The Associated Press is reporting that former Senator John Edwards is dropping out of the Democratic presidential race.
Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies, The Associated Press has learned.Edwards departure insures this will be a historic presidential contest, as Democrats decide between the first woman and first African American candidates.
His departure may also make it more likely that one of the two remaining candidates will head for the convention with enough delegates to secure the nomination.
Edwards ran a good and heartfelt race, and who hasn't fallen in love with Elizabeth Edwards and the courage she has displayed. I wish Edwards and his family all the best.
6 comments:
I wish he'd waited until after super Tuesday. I would have liked to have seen him have more bargaining power -- like a lot of people, I fantasize about Edwards ending up as Attorney General,and having more delegates to use as chips could help.
I was coming here to say what Nan said.
Oh well, that did not happen.
Thanks for your gracious post BAC. As an Edwards supporter, I appreciate the tone of your words and your sentiment.
As you know, I am not enamored of either Hillary or Obama. I will have to really consider what comes next for me.
In the end, I will vote for the Dem nominee, but I am deeply saddened that neither potential candidate sets my heart on fire.
Not that Edwards did that either, but he came closest.
I came here to say what franiam said.
While I do take solace in the historic aspect of this election and pride in the fact that the party I've supported so many years is clearly past some of the darker aspects of our national history, I'm saddened that our ticket will demonstrate every kind of possible diversity exept the kind our country truly needs at this point in history; that of the intellectual variety.
Once again progressives will be left in the cold when it comes to national politics. Today was a victory for the status quo.
Nan - I think the fact that he is leaving the race now, and possibly avoid a brokered convention, might make him more attractive for a cabinet position by whoever comes out on top. As AG or in Labor.
Fran - I initially had some problems with Edwards, mostly because of his stand on same-sex marriage. But he finally came around and gave an answer that I could accept -- namely that he would support separation of church and state, and not try and legislate his personal belief. I think he truly does care about people, and wanted to have an impact, but for some reason his message just didn't seem to connect well enough for him to win a primary. And there are still ways he can help people, outside of government.
Dean - I have to disagree that "Today was a victory for the status quo." Right now the status quo is George W. Bush, and Clinton and Obama are certainly NOT George Bush.
For one thing, they are smarter than he is. I don't think either would have taken us to war with Iraq. And I don't think they would have given an open check book to the likes of Halliburton and their ilk.
BAC
The only thing that would be a "victory for the status quo" would be if some Democrats decide they can't support the eventual nominee -- and another Republican gets in.
Well she DID vote for the AUMF on Iraq and supported Kyl-Lieberman on Iran. I also avoid reading too much into things that happen during the SOTU but she jumped up and clapped when Bush made that comment about the surge succeeding.
She may not START a war as President but she certainly hasn't done much to stop President Cuckoo Banananas from starting one.
If she was still the Hillary Clinton who lashed out at the VRWC a few years ago I might feel differently.
I wish I could be more hopeful about her or Obama it's just that we've been burned so many damned times by our Democratic leaders. Politics doesn't even begin to explain why.
As far as Presidential politics it was probably the worse thing in the world that the Democrats retook the Senate. Each of our candidates has had a chance to lead in the last couple of years and each of them have come up short.
Having said all that I'm sure the fear of a "President McCain" will bring me around. :)
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