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Edwards To Endorse Obama
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ShareMay 14, 2008 5:04 PM
ABC News' Kate Snow, Raelyn Johnson, Sunlen Miller, and Rick Klein Report: Former Sen. John Edwards is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama's presidential candidacy Wednesday evening, in a dramatic attempt by the Obama campaign to answer concerns regarding Obama's appeal to working-class voters, several senior Democratic sources tell ABC News.
The Obama campaign confirms Edwards will endorse Obama at a campaign rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan Wednesday. The event was originally scheduled to start at 7pmET, but was moved up to 6:20pmET, presumably to have the announcement make the evening news.
Edwards, who ran for president on a platform of eradicating poverty, plans to appear alongside Obama for the announcement. The event comes one day after Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton defeated Obama by 41 points in the West Virginia primary, and Edwards' endorsement will give Obama a key establishment stamp of approval as he attempts to close out the nominating process.
Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, have remained studiously neutral since the Edwards campaign came to a close Jan. 30. Edwards on Sunday called Obama "the likely nominee," but made clear that his statement reflected a judgment about the state of the race, not necessarily a personal preference.
The possibility of an Edwards endorsement has been the subject of intense speculation for months; only former vice president Al Gore's endorsement was more coveted by Obama and Clinton. Edwards and his wife had publicly praised Clinton's healthcare plan, but Edwards' anti-corporate message seemed a better fit for Obama's outsider campaign.
Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe responded to the endorsement this evening both during a quick press availability outside of the Senator's residence, and in a paper statement.
“We respect John Edwards," McAuliffe said, "but as the voters of West Virginia showed last night, this thing is far from over.”
A source close to the Clinton campaign said the Edwards camp gave the Clinton folks a heads up.
"Clearly it's upsetting," the source tells ABC. "He brings the workers" to Obama.
"Well I don't think it's good news, but there's a lot of news in this business and we move forward and move past it. It's not great news," a Clinton senior advisor said.
Asked what effect the Edwards endorsement might have, he said: "We don't know. We'll see. We'll see how much of it is transferable," referring to Edwards' popularity with white working class voters.
"We would've preferred it," to be our endorsement the advisor said. That's not a secret.
Clinton met today with six uncommitted superdelegates at the DCCC offices on Capitol Hill.
This advisor said the Clinton campaign believes superdelegates are concerned about Obama's loss in West Virginia last night and other swing states.
"No question -- that started with Ohio and increased with Pennsylvania, Indiana and West Virginia," he said. "All I can say is, I don't want to overdramatize it, but starting with Ohio the remaining superdelegates started really focusing on the 270 electoral vote issue and how do we best assemble that and it's made a marked impression."
But then in a moment of candor the advisor conceded, "I'm not sure it's gonna be enough."
May 14, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (542)
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This is Breaking News? For this I get an email alert?
Posted by: Brad | May 14, 2008 5:19:52 PM
Near 50% of Democrats in swing states now say they will vote for John McCain or not vote at all.
This is game over for Barack Obama if he can't swing these voters.
I guess the Bitter people are striking back at elitist Obama.
Posted by: timothy | May 14, 2008 5:19:56 PM
Thank you John Edwards! I am sick and tired of the under-educated and the intolerant among us holding this nation hostage. I'm sick of them being the ones who set the tone and the agenda for this country.
How well has prejudice, ignorance and intolerance served us these last 8 years?
I believe all of us are important to the national debate; all of us belong at the table.
No one group or demographic should be more important or louder than the next.
Posted by: Gerri | May 14, 2008 5:20:33 PM
The superdelegates are only holding back out of respect for Clinton. She lost already, fair and square and all this dysingenuous whining about Mi and Fla fools no one. Apparently, her supporters need some time to deal with their grief as well.
Posted by: stevez515 | May 14, 2008 5:20:50 PM
Great news for Obama. This is a good step to unifying the party for November.
Posted by: AJ | May 14, 2008 5:20:50 PM
I knew that Edwards was an idiot, this just clinches it. I didn't like Edwards as a presidential candidate and now I really don't like him.
Posted by: Donna | May 14, 2008 5:21:00 PM
I was wondering if he was going to pick a side or not. I actually thought he might stay out of it till the Convention...
Posted by: Beth | May 14, 2008 5:21:01 PM
Edward is turning his resume to Obama for the VP.
Posted by: stephanie | May 14, 2008 5:21:13 PM
This whole political process is sickening. I thought Edwards would remain neutral.
It has been all about supporting and endorsing who will get you the furthest politically. They are ALL out for themselves.
This is NOT a different type of politics...it is business as usual. Give me something to believe in...get rid of them all.
Posted by: Marie | May 14, 2008 5:21:30 PM
who?
Posted by: Matt | May 14, 2008 5:21:30 PM
i can't believe Edwards... Yesterday He said He wasn't going to endorse anyone until the votes are over!!! Today He goes and gives it to Obama... you talk about a real loser!!! I'm so glad I didn't vote for Him in the first Place... I sure would have voted for Him if He won this part of the election... Now i would never vote for him if He ever ran!!!
Posted by: Larry | May 14, 2008 5:22:18 PM
What a sell out....Elizabeth is the better candidate anyway.
Posted by: HRC3655 | May 14, 2008 5:22:35 PM
Looks like Johnny wanted to see who would for sure win before jumping on board. He sold out to his "working class" voters for an "elite" politician. Watch, Edwards will be his VP.
Posted by: anne | May 14, 2008 5:22:45 PM
I think the superdelegates will start to move in a flood toward Obama; this endorsement may have broken the dam.
Posted by: FilmMD | May 14, 2008 5:23:12 PM
Surprised Obama will accept it since Edwards also voted for the war. It is simply amazing what people will do rather than let this run its course. There was only a few weeks left. Guess Obama's ego couldn't take another bruising like West Virginia.
Posted by: Liz | May 14, 2008 5:23:20 PM
What does Edwards want...the VP?
Posted by: bokwop | May 14, 2008 5:23:42 PM
An Obama/Edwards ticket?
Unbeatable.
Posted by: fougasseu | May 14, 2008 5:23:43 PM
Wow, I'm disappointed. I was an Edwards supporter from the start. Clinton's health care plan is more similar to Edward's than Obama's. I wonder what promises were made. I'm beginning to think the Democrats don't want Clinton because she's not a "yes man" for the party good ol' boys.
Posted by: LagunaTriMom | May 14, 2008 5:23:51 PM
Mr. Edwards - you've always had my utmost respct - UNTIL TODAY! Why is everyone trying to stop the DEMOCRATIC process??? Let the people vote and let those votes count.
Posted by: floored | May 14, 2008 5:23:54 PM
I wouldn't have a problem with this if he wasn't on Larry King MONDAY night swearing he wouldn't endorse anyone.
"I think we have two great candidates. I have such an extraordinarily high opinion of both of them. You watch sort of what's happened in the past, I think that some of the endorsements as opposed to helping unite have contributed to the divide. And what I don't want to do is contribute to the divide. I mean, we had a primary in North Carolina where I live. I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I voted in that primary. So obviously, I made a choice in that vote. But at least for this moment, I think the reasonable thing for me to do is let voters make their decision." ~ Senator Edwards
Posted by: Geneva | May 14, 2008 5:23:57 PM
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