Edwards Waited a Day Too Long
One unmentioned loser in Wisconsin was John Edwards. I think he might have been waiting to see if last night's results gave an indication of where his voters were leaning. In doing so, he has probably waited a day too long for his endorsement to have a significant effect as, apparently, his voters aren't leaning... they're charging towards Obama. If his voters have, in fact, made up their minds, Edwards endorsement will have little impact beyond the news-cycle when it occurs.
On the positive side for Edwards, since his endorsement has dropped in value, he is now free not to endorse. That preserves him as part of the growing group of party elders who may need to step in at some to put an end to the primary campaign.
On the positive side for Edwards, since his endorsement has dropped in value, he is now free not to endorse. That preserves him as part of the growing group of party elders who may need to step in at some to put an end to the primary campaign.
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I'm not so sure of this. Most polls still show Hillary leading in Ohio, a key state. So if Edwards endorsed Obama now, and if Obama pulls ahead in Ohio (which he might have done anyway), Edwards could certainly claim some credit for that.
On the other hand, I agree that we do need some neutral party leaders (Gore, Pelosi etc) who can step in after the primaries and call for Obama's nomination as the primary winner, rather than overturning the results through chicanery.
Don
February 20, 2008 7:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think a lot of people would call that a different form of chicanery. Hopefully, nothing of any sort will be required. I'm still hopeful that the superdelegates will tend to break along the same percentages as the pledged delegates—or at least not cancel them out.
February 20, 2008 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama keeps winning by the margins he has no ammount of chicanery on her side will be able to change the out come, and none on his side will be required.
February 20, 2008 9:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don, I'm sure you're right that he would try (and might be right) to claim some credit were it to roll out the way you suggest. But, since we've already seen some movement in the Ohio polls the last couple of days (likely to be intensified now, with the scope of Obama's Wisconsin win), I don't know that it holds too much water with the public.
That said, if he stays out of it, he becomes the leader of the elder statesmen group. I think Gore is perceived as most important of that group- a perception which, if there is a late shift to Clinton, could be true. If, however, the current Obama trend continues, I don't think Gore calling on Hillary to give it up has any sway with her. If that call is coming from Edwards (who has, at the very least, helped her by not going right to Obama), it is much more meaningful.
February 20, 2008 8:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Edwards is now irrelevant. He overestimated his own importance and in doing so reduced it even further. Edwards, of all people, knew the candidates, so its not that he did not know his own preference. It's that he wanted something in return. Something he apparently did not get. In the mean time his supporters went on without him.
I once thought it would be important for Edwards to play a significant role in the next democratic administration. I no longer think so.
February 20, 2008 10:33 AM | Reply | Permalink