I'm sorry to see him drop out. His voice was important, and I'm glad he was involved again this election cycle. Here's hoping he can find a way to continue to be involved in issues important to him and to America.

Less of a "Goodbye Edwards" and more of a "Welcome to the Cabinet, John"

If McCain is the nominee (and its looking more and more like that) then I hope Edwards endorses Obama. It will make a more interesting and "new" race if nothing else.

Social and religious conservatives are lukewarm on McCain, but most polls show that in a McCain/Clinton race the "anyone but Hillary" factor will rally the base. It will be 2004 all over: praying Dems squeak out a narrow victory in Ohio and Florida.

An Obama/McCain race becomes more unique and interesting and new. The religious right is more likely to stay home, unless the Muslim lies come up but that could backfire. Either way its a big "?" instead of the known, tried-and-true "stop the Clintons" base rally we've seen. Also, with Obama/McCain race the Rocky Mountain states become in play again since independants become important. States like NM, NV, and then the Midwest is where McCain and Obama are the "top two" in independant polls.

Oh good...now we stop pretending that the race is interesting.

Let's only focus on race and gender from now on or there will be nothing to talk about...except deciding which candidate will be start acting more Republican in order to woo McCain voters.

The more things change...

Gravel! Gravel! 3 Person Race. People complain of a lack of choices (Since Obama and Clinton are the same choice) but they don't list that there are other choices. This is why my man Kucinich isn't in it to win it anymore.

Two man-er. Ha.

according to the NY Times story, the original stated plan for today was a "major policy speech on poverty"... Yep. His own.

This helps Hillary a lot. Especially in the southern states. Blue collar white males were voting for him and I think that they will now go for her. Hopefully Obama does something between now and Tuesday to get him a bump.

Are you implying Barack Obama is not a man!?

i wish he would have stayed in at least until the upcoming debate. he always seems to be the voice of reason.

And... may the best man win.

God, you folks are up early today. Still working on getting the eyes to focus here.

damn. I agree that it would have been nice for him to hang in until the next debate. I support Clinton, but I was glad that Edwards was finally gotten back to talking passionately about the plight of the poor instead of the middle class. Should have seen that as a sign of the nearing end.

Hillary FTW!!!

I knew from the beginning Sen. Edwards couldn't break through but I supported him anyway. Oh guess what I'm not a white male. I appreciated his voice on my behalf as well as many of my young-barely-making-it relatives and friends.
I wish he could stay in until the convention.
But I always said "This guy is too good to be true." Everyone liked what he had to say but didn't believe he could get anywhere.
I am reminded of a book a while back about conservatives voting against themselves. I can't remember the name.
Good luck to us all.

It's now down to either a Muslim or a shrill Harpy--booyah!

Hillary and Obama have the big corporate backing you have to have to win in the USA.

This has always been my problem with them. Their debt to these backers is an (almost?) insurmountable conflict with a president's duty to the citizenry as a whole.

this is terrible - edwards was the last hope vs corporate politics. That book is 'whats wrong with kansas' by frank rich, a good if not a bit depressing read.

15: Are you thinking of What's the Matter with Kansas, by Thomas Frank?

Regardless of whom Edwards endorses, most of his supporters will go to Hillary. The demographics of their supporters are similar. We're headed for a McCain/Clinton matchup. So much for the year of change. *yawn*

Edwards stepping out might not be the best thing for him or for Obama, but it is the best thing for the Democratic party, as it clearly puts a hole in Clinton's powerplay regarding Florida since we'll now be avoiding all possibility of a brokered convention. It be nice if the Clintons could put the party before personal power the same way.

@20, I agree, as much as the thought of Hillary getting the nomination sickens me to no end (and if she does I am voting for the Green Candidate) I am thinking that it is going to be Hillary instead of Obama.

Interesting side note; Did you watch the coverage on MSNBC last night about the breakdown of when the Hillary voters voted in Florida? Very interesting that the absentee ballots were submitted primarily in December: Before Obama won Iowa or the Bill Clinton attack tactics in South Carolina.

What I am saying is this: The GOP is going to go with McCain and that means a Democratic defeat in November. Brace yourselves....

As an Obama supporter, this saddens me as Edwards was unimpeachably the best on several issues. My sense is that barring some flashy endorsement of Obama, this is very good news for the Clintons as Edwards consistently split the white vote. Either way, his populist message kept the focus on the lower and middle class which is always good. Plus, his wife is totally awesome.

OK, had my coffee and Jager and am functional now. The inside buzz (from Billie-Boy, as of the phone call about 10 minutes ago) is that Edwards isn't going to endorse anyone. He wants to keep his options open for a future cabinet position. And oh, BTW, Bill doesn't see any way this can't help Hilly.

I'm so very sad John Edwards has dropped out. This is a good man, intelligent man, with qualities hard to find. Our country needed him as their President. I feel sure he would have done a great job in reuniting this country and in negotiations with other countries.
I swear if this race ends up Hillary and McCain as our choices, I will switch my party affiliation from Independent to Republican so I can vote against Hillary in my Nebraska Primary!!! After voting for G. Bush the first election I said I would NEVER vote republican again, but I will if it means keeping Hillary out of this office!
Ruth

I'll believe it when Edwards says it, not when the New York Times says it.

It is sad to see Edwards go. His issues and concerns are realistic and much needed. He did not run on the nebulous slogan of "change". Hillary's experience is much needed in light of the fact that Bush also ran on "change" and as a Washinton outsider. What a mess that got us into.
We need someone who can do things and has the knowhow.

Slog post title? Har, har. Har.

After reading the story about Curtis Williams in the Seattle Times, about how this college football player was given a glorious free ride after beating his wife for years, I'm leaning Hillary. Yes, I get emotional when I hear Obama, but I get even more emotional when I see the instituational bias against women play out a million times. That wife of Williams was just SOL, basically.

It was the 500 people who wrote the Times chastising them for even bringing it up that's making me think that having a female president could be important.

And say what ynu want about Bill, but he is hands-down the smartest person I know. Ok, a little lacking in the common sense department. But a truly dazzling intellect. Don't count him out yet.

I have to admit, I've always been a big Edwards skeptic. I think Charles Krauthammer sold his soul to Satan many years back, but his column this week was one of the few in recent memory that actually made sense to me. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012402799.html (In essence, the positions Edwards has taken in this campaign have required him to repudiate virtually every vote of substance he cast during his single term as a senator.) I'm sure Edwards is a nice guy, but I just don't see him as having the gravitas needed to survive the pressures of the presidency. Good luck to him and his family--I hope they continue to keep issues concerning the poor and working class in the public eye.

John McCain - the Bob Dole of 2008.

Hillary Clinton - the Bill Clinton of 2008

Its the Republican episode of American Gladiator.

Hell yeah!!

The more things change....

FWIW, just heard on the radio that Patty Murray will endorse Hillary today.

@3--you're analysis is spot-on and exactly what we need to be doing: strategizing. Both Obama and Hillary have their challenges in attracting votes from the Center (the votes that actually decide the race every time), but Hillary's consistently high negatives (even among died-in-the-wool Democrats) make her the riskier choice.

Please, Dems, let's not make her the McGovern of 08.

McCain v. Clinton '08 =

Bush v. Dukakis '88.

Andy, I think the expression you're looking for is "dyed in the wool." As in to dye. Wool. You know. Oh, shut up, Jeff, you're babbling. Bye.

This sucks. Edwards was saying all the right things, and leading the field in policy, and though I had some doubts at first I came to believe that he was genuine and it was his Senate career that represented an earlier political facade that was more conservative than he actually is.

Now it's Clinton vs. Obama. I like both candidates, but I have serious problems with a lot of their campaign strategists and many of their supporters. Bill Clinton needs to send himself on an international mission somewhere until after the November election. I mean, just shut the fuck up. And Obama supporters need to cut the regurgitation of right-wing talking points about Hillary.

As for my vote, it's down to a toss-up between Obama and Uncommitted.

@17 - Then vote for Ron Paul. Sorry, corporate backing is just The Way Things Are. Not saying it's right, but most of us have accepted it by now.

Fifty-two-eighty, are you drunk or something?

Sad to see him go, hope he will endorse Clinton.

IF Hillary get the nomination 2008 will go down as the election where people will ask "Why did the Democrats nominate her? Everyone KNEW she would loose the election against any Republican that can pretend they are a middle of the road candidate" And guess what? The GOP may have just done that.

Bush v. Dukakis '88: I remember after Clinton won in '92 people said the Baby Boomer era was now upon us for a while and the Silent Generation (roughly 1929-1944 born) would never elect a president, having been sandwiched between two louder, bigger, showier generations. Dukakis was the closest they came.

Oops. Looks like McCain could change that!

Please don't use "loose" when you really mean "lose".

Why does everyone do that?

31, 34, 40:

If we're comparing this to previous races, McCain is clearly Bob Dole, but I don't think Hillary is either Bill Clinton or Dukakis. She seems like more of a Mondale figure to me. Either way, not a good sign.

Obama's very much like the Clinton of 1992. So an Obama-McCain race would look a lot like 1996--Clinton vs. Dole, minus the advantages of incumbency. That still suggests a massive Obama victory, though.

@35, yes, I realized that just after I hit send. Grrr.

@36, yes, as an Obamamerican, I am not pleased at the fervor with which my compatriots tear Hillary apart and do the GOP's job for them. It runs completely contrary to the very ideas upon which Obama is running. (Rise above it, people.) But your vote is for the candidate, not the nuttier people said candidate might excite. There are plenty of non-carnivore Obamatons who want everyone at the table.

@39:

Exactly.

ugh. he should have stuck it out till super tuesday & gotten a block of delegates to bargain with.

& i was going to vote for him in our primary.

What amazes me is the people on slog (I've seen 2, I think) who've said they would vote for a Republican over Clinton.

Progressive causes did a lot better under Bill Clinton, even if he was mostly beholden to the corporations than they have under Bush. This whole country will be so much better no matter which democrat wins.

And FYI, unlike ECB, who apparently cares about policies and shit, I am the dreaded voter who wants Hil to win because she is a woman. But don't be too mad, my second choice is Barack- why? because he's black.

Clinton/McCain is the ONLY match-up where I'm worried at all. I still think the Dems will win, but barely. People don't like her. The "beer buddy" factor will so hurt her in the general election.

Gawd, I hope Edwards and a bunch of other prominent people have the sense to endorse Obama right fucking now.

I think Obama is the candidate who is right at this point in history, but I'll still vote for Hillary if she is the Dem nominee even though I'm not scared of McCain and even though I would have liked the USA's first woman president not to be someone who coasted there on her husband's coattails. Seems a little Third Worldy to me.

The difference is that Hillary winning the presidency would make me relieved. Relieved a Democrat is in there. Obama winning would make me proud. Proud of my party and of my country.

The difference is that Hillary winning the presidency would make me relieved. Relieved a Democrat is in there. Obama winning would make me proud.

Seconded.

max @45: The only way to get delegates for your preferred Democratic candidate is to attend the caucuses on February 9. No delegates will be awarded on the basis of the primary results.

The really sad thing here is that the last thing the country needs is another personal injury lawyer back chasing ambulances.

Shoot, I was looking forward to being a maverick by caucusing for Edwards. Can I still caucus for him?

@37, Yep. Only a bit, though. Sorta like being a little pregnant.

Thank god.

I agree with all the electability comments. The Republicans are praying that Hillary wins so they can get everyone out to vote. Remember, turnout wins elections and McCain on his own won't get out all the right wing voters. Plus, Obama may actually unite the country a bit.

Does anyone have any feeling on how likely it is that Bloomberg will run? Because in my mind, a Bloomberg run will be an almost automatic win for the Dems.

I don't think Edwards voters are shoo-ins for Clinton. I think we need to wait and see.

Clinton's performance last night at her "victory speech" and then answering Olbermann's questions was her worst yet -- truly embarrassing. Olbermann had direct quotations from her saying that Florida's vote means nothing and doesn't count, and she answered by laughing rather insanely and then talking about something else. She's going to have to learn how to do that brushoff (a political commonplace) a lot better if she wants to win.

I love John Edwards but this race is (and has been), unfortunately, about NOTHING more than race and gender. Anybody who claims that they're A.) progressive and B.) supporting either Obama or Clinton are voting along lines of identity/which group they feel more pity for.

If Clinton gets the nom then I'm voting for Nader. Seriously, what the FUCK are the Democrats that vote for Hillary Clinton thinking? Another fucking shitty DLC candidate? Fuck her and her corporate, conservative buddies. This is a sad day. I could deal with Obama, barely, but if Clinton gets the nom then I'll have my faith in the Democratic party shattered yet again.

@ 56: Supposedly Bloomberg won't run if either McCain or Obama is on the ballot in the fall. A Bloomberg candidacy would actually be intriguing to me.

@56: Convetional wisdom says that a Bloomberg run will hurt the Dems a lot more than the Republicans. I agree that he probably won't run against Obama or McCain, but if it's Hillary vs. Mitt, all bets are off... And he may just hurt them both enough to come out on top.

At least the Democratic field is officially rid of its weakest link. Edwards was never going to stand a chance in the general election.

Bloomberg would be a DISASTER. He'd KILL the Democrat, period. Zero Republicans would vote for him unless their own nominee is Huckabee, which ain't happening. Mainstream Republicans are happy enough with McCain OR Romney, at least in comparison to Clinton -- or frigging Bloomberg. Anyone who thinks a Jewish, liberal, pro-choice, pro-immigration mayor of NYC is going to be more attractive to Republicans than Romney or McCain needs to change their medication.

Tizzle @ 46:
The SLOG is very much NOT a progressive hang out most of the time. Don't be disheartened.