May 14 2008
Edwards to endorse Obama
(Updated with video.)
John EdwardsGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Senator John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who bowed out of the presidential race in January, is expected to endorse Senator Barack Obama at a rally being held here after 6 p.m.
Officials announced the news shortly after Mr. Obama landed here late this afternoon. The campaign has timed the announcement to coincide with the start of the major evening newscasts, which would have otherwise focused on Senator Hillary Clinton’s landslide victory in West Virginia, which raised new questions about Mr. Obama’s strength with white working class voters.
Mr. Edwards has been watched closely for who he would endorse, and Mr. Obama’s campaign is hoping it will be taken as the start of a partywide coalescence around Mr. Obama as the Democratic nominee.
The endorsement ended months of speculation over Mr. Edwards’s preference in the Democratic nominating contest, during which he mostly stayed silent and close to home in Chapel Hill with his wife, Elizabeth.
But in recent days, Mr. Edwards had made his choice all but obvious, giving a series of television interviews hinting that he was close to endorsing Mr. Obama, who last week he called “clearly the nominee at this point.”
And it was little surprise to close observers of Mr. Edwards on the campaign trail in the past year, when he regularly attacked so-called establishment politicians like Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and teamed with Mr. Obama against her in debates.
His campaign sounded similar themes to Mr. Obama’s – both candidates positioned themselves as change agents who would clean house in Washington.[..]
Mr. Edwards has carefully played down his aspirations for an administration role. In an interview in January, he said he would not accept a vice-presidential spot or Cabinet position. “No, absolutely not,” he said, shaking his head emphatically when asked.
But privately, he told aides that he would consider the role of vice president, and favored the position of attorney general, which would appeal to his experience of decades spent in courtrooms as a trial lawyer in North Carolina; and his desire to follow in the footsteps of Robert F. Kennedy, one of his heroes.
Not long after Mr. Edwards dropped out of the race, John C. Moylan, a close friend and adviser who ran his South Carolina campaign, said Mr. Edwards he would consider a Cabinet spot. “You don’t run for president unless you want to work in the administration,” Mr. Moylan said.
I think it was mighty outstanding of Mr. Edwards to wait until the nomination was practically secure before choosing to endorse Senator Obama. It shows a lot of courage on his part. Really, it does. (Not.)
Has he earned a position in the Obama administration? I guess we’ll see.
Hillary Clinton, for her part, had this to say today:
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday reiterated her vow to stay in the Democratic presidential race, but she said it would be a “terrible mistake” for her supporters to vote for John McCain over Barack Obama.
“Anybody who has ever voted for me or voted for Barack has much more in common in terms of what we want to see happen in our country and in the world with the other than they do with John McCain,” Clinton said on CNN’s “The Situation Room.”
“I’m going to work my heart out for whoever our nominee is. Obviously, I’m still hoping to be that nominee, but I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that anyone who supported me … understands what a grave error it would be not to vote for Sen. Obama.”
It’s coming together.
“We are here tonight because the Democratic voters have made their choice, and so have I.” — John Edwards, May 14, 2008.
5 Responses to “Edwards to endorse Obama”
Ahh, yes. Len, he who goes around to other blogs posting comments that demonstrate his ignorance.
Let me ask: why would it be a good thing for Edwards to endorse Obama? I mean, didn’t Edwards lose TWO bids to get into the White House, once as VP, once as President?
Yeah, just the kind of guy I want in my corner.
Why don’t you write a post explaining WHY Obama would make a good President? He certainly can’t seem to do the job himself, so perhaps he needs some help. He has no experience, no plan (except for taxing us into further debt), and hangs around with racists and unrepentant domestic terrorists.
Oh, and after building himself up as “a different kind of politician”, he has demonstrated that, in fact, he is the quintessential politician: Whine when I don’t get my way, and cry “racism” when someone dares question me.
Please. We are in a heap of trouble if Obama becomes President. He doesn’t have a clue. How could he? He’s barely spent anytime as a Senator! He doesn’t have any kind of extensive leadership experience. What, exactly, should make me want to vote for him? He hasn’t done anything to convince me. Maybe you can?
By the way, I’m from West Virginia. I have a college education. And yeah, I’m white. Obama’s color has nothing to do with why I don’t like him. I wouldn’t like him if he was the whitest guy on the planet. Despite your ignorant comment on “Shooting from the Right” West Virginians do have the ability to think for themselves, and maybe they realize Obama has NO EXPERIENCE. I can’t stand Hillary either, but at least she’s been around in a much more extensive leadership role.
I was just saying the same thing about Edward’s support today–real courageous. My speculation is that he was waiting for either the VP offer, or a high cabinet position.
I was talking to a friend today who said that the addition of Edwards to the Obama ticket would seal it for her…she would definitely vote for them (of course she is fully in the Obama Camp anyway). I can’t believe that Edwards would strengthen the ticket, as he has not even been successful in bringing his own state in. I’m sure there is something in it for him though…
I’m an open minded conservative and I like the idea of Edwards as Obama’s running mate. I don’t feel like I “relate” to McCain, Hillary or Obama, or any of their spouses for that matter – none of them seem to speak for me – Edwards and his wife at least I feel like are people I can somewhat relate to (not the $400 haircuts for sure though). They are close to my age, with young children, they don’t belong to a radical church but rather one more like mine; I feel like they would know some of the concerns that face me and my family… I’m struggling in my choice between McCain and Obama and if he were to pick Edwards for VP, that would sway things for me toward Obama a bit more. I still think of Edwards as “The Breck” girl (as the pundits named him) sometimes though, I’d have to get over that.
I would really like to see Obama run with Edwards. Obama is definitely the best presidential candidate and I think adding Edwards would make him that much more appealing. Really good post and great comments guys!
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This is great news.. The ticket should be Obama / Edwards in 08