My respect for Edwards and Romney supporters definitely had an uptick - not sure if this is an outlier though :)

This is like one of those Shakespearean moments on Julius Caesar. To the Clintons, “how has the mighty fallen” is the first thought that comes to me when you read about the gloomy old Clinton and his Wife.

America gave Bill Clinton an opportunity when he abused it, we forgave him, and now he wants to impose his wife on us. He is such an ingrate.

They have almost as little class as their candidate, who tried to pile on Hillary yesterday, after the alleged "cry", the latest media fantasy.

Edwards will be gone after NH, thankfully.

I think this is all too bad. We have several excellent candidates and there is no reason for this rudeness and unkindness. Hillary Clinton, though not my favorite, is a very smart and hardworking person who has worked for many years to accomplish just the kind of things I expect most of us want. If she were president, we'd be fortunate. My concern is the potential for factions with big money to influence any office holder.

In an off-chance that I might run into Hillary and she wanted to shake my hand, I wouldn't be rude about it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to shake her hand. If I were on a political team I would though. It's a sportsman like thing to do.

He might have had a reason he didnt want to shake her hand, maybe he lost a family memeber or a friend in the Iraq War, after all, she did Vote for the War In Iraq

Us democrats from NC remember Edwards for a number of reasons, like when he won his Senate seat and immediately began pouring money into Iowa for his prez bid last time. Then he left his Senate seat and handed it over to Liddy Dole. At least he now acts like a populist and wants to attack the corporate criminals that run our country and the republican party. I would vote for him if he wins the nod like I would for any democrat, but I
like Kucinich and Obama and Dennis told his Iowa people to go for Obama. DEAR JOHN...sorry it did not work out for you, please support the DEMO nominee or ask for the VP nod if you want it.

This is all so sad. Our nations is in complete decline nationally and internationally and we cannot shake hands. That's shameful. To elect a President that will redevelop our country is essential. Why do we expose so much hatred to one another? Is that what our country is about now?

It's a shame he refused to shake hands with Sen Clinton. May be he thought he will gain some points for doing that but instead made him look stupid. Anyway, I'm not counting out Sen clinton no matter the outcome of NH.

Are people trying to make her cry again? that's not fair. Shaken her hands is just a corteous act; it does not indicate that you agree or support her positions or candidacy.

Refusing to shake hands with a former first lady and a current Senator is rude and childish. I'm a John Edwards supporter and I'm ashamed that someone else that support him has so little class. It's not like a handshake is a commitment to vote for someone.

Interesting. Not sure what either side would have expected at such a time. I also read recently that Clinton got to the Des Moines airport first last week to head for NH, and her "caravan" blocked the way for the other two (Edwards and Obama) so they couldn't get to their planes. They had to call for airport assistance. If true, then the hard feelings will only continue to escalate.

This is not a story. Journalistically, this is a smear of the Edwards campaign through the actions of one supporter. I can't believe I'm reading this on ABCNEWS.com. First they ignore him, then they smear him. Pathetic.

A little perspective, please: it's not like Edwards refused to shake Clinton's hand or like the headline suggests that Edwards' supporters (plural) have decided that clinton is enemy. ONE guy, who for all we know is a total #######, acted stupidly and churlishly. So what? Do we think that there are no idiots also supporting Clinton or Obama. Does this merit a story? I know the press right now wants to run with the Clinton fading narrative and wants to keep Edwards at arms length, but this report is just (like so much of the coverage of the election) just irresponsible and destructive and contributes nothing towards any kind of serious consideration of anything.

Grow up people.

Also, as to John Edwards comment after being questioned about Clinton's emotional time. I think it was a matter of fact comment, with little judgment. It is hard and grueling, but less than the pace of President, unless you're GWB who takes more vacation time than anyone. He may wish he had framed his answer differently, since what he said is being parsed and made to be negative. I think he said more today actually.

That being said, I think it odd that Clinton met in an "intimate" setting with a few "close supporters" and this meeting was taped and distributed. Does that make it spontaneous? Is it an attempt to make her less "hard"?

I don't doubt that this is an exhausting pace to maintain and an emotional roller coaster that most of us can only barely imagine and moments of emotion are to be expected. What those emotional moments amount to are for us to evaluate. Try to be fair, though that isn't so easy from a distance.

I only shake hands with someone I respect; someone I believe to be honest. Neither Clinton has my respect; and both Clintons have proven themselves to be dishonest.
Now Hillary has proven herself to be a weakling; shedding tears under pressure.
And she wants to lead America??? She is not honest or strong enough to lead our country. Plus, I have no respect for her!

Good point about the media coverage on this. The media conglomerates don't want an Edwards presidency because of his anti corporate anti conglomerate stance; he is definitely a threat to their current monopolies. So it is good to point out that he gets little media coverage unless it can be negative... pathetic and aggravating too.

I support John Edwards. Don't write him off yet. The front runners can and are self destructing at any time.

And it's really early yet.

GOOD!!!

Mr. Edwards himself was very ungracious yesterday when told about Sen. Clinton eyes tearing up. It wasn't until he heard what Elizabeth said that he backed down.

Edwards is living in another world. He touts a 0.28% edge over Sen. Clinton as a huge victory and coming very close to Sen.Obama. Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton tied for the union households vote in Iowa. He was third. Sen. Obama received 31% of the Democratic vote, and Sen. Clinton received 30%. This after Mr. Edwards has virtually camped out in Iowa.

Mr. Edwards says that this is a two man race; he is wrong. It is a tow person race - Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton.

Since this was in Nashua, the Edwards supporters may have been feeling less charitable because a gang of Clinton supporters mobbed the entrance to an Edwards event there on Sunday, interfering with people trying to get in and trying to press Hillary literature into their hands. Finally the police were called and they were made to move across the street.

I don't hold the candidate responsible for that, but I don't blame Edwards supporters for not being well-inclined toward her, either.