My husband, a former journalist, wrote this article about why he thinks that John Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race for president. It makes a lot of sense to me. See if you agree...
If you are like me, I was stunned and disappointed when John Edwards decided on Wednesday to withdraw from the race for the Democratic Party nomination for President.
Edwards isn't giving us any details. After listening to members of his campaign give interviews on Air America Radio premium pod-casts to explain what was going on behind the scenes, I better understand. I thought I'd pass along what I've heard.
The results of the South Carolina sent a clear message to John. Four years ago he won the primary in the state of his birth. This time he came in third. After looking at polling data from the 22 states voting on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5, he could see that he would place third overall. While the Democrats allot delegates according to the percentage of votes received, the Republicans have winner-take-all-delegates contests in most states.
What that means is that we could know who the Republican nominee will be within a few weeks. But the democrats would continue to split the vote three ways, meaning that a nominee would not be known until the Democratic National Convention in Denver during the last week of August. There has been a lot of buzz regarding a convention in which John Edwards could leverage his delegates to dictate agenda and possibly pick the candidate in August.
But there are a few problems with that scenario. First, the Republicans would have a six month head start in campaigning and define the Democrats is any way they please. Second, Democratic candidates would have to continue spending money against each other and calling attention to their opponent's "shortcomings." Third, Edwards could be blamed for manipulating the whole mess and the ultimate result on Nov. 4.
Therefore, Edwards came to the conclusion that if the race is between Clinton and Obama, the VOTERS should decide between them, not John Edwards.
My first instinct was to vote for Edwards anyway. His name will be on the ballot. The problem with that strategy is that the Democratic Party in many states has changed the rules of delegate selection. If a candidate has withdrawn from the election, his or her delegates are removed and reassigned to the remaining candidates according to their finish. So, it would be much smarter to vote for the candidate that YOU want to get the delegate - Clinton or Obama.
But Edwards also said that it is up to us to pressure the nominee, and to call our Senators and Representatives and insist that the policies proposed by John Edwards be passed into law. We also can get involved by going to our county democratic party meetings, in which our voices are more clearly heard.
So, while I have concerns about both, I'll probably vote for Barack Obama. I feel he can inspire people across the political spectrum to get involved. But, frankly, I still would vote Hillary Clinton instead of any Republican contender on Nov. 4.
--Bob Uhlar
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Comments: 20
When it comes down to issues, Edwards had the most specific plan to deal with them--more so than any other candidate.
Well, of course, he had to keep up with Edwards, the Breck girl. lol
Is this about John Edwards the ex-senator who lost in his home state? Or is it about Jonathon Edwards, the guy who speaks to dead people? Or are they one in the same? I seem to remember a story about Edwards channeling a dead girl in one of his court room dramas.
Yep, he sure helped the poor people in his state alright. He put hospitals and doctors out of business by suing their pants off by using junk science. Now they're affraid to deliver a baby without doing it by C-section even if they don't need it.
So, let's give that ambulance chaser a great big "thank you". Thank him for dropping out of the primary. Now maybe he'll go home and spend time with his wife and kids while he still has her around.
Lera, please tell us what you stand for.
A President can't deliver without the people. Bush could not deliver because he misled us and many of us would not follow him.
I think that under President Obama, America can deliver.
Edwards dropped out more likely because as many others in both parties have found, his message simply wasn't catching on. He has name recognition and early funding, but his appeal was limited. For some reason, Americans on both sides are voting for basic variations of the same thing; politicians promising more entitlements and taxing the other guy to pay for it. It looks pretty gloomy come November....
I think that Obama's youth plays well against McCain's age. I voted for McCain eight years ago and he would have been so much better a president than W, but he is too old now (look how the office aged Bill Clinton and W!).
NO BAMA! Clinton, in spite of all thats written here. Nobamas lack of experiene, no real plans just eloguent words don't make it! With him it will be just as bad as the goofball sitting in the white house now! I hope the American people wake up and stop going like lambs to the slaughter because of the media spin doctiors tell them to! what has Nobama REALLY done? Ok- he did not vote for the war. Thats about it, folks. He belongs to a church that is "unabashedly black" in their own testament and just honored Farrakan, a very dangerous leader. Nobma's father was muslim, step father is muslim. The middle east would love the US to have him as pres....its like one of their own!
Clinton is it. If Nobama gets the nod, I will have to go with war monger McCain, or a sacrifice no where vote to Nader.