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Trippi: Edwards Should Have Stayed In
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ShareMay 01, 2008 3:43 PM
ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: Looking backwards before a Democratic nominee has even been chosen, Joe Trippi, former adviser to Sen. John Edwards', D-N.C., second presidential bid, says he should have "gone with his gut" and convinced the 2004 vice presidential candidate to stay in the '08 race.
In an essay for "Politics" magazine, Trippi writes "I didn't tell him what I should have told him: that I had this feeling that if he stayed in the race, he would win 300 or so delegates by Super Tuesday and have maybe a one-in-five chance of forcing a brokered convention."
Trippi writes that the path "would be extremely painful, but could very well put him and his causes at the top of the Democratic agenda."
"In politics anything can happen," Trippi says in his essay, "Even the possibility that in an open convention with multiple ballots an embattled and exhausted party would turn to him as their nominee."
"My regret that I did not do so -- that I let John Edwards down -- grows with every day that the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continues," Trippi continues.
Edwards dropped out of the race on January 30 in New Orleans. During the last month of his campaign, Edwards and his aides were met with a constant, swirling speculation as to when he would abandon his bid following a string of losses in early nominating states.
Edwards defended himself saying he was "in this race until the convention" a line that now seems like it was crafted by Trippi.
Recalling the evening before Edwards dropped out, Trippi remembers sitting in a NYC restaurant with Jonathan Prince, Edwards' deputy campaign manager, wondering which of the two plane tickets they were going to use the next day. If they flew to Atlanta, it meant they were prepping Edwards for an upcoming debate. If they flew to New Orleans, they were going to hear Edwards pull out of the race.
Writes Trippi, "It was not until much later that night that I text message came. Use the New Orleans ticket. And that's when we found out it was all over."
Despite the throngs of aides and pollsters, Trippi contends that Edwards' decision to drop out was one only Edwards could make.
"I don't know, and will probably never know, just how Senator Edwards arrived at his decision. He isn't one to pull a bunch of people into a room and take a vote. He asks you individually what you think, and you basically get one shot to make your argument. I got my chance. And for the first time in thirty years of political work, I didn't go with my gut," Trippi writes.
Trippi ran then-Vermont Gov.Howard Dean’s presidential campaign in 2004.
He adds, "My mistake was not seeing more clearly then what is so obvious to me now: He could have kept his agenda in the forefront by staying in the race and forcing Obama and Clinton to focus on those issues because he, John Edwards, would hold the key to the convention deadlock. And maybe, just maybe, a brokered convention would have stunned the political world and led to an Edwards nomination."
"If I had expressed these thoughts to the senator, it's possible that he would still be in the fight and leading Obama and Clinton on the issues. If I had only gone with my gut, the text message I received that night in New York City might have said something very different: Use the Atlanta ticket."
May 1, 2008 in Edwards, John | Permalink | User Comments (17)
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Edwards would not got enough delegates to become kingmaker. He woulndt have got any super delegates. He might have wound up with 60 or 70 delegates after super tuesday, but he would have needed 300 or so to be the dealbreaker.
Posted by: tomdavie | May 1, 2008 4:34:09 PM
As I recall, Edwards campaign was out of cash at the time of his withdrawal, among other issues. Methinks this is Trippi's remorse, not Edwards per se. All that notwithstanding, Edwards was a strong candidate, and would be a wonderful compliment to a ticket with Hillary.
Posted by: Emily | May 1, 2008 4:41:15 PM
The southern multi-millionaire populist who is the "poor" nominee - as the Dem Candidate? You're kidding right? He would gain half of the south but lose north and west.
It's interesting that the Dems that are out of the race are starting to look better and better. Perhaps the contrast between them and the current runners is so different.
Kucinich should have stayed too... the sight of he and the first lady in the Whitehouse for foto-ops would be worth it.
Posted by: smartprimate | May 1, 2008 4:49:23 PM
Edwards and his wife are going to endorse Hillary this weekend!!
Hillary 09
Posted by: Ca | May 1, 2008 5:03:10 PM
Edwards was my choice and will be my choice should he run again. He had the right plans and his heart is in the right place. I think he will be a great leader when he becomes President and we will all wish he'd have been elected earlier, like 2008
Posted by: Brenda | May 1, 2008 5:06:06 PM
Edwards wouldn't introduce Hillary duh...his entire campaign backs Obama...his state is going to back Obama...and the new generation of voters...that at some point he will be appealing to to run as Hillary voters die off...back Obama.
He's not going to back Clinton...r u nuts.
He may back Obama if he were smart. Hillary just promised him whatever position and creating other positions if he didn't back Obama.
If he backed Hillary he would lose his entire central staff...and most of his supporters. duh.
Posted by: dl | May 1, 2008 5:22:17 PM
he should have stayed in, but he was too weak.
Posted by: Louis | May 1, 2008 5:38:18 PM
dl - BO and you supporters are thinking everyone is just like the hypocrite BO himself, calculating. Perhaps, Edwards have some principles.
Posted by: fuzz | May 1, 2008 6:10:01 PM
GOOD JOB ONE VOTE, MAKE THAT TWO!!!
Posted by: RELD1127 | May 1, 2008 7:58:51 PM
Joe, John Edwards carries an important message to the american public and by being the vice president to Hillary Clinton would be awsome
CLINTON / EDWARDS O8
Posted by: Carol | May 1, 2008 9:20:52 PM
I think Trippi is correct. Edwards should have stayed in the race not only to ensure that that the Democrats maintained focus on the central issues, but also because if he were still in the race, conservative pundits would have to stop claiming that Democrats are merely aligned to singular interest groups - women and blacks. A middle aged white man, with a clear vision for America - now that is a candidate that both sides of the political spectrum could unite with
Posted by: Para | May 1, 2008 10:10:41 PM
I will be forever sad that John Edwards suspended his campaign. It was one of the saddest days of my life. And it was such a loss for the American people. His issues and positions were the best, and we have been deprived of a more just nation as a result.
Karita Hummer
Posted by: Karita Hummer | May 2, 2008 1:35:53 AM
I voted for John Edwards on Super Tuesday as did a lot of people I know. His vote didn't even count in New York State.
John....come on back....We need you!
Posted by: JMOUSSO | May 2, 2008 6:42:09 PM
I agree. The voters, and the media need a slap in the face. They tried to go with the cool trendy candidate. Trends never last. Now democrats have to do damage control. Edwards was the candidate who had his background checked already. Also the only one who had a logical plan for getting this country back on track. Edwards is the one we really needed. I wish we could have a do over. A sad day it will be indeed in November.
Posted by: sheila weydert | May 2, 2008 7:48:51 PM
What are we going to do? Ethnic/gender identity is fun, isn't it? Forget the importance of the issues, just vote for "someone who looks like me." I'm ashamed of what little is left of the Democratic party. We are up the creek and will NEVER have a paddle again. McCain will take this country further into hell and we will never get out. The oligarchy will continue to rule the majority. I'm sick of hearing NOTHING of importance from the Democratic candidates. Well, back to "American Idol" to hear more quality "music" and the ignorance, especially of the "young people" goes on and on. Edwards was our only chance. It's hopeless. Ignorance rules once again.
Posted by: Robyn O'Neill | May 2, 2008 10:02:48 PM
I too wish that Edwards had stayed in the race. He was the best candidate and would have wiped the floor in any debate with McCain. What a shame that the media refused to give his campaign the coverage it deserved.
I know one thing, this Kentucky Democrat will probably write in his name on my ballot in our May 20 Primary. Although it's still possible that because of the media's guilt by association smear of Obama that I may have to vote for him. I haven't quite decided yet and probably won't until the day of the Primary.
Posted by: pmorlan | May 3, 2008 9:08:34 AM
Hind sight is always 20/20 too bad.The media set the pace and the blind fell into the trap. Now democrats have to suffer the consequenses of having two poor choices. "Rock-star" and "Before I die I want to see a woman in the Whitehouse" Why didn't you care that this country is falling apart and issues are what is important.
Posted by: jjdert | May 3, 2008 3:59:02 PM
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