something of that nature, it's all about the image of the candidates which is disheartening. I'm beginning to wonder if Ralph Miliband was right when he said in the 60s that elections are all about giving voters the illusion of a choice, not an actual choice.
Oh, and Hillary bringing peace to the world? Wasn't she one of Iraq's staunchest supporters, and also in favour of going Rambo on Iran until that NIE report was published in November?
SO THE CORPORATE MEDIA IS STILL DOMINATING AMERICAN LIVES! JOHN EDWARDS WAS KEPT FROM THE PUBLIC BECAUSE HE WANTED TO REPRRESENT ONLY THEM.
TAKE YOUR CORPORATE PICK BETWEEN HILLARY OR OBAMA. JOHN EDWARDS WILL CONTINUE TO GET MY VOTEMY VOTE WILL ONLY HAVE MEANING IF I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT JOHN EDWARDS. WITH THE OTHERS IT WILL BE POLITICS AS USUAL. BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS ALL OF THE PEOPLE.