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Dodd: 'Not the Same John Edwards'

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November 13, 2007 11:14 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein and Raelyn Johnson Report: Sen. Chris Dodd is blasting former senator John Edwards for refusing to commit to supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic nomination, as Dodd steps up an increasingly fierce critique of his Democratic rivals.

"I am surprised at just how angry John has become. This is not the same John Edwards I once knew," Dodd, D-Conn., said in a statement released by his campaign Tuesday. "Of course, we should all come together to support the nominee. I wonder which of the Republicans John prefers to Hillary?"

In an interview with The New York Times, Edwards, D-N.C., declined to say that he would definitely support Clinton if she wins the nominatino. "I'm not willing to talk about that at this point," he said.

On Tuesday, Edwards went a bit further, though he still stopped short of vowing to support Clinton if she wins the nomination. "I fully expect to support the Democratic nominee and I fully expect to be the nominee," he told ABC in Dartmouth, N.H.

But when asked whether he would support Clinton if she is the nominee, he said only that he stood by his previous answer.

Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer said Clinton will support whoever wins the Democratic nomination.

"Sen. Clinton has spent her entire adult life supporting Democrats running for office and isn't about to change that now," Singer said. "We fully expect that Sen. Clinton will be the nominee, but if she isn't she will of course support the Democratic nominee."

Dodd, trailing badly in state and national polls, has grown increasingly critical of the other Democratic candidates in recent days. On Monday, his campaign released a statement sharply criticizing Clinton, D-N.Y., for saying she wants a "timeout" on new trade deals but still supporting a free-trade agreement with Peru.

"On Saturday at the Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner, Senator Clinton said she stands now where she's always stood. Today she confirmed it: on both sides of every issue," campaign spokeswoman Colleen Flanagan said.

For more on both of those issues, check out today's Note.

November 13, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (25)

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Sen Clinton will make a good president.
She is attacking problem facing America.
She not attacking others candidates, like they are attacking her. When the others candidates talk about Sen Clinton,
she taking about ways to help America. She may not have all the answer. But she is trying. Good for her.
So yes we need Sen Clinton in the White House. Vote for Sen Clinton!

Posted by: Jeff | Nov 14, 2007 1:44:14 AM

This "can't we all just get along" stuff is nonsense. Candidates like Edwards that are genuinely passionate about issues like providing truthful answers to voters and getting lobbyists out of politics, are not just going to roll over and admit that they would endorse a candidate who takes the opposiste position on such matters. To do so would prove that they don't really stand for anything, they've just staked out their positions for political expediency.

Some of the greatesst and most genuine political theater of recent times occurred in at the 1980 Democratic Convention when, after a hotly contested two-horse race for the nomination, the nation waited to see whether one of the greatest Democrats of all time, Ted Kennedy, would endorse the incumbant president, Jimmy Carter, and hold his hand in unity at the close of the convention. (In his address to the convention, Kennedy called for a Democratic win in November, never mentioned Carter by name, nd did not hold hands in unity. Carter, hamstrung by the Iran hostage crises and high inflation fed mainly by the creation of OPEC/subsequent much higher oil prices, predictably got destroyed by Reagan in the general election that year.)

There are parallels, primarily principled challengers trailing/losing to nominees that, because of their high negatives, were reasonably sure to lose in November. Democrats marched off the cliff in lock-step with Carter in 1980, and may be poised to do the same with Hillary Clinton in 2008.

Posted by: sps91158 | Nov 14, 2007 7:44:23 AM

I must say I am surprised at the brilliant behavior of John Edwards. He is obviously very smart when choosing to refrain from voicing his (nonexistant) support for someone as useless as Hilary Clinton. She's already had two terms in office. My four-year-old cousin can give a straighter answer to a question that she can. I'm not saying I necessarily support Edwards, but I am definitely saying I do not support Clinton. She would be useless in office. Oh, wait...no, she would be very useful in office. She'd give me something to laugh about every day.

Posted by: nitingale | Nov 14, 2007 9:48:03 AM

Let's get real folks. This country has gone through a period of ineffective leadership for the past sixteen years. We have had a total collaspe of moralleadership during this period that have very litttle to do with the political parties. We simply have had leaders who were more interested in self promotion,disregard for the truth and in several ways simply incomponent. Hillary Clinton was and remains directly linked to this dismal period and I beleive it would be a mistake to elect her as president. She has demonstrated that she lacks the capacity to accept responsibility for her positions and she will retract her positions if they prove unacceptable or unpopular. She has a history of blaming others for her and her husband failures.It will be another failure of our system if she is elected. The American people need truth and a leader who will be open and honest in his/her approach to governing. A "Democrat" who will not vote for Hillary am I.

Posted by: murl41 | Nov 14, 2007 9:52:15 AM

Hey, Edwards isnt alone. Hilary will spell doom for the Dems, Mass exodus of independents to the republicans. I dont support Obama either but should this guy win the nomination everyone will want to be part of History. It wont be an election but a movement to make history.

Believe me or not, this Obama guy is extraordinary. A guy whom even diehards republicans cant hide their admiration for.Some simply adandon other campaigns to meet Obama when they hear he is around. It just amazing the enthusiasm building around this Obama guy!

Posted by: EE | Nov 29, 2007 5:09:03 PM

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