Political Punch

i have a lot of respect for edwards and hope that he chooses to endorse hillary for the nomination.

i have a lot of respect for edwards and hope that he chooses to endorse hillary for the nomination.

Back Obama. He's young and could benefit from your wisdom. We all know change can't happen without the people's involvement. Obama has the young vote, and they are our future. He has the vote from us that are middle aged. He's inspired us to get involved. We're willing to put forth what little energy we have left after working two jobs, doing chores, and battling with the physical problems that come with the age. Why? Because we believe. Besides, Hillary is not going to take advantage of you as an assest. The Clinton family is too arrogant, ruthless and not to be trusted! Ask yourself, would Bill and Hillary look to you for support once in the white house? I think not. If you truley want to make a difference in this country, vote Obama

We already know that the vast majority of his supporters broke for Obama. If Edwards endorses Clinton, it will have absolutely no impact, because all it will do is prove that he always was, after all, an opportunistic phony, as many have said all along. Personally, I don't believe that's the case, but my confidence in that belief was shaken by his reluctance to back Obama the moment he withdrew.

i think edwards is THE ultimate kingmaker in this. his flock may have gravitated to one side or other. but they will reassemble under edwards and follow his recommendation. do not forget who his flock is - working class folks. they tend to be a fairly unsophisticated mix who follow the trusted edwards but do not have strong opinions otherwise. if edwards leads this flock to hillary, she likely blows out ohio, PA and texas as the working class is so heavily represented there. if edwards delivers this block to obama, this is the block obama is missing from his mix - lots of working class voters. it's over for hillary if edwards hits the campaign trail for obama before ohio, TX and PA. finished, over, working class and women is mostly all she has left. take a piece of that and we all write hillary's obituary.

edwards wants something - a job and workers rights "written in blood" his camp says. hillary offers all of the above - she said yesterday edwards can have any job plus all he wants. that means she would make him running mate, AG anything just to get him to help her win. obama would likely hand over workers rights gladly but he is holding out on something - likely a job for edwards as obama may have that committed elsewhere already. so edwards stands back and smokes out obama. he is not smoking out hillary, she already offered all he wants. edwards is rumored to be leaning more obama - but there is something he wants obama is not giving up, so he is laying in wait.

if edwards swings obama, hillary can pack up and go home, it's over. it will tip the scale of the steel workers in PA and ohio, the army of working class folks in those crucial states. but edwards can also break obama if he swings hillary and helps her win the fat delegates there. edwards will determine the outcome. washington post says gore and edwards are both crucial. i disagree on gore. gore is needed, but later in the government. and the gore supporters are already with obama anyway, and the missing working class folks voters want better wages, health care and are largely oblivious to environmental policy, so gore does not matter much aside from beaing a beauty prize. i am not diminishing gore, he is my big hero. but i think he is irrelevant in swinging the crucial working class votes in Ohio, PA and texas.

Edwards is stupid - he could have secured his VP by endorsing one or the other.
Anyway Clinton will win today with double-digit lead.

I am amazed that anybody would think that Obama does not answer tough questions you must have him confused with Senator Clinton. I am a Democrat who will not vote for the lying, self serving candidates (that would be the Clinton's).

The fabrication of Obama not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance is a total joke.

Start fact checking folks.

Obama stands true ....The Clinton's do not.

The Clinton's are not ready on Day 1 Both of them have poor judgement....Bill-Monica ...what was he thinking......Hillary the war vote...what was she thinking ...or sticking with Bill post Monica ...what was she thinking..... Bill can get me elected.

None of the Democrats have anything but change-and that's all you will have left after they tax and spend us into oblivion!

Charisma is not enough-you need good ideas to protect America and grow the economy. The philosophy of the Democrats will not get us there.

Clinton, the first black President? How about ABRAHAM LINCOLN? It was the Republicans that made it possible for black Americans to vote and get away from segregation, not the Democrats.

Bill Clinton's mentor and Al Gore's father were both against blacks having the vote or being equal with white people.

Get real-check the actual history instead of the drivel you are getting from the left-or you will get left.

John McCain is not the one to get us to safety and prosperity.

Learn from history or you are bound to repeat it!

Draft Newt Gingrich! He has the answers!

If you are a fence sitter it is very uncomfortable. Check out the philosophy and what they have done-not just their rhetoric.

Edwards will endorse on Monday. Obama will name Edwards Attorney General in his administration. Obama will become a clear front runner following Super Tuesday. Obama will beat Romney or McCain in the general election through a broad base of support around core progressive values, with constituencies of Democratic, Independent, and Republican voters, carrying both "red" and "blue" states, something that has not happened since Reagan took office winning 48 states. As AG, Edwards will take on the corporations and save American democracy from the constricting and corrupting influence of unchecked corporate power.

I do hope that Obama gets the nomination. He is an incredibly intelligent individual, surely able to attract a strong group of decision-makers and executers to compose a strong administration. I don't think the "experience" debate has a huge amount of actual substance.

Clinton is certainly more divisive, and while I really don't want to support her, and can't say that she would be evil in the way that people make her out to b, nor would she be ineffective.

Obama has an uphill battle I believe, and turn out of new and/or young voters appears to be a key. In addition, there hasn't been a tremendous amount of talk about the Latino vote in this election (fyi.. I am a 35 year old white male) but I do think that that section of the vote could be a factor... not sure that Obama is that blocks candidate and sways toward Clinton.

To me, you are voting on a candidate that can work with Congress. That is really the only "must have". I think Obama is in a stronger position to do this than any candidate or either side of the ticket. I absolute agree with people who find him inspirational, and maybe he can galvanize the country into being more civic minded. So, any of you who want to be Obama-like make sure that locally you all push "civics" to be included back into our schools.

Edwards need to do the right thing and make his decision ASAP, as people are going to be drawn to McCain. He is already playing to the middle with his disucssion in CA about the environment.
If Edwards delay's, he will ruin any legacy that he has if the 2/5 exit polls indicate attrition to McCain. That hurts not only the presidential candidates, but our congressional candiates. This isn't a lawsuit where he should be trying to negotiate a settlement. Rudy did the right thing for his staff, his supporters, and his party. Political followers and financial supports are emotionally connect to John, and he needs to think about the people who supported him. John -- please act while it is still relevant!

The Hillary Haters are out in full force. Saying she's licking her wounds and calling her an old woman. How repulsive. I hope the "old people" as you all refer to them come out in full force on Tuesday and teach you all a lesson.

"As a lifelong GOP activist who first started by working in Ronald Reagan's 1976 campaign while in high school let me just say that if the Democrats want to win they should nominate Senator Obama.

I would vote for him! I've never voted Democratic for President, but Senator Obama has a certain quality that makes him a leader and possibly a grea President."

Same here. I like Obama and I am Republican!

Edwars will support Obama, it is a matter of when that support will come, It would be most advantageous for him to do so on Monday. Early. It would also not hurt to have Obama announce that if nominated, he will have Joe Biden as his running mate.

As a lifelong GOP activist who first started by working in Ronald Reagan's 1976 campaign while in high school let me just say that if the Democrats want to win they should nominate Senator Obama.

I would vote for him! I've never voted Democratic for President, but Senator Obama has a certain quality that makes him a leader and possibly a grea President.

I grew up in Massachusetts working with the GOP & Reagan was very successful in getting the votes of "Reagan Democrats". Remember the Gipper carried Massachusetts in 1980 & 1984.

I've had the opportunity to see Senator Obama here in South Carolina & his crowds, his connection & the candidate himself remind me of the '76 & '80 Reagan campaigns. There was enthusiasm & something real in the air.

I was also very moved by Caroline Kennedy's & Ted Kennedy's touching endorsement.

President Obama could remind all Americans, left, right, black, white, male, female, gay, straight that we need to find common ground as we move forward. I am confident he would work with Democrats & Republicans, unlike Senator Clinton who appears far too rigid (not to mention sleazey)to allow for the fact the there are other viewpoints.

Finally, to my good conservative friends regarding John McCain. Get over it! He's a fine candidate, a conservative. Good enough for Barry Goldwater & Ronald Reagan. Let me remind you that W's fingerprints are on everything that upsets you about McCain. Also, McCain was right when he told W & Rumsfeld that they were not putting enough troops into the effort at the beginning. Who knows how many American heroes lost their lives because of that miscalculation.

If y'all had actually gotten behind what you call a real conservative, Fred Thompson, you wouldn't have this problem. You opted to support a flip flopping suit from Massachusetts & another lowbrow former governor of Arkansas (& a real hateful bigot in my opinion).

If Obama is the nominee, I will either vote Republican or not vote at all. As a life-long Democrat, this hurts to say, but I could NEVER support Obama. He's totally unqualified to be President.

henry - I think i can answer that the same reason a Republican may vote for Hilary or not vote at all if McCain gets the nomination.

Obama is a scary individual, he will not stand for God bless America, he will not wear the Flag pin because he does not believe in the Flag or country. And there is too little known about him since he wont answer tough questions.

Now for McCain well why not just have the real Hilary in office!! not hilary lite!

Susan,

Why would a lifelong Democrat vote Republican if Obama was the Dem. nominee?

H

Edwards is a little weasel like KENNEDY. No matter who and if he endorses. His white voters will go to HILLARY.

We have seem polls of Yes votes indicating that majority of Edwards votes are white men. What we have not seen is the NO votes; those who strongly disapprove a candidate.

My personal thought: I think majority of Edwards supporters are those who strongly disapprove Clinton and many are not ready to elect a black president, so:

If Edwards doesn't endorse any candidate:
Those who strongly disapprove Clinton, will not vote for her. It will be up to Obama to clear-up his image as a black president that was portrait if South Carolina. If Obama can clear that image, he will benefit from many of those Edwards supporters who already committed to NO vote for Hillary.

If Edwards endorse Clinton:

a small number of his supporters move to Clinton, but not too many. Also a small number will move to Obama when they start evaluating other candidates. Nevertheless, Majority of hist supporters will not vote, and so neither of the candidates benefit.

If Edwards endorse Obama:

Many of his supporters start thinking that maybe they are ready of a black president. The number wil not be too much, but Obama still benefits more than Clinton.

On the other topic:

I like Jon Edwards as Attorney General.

Very strange to me that I only heard a brief, very brief soundbite from Princess Hillary today on Edward's leaving the race. I've not seen that plastic smile with those bugging eyes on any blogs saying how good his campaign was noting, zip, nada.

Great noise in the sound of relative silence.

My bet is Edwards told her to tie Bill up in the backyard or he's gonig with Obama.

My dream is that he endorses Obama before super Tuesday and Hillary knows it and is off somewhere licking her wounds.

I don't believe the healthcare issue is bigger than the corporate/lobbyist influence issue. Anyhow - Obama's healthcare plan is slightly more pragmatic. It makes coverage mandatory for children only, and aims to bring down medical costs and insurance costs so poorer people can afford health insurance. With universal healthcare - poor people would be forced to pay insurance or face fines. If they are struggling already, that will push them over the line. You have to think about the knock on effects of such broad policies for certain demographics and I think Obama's plan does that. Until such time as the poverty line situation is improved, I think mandatory obligation to get healthcare insurance will just make matters worse. Strengthen the people, then bring it in.

I highly prefer an Obama/Edwards ticket. Why can't he be VP? If something happened to Obama, this is the man I would like to see stand up to take his place.

Why did Edwards quit?

At the South Carolina Debates Edwards was more critical than usual of Obama.

After the debates, Edwards and Clinton have a private meeting in the "green" room.

Obama wins South Carolina.

Exit polls show that 40% of white males voted for Edwards in South Carolina.

Edwards pledges to the American people that he will "FIGHT" until the end.

The day after South Carolina, Edwards raises $4 million via internet support.

The Kennedy Family endorses Obama.

Edwards quits the race.

Why did the so called "FIGHTER" quit?

What are his true motivations?

Only time will tell.

Politics.

Prediction:
Edwards endorses Obama at the end of the week.

...if Obama wins:
--Edwards wins Attorney Gen. (can't be VP...he already lost that)
--Biden gets Sec State
Powell gets Sec Defense (not sure if i like this)
--Gore: special liaison
--Richardson: stays in NM
--Bayh: maybe VP, but that's not a great idea. Obama already gets everything Bayh gets.

Rice disappears into obscurity

...if Clinton wins
--Obama as VP...she needs to rid herself of the far-left label despite Obama being much more liberal in record
--Biden still gets Sec State
--Attorney General is someone slightly corrupt with a shinny exterior
--Gore writes more books and makes a movie with Bono
--Lieberman has a comeback of some kind
--Richardson: maybe stays in NM, maybe gets offered Sec Energy or DNC Chair, but I think most people agree that Dean is kept out of the spot light there

Rice still disappears into obscurity

I came to love John Edwards during this campaign and if he's the man he has portrayed himself to be (which I think he is), he'll not even consider joining forces with the Clintons.

America's seen through their charade. The Clintons have played the classic, injure your opponent and then look like you're taking the high road at the end while your opponent is still recovering.

The difference this time?

It didn't knock Obama down.

The bullys have been exposed.

America's seen through it.

A tidal wave is about to hit Super Tuesday.

If you don't believe me, look at the latest Gallup poll:

6 point race nationally and this is just the beginning, folks.

I think the smart thing for Edwards to do is endorse Obama. The clinton's preformance in S.C. clearly showed they are out of touch with the public

Obama-Edwards in '08

Jake - why don't you make it interesting and give us your opinion as to why Edwards hasn't yet endorsed Obama? What are they waiting for?

My sister, a life long democrat, will not vote for Clinton if she wins the nomination. I'm a Republican and so is my wife. All of the family would prefer to see a new story in American politics. We're leaning Obama.

Don't be so sure he is going to go with Obama. Obama's healthcare plan is not as universal as Hillary's is, and Edwards mentioned it in the debate in SC. If healthcare is his signature initiative, he may opt to go with her even though most of his other statements would lead everyone to believe he would go with Obama.

Just a thought.

It is 2008 and I for one am tired of this presidential race being about labels - the black guy, the woman, the Mormon, the minister, etc. At this critical juncture in our nation's history, we need to be looking at qualities - can the person unify our country, can they bring Republicans and Democrats together - and most importantly - will the listen to what the American public wants and NOT what Washington wants!

If Obama gets the nomination both my husband and I will vote Republican. We have always been Democrats but we will not vote for him .

Of course it matters. Gallup has the race at 6%. Edwards leaves at 12% total. Edwards was popular with white males. Who will they vote for now?

If you look at the liberal blogosphere, they are overwhelmingly shifting to Obama. Edwards, who has been courting the blogs heavily, will no doubt see that. His base strongly supports Obama.

Edwards will make no difference, maybe if he was running second, but as the polls showed in SC the people that voted for him said they were not ready for a woman or Black president.

Jake,

I am dissapointed at your Journalistic approach. I would assume that a young man like you would be non-biased in your writing and avoid divisive journalism as apparent in the America society today. I would also assume that the topic and content of your writting makes sense.

Your previous topic on Rumsfield and Obama makes no sense. That was a non issue

Edwards doesn't need to rush to endorse anyone now. He can't put a pressure on then to talk about the issues he brought first into the campaign like universal health care, poverty in America, education reform, etc. Now Hillary and Obama will need to talk about the issues instead of the personality contest and who has the nicest smile.

Based on your previous interview, Jake, I think it's obvious whom Sen. Edwards will endorse. Although his endorsement may not be of "king-maker" caliber, it certainly will cause rank-and-file Dems to reexamine their choices.

Doesn't matter. How much black support did he have.