Would it have killed Edwards to just go through Super Tuesday?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Why not? What did he have to lose? - Nothing.

Five days! FIVE days!

Who knows how well he would have done.

He had everything to gain - delegates. So he could have a more powerful voice at the convention over platform and issues.

Why give that up for - - - nothing?

[Andrea]

1. My question, too

If we had the answer to that question, I bet it would be shocking. Seriously, there was no reason at all not to wait.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. I can't second guess his decision and I won't.

[DS1]

3. Probably not

but he didn't. And yes it sucks, but that's that.

[Pale Blue Dot]

4. According to the articles I read, he phoned Clinton to tell her he was dropping out.

I didn't see any reports of the same call being made to Obama. Yes, I am reading a lot into that.

[K Gardner]

6. He did call Obama. MSNBC failed to report it but CNN did. That should tell you something.

[Pale Blue Dot]

11. If that's the case, then that blows my phony-baloney theory. nt

[cali]

10. he called both of them. now you can stop reading into something false. n/t

[foxer]

47. I read that she's the one that leaked, class act!

[waiting for hope]

5. Something is a foot -

I have heard him speak over 300 times and never once have I heard him flub, he did today and it was eerie. I don't pretend to know what's going on behind the scenes but there is something there. Edwards has been honest this whole campaign, so I would expect an answer to this at some point.

[OzarkDem]

12. Someone made him an offer he couldn't refuse

I'm not sure I want to know.

[K Gardner]

15. Agreed, waiting. I think it smells. Something is wrong. In the meantime, the

fact that he isn't endorsing is also strange. John knows his mind and it isn't like him to remain neutral, as if he's waiting for something.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

22. My guess is a VP position

and I think it will be from Obama

[ProgressIn2008]

21. I noticed that too -- he was very subdued, especially during

the obligatory party unity part at the beginning. He looked up when people clapped for "defeating Bush" and gave... a strange look.

He had some more fire when he talked about poverty issues afterwards.

I don't know, I think there's more here than meets the eye. When Gore conceded, he looked relieved, like a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Edwards didn't look like that at all.

However, it's the greatest testament to his campaign and message that he stepped away from the microphone and went to pick up a hammer to help build a house. He didn't have to do that, and I noticed that, too.

[bdamomma]

7. Just thinking about this stuff is driving me crazy

I think they pushed him out, or this is topic another discussion. Just a question to you guys, can a VP run again?

[MonkeyFunk]

18. Meaning what?

Can Cheney run again? Yes.

Or do you mean can a VP candidate who lost run again? The answer also is yes, but I doubt very much either candidate would choose him, or that he's terribly interested in doing that again.

[bdamomma]

27. so cheney can run again, all speculation, but does anyone

think McCain would ask Cheney to be his VP, and not to give up the powers that they have now. Just speculating.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

30. You have GOT to be kidding!

[bdamomma]

31. I know the idea is kind of out there, but we know how these thugs

want to hold onto power. Just speculating.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

34. Speculations like that could give you nightmares.

Go Pats !!!!! :-)

[bdamomma]

41. just another theory, I would like to throw out there, in most of our

recent presidencies either the president or vp were graduates of Yale could it be some sort of brotherhood thing to always have a Yalie in either the Presidency or VP, like skull and bones. If anyone would like to research this and document all the Presidents and VP's were from Yale.

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

42. There were more than a few Masons too.

Think football and relax---these conpiracy theories could drive you nuts!

[MonkeyFunk]

39. Not a chance

he's one of the most disliked people in America. Plus, McCain/Cheney? It'd be like a bad version of the Sunshine Boys.

[no name no slogan]

8. Just wait-- he didn't rule out an endorsement

He may be waiting until next Monday to drop that one.

[K Gardner]

20. Here's the thing: too many people are early voting. Look at how many votes

HRC got in early voting when people who waited clearly chose Obama. If he's going to endorse, unless there is something calculated going on, he should do it now. Thats just MHO.

[no name no slogan]

25. If he endorses, his delegates are committed to whomever he endorses, IIRC

If he doesn't, he keeps them until the convention

[mentalsolstice]

23. I hope not!

I would love for him to be a voice in either Dem GE campaign/administration. He'd be a perfect AG, and then onto SCOTUS.

[tekisui]

9. My tinfoil says Howard Dean made the call.

Obama and Clinton are too close, and even waiting until SuperTuesday would handicap the Democratic Party. The pukes are falling in behind McCain, so we need to get out Nominee sooner rather than later.

[OzarkDem]

16. Higher than that

Even if Dean made the call, he was just the messenger.

[tekisui]

19. Who would that be?

[OzarkDem]

33. Funders, maybe?

All the big money shifted from GOP to Dem campaigns this year. That wasn't an accident or because they liked our candidates. They wanted to hedge their bets, I suppose. That shift happened not just at the level of the presidential race, but also the congressional races.

The big money donors basically bought the Democratic Party this year and they're now calling the shots. They didn't want Edwards growing support in the race causing them to burn up their cash. IMHO they want to narrow the Dem field ASAP and, with McCain's good showing in Florida, used him as leverage to force the Dems to push Edwards out.

I suspect they'll want Obama or Clinton out after Super Tuesday. Dems are no longer in control of their presidential race and there is no guarantee the money will keep coming in after the primary.

[Benhurst]

17. If true, then Howard Dean goes way down in my estimation.

[BuelahWitch]

46. Mine too

He apparently has a short memory as well.

[waiting for hope]

24. Dean did say that it would be good to

have the nominee by 2/5. Clyburn (Sp?) and others have been saying in the past two weeks that all three would be at the convention with delegates and no one would have 50% - If Dean did do this, my estimation of him would go down, He, of all people, should know what a media black out does and how that hurts the party too.

[K Gardner]

26. I remember hearing Dean say that in a recent interview, now that you mention it.

[Bozita]

13. Dems debate tomorrow. Edwards excels at the format. Why quit today?

His numbers rose after every debate.

This makes no sense.

[Yossariant]

14. I'm surprised, too, at the timing.

:shrug:

[Blackhatjack]

28. I've followed Edwards a long time. I think he was concerned his efforts would hurt the Dem Party

A brokered convention with two candidates who can barely stand each other would damage the chances of retaking the WHite House, and down line ticket races.

Edwards will get offers to serve in some capacity in the next Administration if a Democrat is elected President. Nothing smells about that. Edwards is supremely talented and can move the Democratic Party into more progressive positions from such a post. However, I do not believe Edwards has been offered, nor sought, to exchange his endorsement for a guaranteed position in that candidate's Administration. It would be inconsistent with his past conduct and character.

By suspending his campaign today, the next Debate will be just Obama and Hillary. In all likelihood we will soon know who will the Party Nominee --as will the Republican Nominee. THat will give the DEMocratic Party time to come together and heal the rifts that are prominent today --and which would have been much nastier and wider in a brokered convention setting.

I think Edwards thought it through, and made the best decision possible for his Party and his family. Can't fault him for being willing to put both ahead of his own personal ambition.

[Wednesdays]

36. But 5 days wouldn't have made much difference in that regard

He could have just folded his campaign on Feb. 6, and thrown his delegates and endorsement to one or the other of the remaining two candidates.

Or, if that would have been too divisive, he could have endorsed no one and left it up to his delegates to make up their own minds.

:shrug:

[Blackhatjack]

45. There is a good chance Edwards could have extended the Decision to the Convention...

... the constant devisive competing campaigns of Clinton and Obama would have given the Repub Nominee a step up to consolidate the Repub Party behind him and start early attacking Democrats still fractured by the lack of a Nominee.

Yes, Edwards could have done as you say, but I think he put the Party and the Nation's well-being first. We as a Party must retake the Government in order to begin repairing the damage. THat must be our highest priority.

[bdamomma]

29. after reading these posts should we all come to the conclusion

that something is just not right. And after listening to the news PBS, they have no idea how Edwards supporters are going to lean to, let's keep them on edge.

[Flabbergasted]

32. Yeah it could have killed his career. nt

[never_get_over_it]

35. Ok I was a Kucinich supporter

Edwards was aways my second choice - and I decided to go with John after Iowa - I wanted to believe his rhetoric as it was progressive - but it turns out that Edwards is a big liar like all of them - he said he would stay in - now I don't really think I expected him to stay in until the convention but that he left 6 days before Super Tuesday SUCKS and makes no sense.

I am so sorry that I sent this man 100s of dollars

and curious

Why did he say he was suspending his campaign instead of saying he was ending it. Reminded me when Larry Craig said he "intended" to resign - when I heard that I said to myself - son of a bitch - that guy will not resign...and so far he hasn't....

hmmm suspending - what is up with that....

[Muttocracy]

38. elsewhere someone said it was to be able to pay campaign workers for a while? n/t

[never_get_over_it]

43. Thanks

well as long as he is going to pay them for a while maybe he could have made today's statement next Wednesday - I'm so disappointed he didn't at least go that far...

oh well - at least he made it through my primary - because I wouldn't have voted for either Clinton or Obama....but on the other hand if I knew Edwards would pull out 24 hours after I voted I would have voted for Dennis....

I apologize Dennis....

[depakid]

37. Can't say why- could be internals looked pretty bleak

But even if that's so, the timing of the decision left millions without a voice- or a reasonable alternative next week.

[DainBramaged]

40. I think he made a great strategic move

Does anyone really think that either Hillary or Obama will choose each other as VP if nominated? Why shouldn't Edwards pull back and wait for the two of them to chew each other up and at least get second prize this time around. He'd make a terrific VP and get the 8 years experience for the 2016 campaign.

[EffieBlack]

44. I'm sure if he could have, he would have

[foxer]

48. It would be "Historic" to elect the person not running.....

[jackson_dem]

49. It would have been humiliating to go 0-for-26

He only had a chance to win in two or three states. They were considering quitting after New Hampshire. That is apparently when Elizabeth concluded there was no path to the nomination. Realistically, in retrospect, it was all over when he lost Iowa. The only way he would have a chance against the celebrity $100 million candidates was to win Iowa and use that momentum to do well in New Hampshire, couple the momentum with union backing (Culinary would have likely went for him, not Obama, if Edwards won Iowa) in Nevada and then wind South Carolina. This was the plan all along. The early state strategy allowed him to compete because of the retail nature of the early states. The idea always was to use momentum from the early states to lead to Super Tuesday success. Once he lost Iowa the plan fell apart. He would have trouble competing with the $100 million candidates the rest of the way, especially with no momentum and media coverage.

[toadzilla]

50. I wish he had stayed just to be in the debates!

he was so important in shaping them, in talking about real issues. so important.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

51. He would have amassed delagates - coin of the realm

Personally, I think his results would have surprised (in a positive way)