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Edwards Would Not Accept Possible VP Nod

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April 03, 2008 4:17 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: For the first time since ending his presidential bid, former Senator John Edwards says he will not accept a vice presidential nod on the Democratic ticket in 2008.

Edwards appeared today at the CITA Wireless Convention in Las Vegas, where he was asked if he would accept a VP position, to which he responded no.

But, it wasn’t the first time Edwards was questioned on the matter. During an uphill battle in his second campaign for the presidency, Edwards was often asked if he would consider a vice presidential position, after failing to win a state in the early nominating process. Edwards consistently contended that he was only running for president.

Just last month in an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” Edwards said, "I want to serve my country in whatever way I can. Whether it's in government or out of government, I don't know which it is," when asked if he would work in either a Clinton or an Obama administration.

In 2004, Edwards ran on the Democratic ticket as a vice president to  Sen. John Kerry.  Former aides to Edwards contended that the former Senator’s views toward being a VP in this election were in part shaped by his experience with Kerry, who has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama. One aide flatly told ABC News, Edwards has, “had been there done that.”

While his comments today end speculation about sharing a ticket —the more pressing question remains unanswered.  Who will Edwards endorse, should he decide to?

Again today, he declined to answer questions on where he stood in the endorsement process.

April 3, 2008 in Clinton, Hillary | Permalink | User Comments (37)

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Great. Now there's no "hope" for the Hillary lie to continue. I want Edwards on a commision post serving the poor. That is what his mission was and everyone should welcome him on their team to combat poverty in America or as Attorney General. He's a good man.

Posted by: American Woman | Apr 3, 2008 4:29:40 PM

Ironically, will Edwards endorse anyone? We know his wife likes Hillary's health care plan better than Obama's. Problem is, Edwards plan was similar, so he'd be sort of stuck....Anyway, he wouldn't really help either one of them, remember this is a spot he has been in before. If having him as VP was critical, it would have helped then!

Posted by: Thomas | Apr 3, 2008 4:52:01 PM

John Edwards is a good man, but he still carries the baggage of the John Kerry loss in 2004.

The best move for Edwards would be to align himself with another positive Democrat, Al Gore.

Clinton and Obama will have torn each other apart by the August convention making neither one electable.

A Gore/Edwards ticket would be a unifying move by the Democratic party to produce a November win.

Posted by: Jayhawk | Apr 3, 2008 5:08:55 PM

Who can believe what this guy says? He said he would not run if his wife had cancer... but justified it. Maybe he is just going to dedicate the rest of his live at a hedge fund to learn more about poverty. He is a wonderful person.

Posted by: Eric | Apr 3, 2008 5:10:40 PM

I believe John Edwards wants to be Attorney General if either Clinton or Obama wins that's why he isn't endorsing anyone. I never believed he was remotely interested in VP. By the way, who in the right mind would want to be VP with big Bill looking over his/her shoulder every step of the way?

Posted by: indy_voter | Apr 3, 2008 5:20:47 PM

Edwards is an honorable man who shares the goals of Hillary Clinton for healthcare and helping disadvantaged citizens to have jobs with a decent income. If too many starry-eyed first timers had not given Obama an undeserved advantage, he might still be in the race. Was it a slap in the face for Kerry to endorse Obama instead of Edwards? I believe so. I also believe that Hillary is the most intelligent, knowledgeable and experienced candidate now in the race. Edwards has to recognize that. Whatever his decision, he and the superdelegates need to wait until everyone has voted before weighing in. The life of the Democrat Party depends on that.

Posted by: georgia | Apr 3, 2008 5:38:29 PM

The Wright comments are soooooooooooo old.

Go find something new to whine about because the Rev issue is over!

Obama's not worried
The Republicans aren't worried
Hillary isn't worried. She's worrying about bigger things right now like lying, raising money for her campaign and coming up with her next skit as being a Nascar driver when she hits NC and Indiana.

Posted by: Common Sense | Apr 3, 2008 5:41:17 PM

I know I'm disappointed that Edwards is not accepting VP. How irrelevant is this?

Posted by: LongT | Apr 3, 2008 5:47:08 PM

Sad

He would of made the best Democratic canidate for President out of all them.

Just the way primaries are set up, it the reason he is not.

Posted by: seah | Apr 3, 2008 6:10:24 PM

Who on earth would pick him as running mate? any mental healthy presidential candidate will have to avoid him after watching the last debate he had with Chaney.

Posted by: cala | Apr 3, 2008 6:35:01 PM

Would like to see Jim Webb as V.P.

The Republicans' Weapons of Mass Distraction and Destroy Mission = Rev Wright, "anti-American" symbols/comments, etc...

Posted by: mariann | Apr 3, 2008 6:45:59 PM

OBAMA IS DOING PRETTY WELL DURING THE PRIMARY BUT WHAT HAPPENS THEN IF HE GETS THE NOMINEE AND HILLARY'S SUPPORTERS DEFECT TO MCCAIN? ANYWAY, WE SHOULD WORRY ABOUT OBAMA BEING THE NOMINEE BECAUSE HE WILL NOT BE. CLINTON WILL WIN THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL ELECTION. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Posted by: James RR, PA, Independent | Apr 3, 2008 6:53:02 PM

Wow, he has NO political clout with me now. I liked him going into the convention with some political power (delegates and popularity), but not being open to possibilities is him giving up.

Disappointing, to say the least.

Posted by: jC jr | Apr 3, 2008 6:55:14 PM

And Barack Obama said he wouldn't run for President in his first Senate term.

I agree with the poster who said that Edwards has some unhappy memories when he ran as John Kerry's VP....and then Kerry snubs him when Edwards wants to take his shot.

It would have been better timing for Mr. Edwards to endorse someone when he had more political currency. But he seems unwilling to publically endorse either candidate.

Perhaps he can be a "neutral" party leader who is the uniter and helps seat the Michigan and Florida delegations.

That would be so fitting for him to come out as the real uniter and soul of the Democratic party, wouldn't it?

Posted by: sherr | Apr 3, 2008 7:55:34 PM

Who in their right mind would offer him the VP slot?!! He was a terrible choice for Kerry--doing nothing to help him during the general. If he can't be the big cheese, he doesn't want to play. Whatever you do Barack, don't pick him as your VP!

Posted by: J.L. | Apr 3, 2008 8:37:06 PM

John Edwards wants to be more important than he is. He is so into himself and loves being in the center of attention. Hillary and Barack obviously didn't chase after him to endorse them as much as he wanted, so he isn't endorsing anyone.

Personally, I do not believe he would be a positive as VP for Hillary nor Barack.

Posted by: DM | Apr 3, 2008 10:44:21 PM

DM, agree with you that John Edwards is into himself and is too much angry to be a VP for anybody. He wants to fight against everybody and anybody. He has played a good role at the begining of the primaries because he has helped Hillary to think that she is just a human being, the 'inevitable, bosnian sniper has become the evitable and the unelectable. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.

Posted by: BKMC | Apr 3, 2008 10:51:14 PM

Way back when (two months ago) EVERYONE was watching the S Carolina debate to find out if Sen. Obama was real change from the politics as usual...

Obama On Tony Rezco, "I only worked for five hours for a client as a junior lawyer." and later, "he never asked me for anything." Is he lying or naïve?

and more ..

If my Pastor said America is responsible for 9/11 and "god d@#$ America", wouldn’t most Americans stand up and walk out.... How can a US Senator Take that... Obama said, "I was never there", and then later "I was there" ... the Republicans are going to dismantle Sen. Obama …if he wins the Nomination..

Posted by: greg | Apr 3, 2008 11:33:27 PM

I agree, I believe he's waiting to be appointed Attorney General, and then he'll combat poverty via taking on the corporations. Or he could end up being a supreme court nominee.

Posted by: John | Apr 3, 2008 11:56:00 PM

Wise thinking, Edward.

Hillary should also not accept any VP offer from Obama.

Both of you have better credentials to be the President of the United States.

Hillary would be better off pursuing her own course ... maybe, be the next Governor of New York.

Or be MCCain's VP ... Sounds like a crazy idea?
I think not. I think a MCCain/Hillary ticket is a potentially winning ticket.

Why? Because I believe no Republicans, extreme or moderate, will vote Obama (partly because of the Wright affair)

Then there are enough Independents who will vote Republican now, again because of the Wright affair.

Add to that Hillary's supporters ... She has a BIG support base ... You have her 28% for sure. The rest can be won over ...

MCCAIN/HILLARY ... is a strong ticket.

Posted by: ReThink | Apr 4, 2008 12:56:18 AM

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