Edwards Exits Presidential Race

In New Orleans, Democrat Says "It's Time For Me To Step Aside"; Does Not Make Endorsement

(CBS/AP)  Democrat John Edwards bowed out of the race for the White House on Wednesday, saying it was time to step aside "so that history can blaze its path" in a campaign now left to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

"We do not know who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history," Edwards said in New Orleans, where he launched his campaign in late 2006. "We will be strong, we will be unified, and with our convictions and a little backbone, we will take back the White House in November."

Edwards said Clinton and Obama had both pledged that "they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency."

"This is the cause of my life and I now have their commitment to engage in this cause," he said before a small group of supporters. He was joined by his wife Elizabeth and his three children, Cate, Emma Claire and Jack.

It was the second time Edwards sought the Democratic presidential nomination. Four years ago he was the vice presidential running mate on a ticket headed by John Kerry.

Four years later, he waged a spirited, underfunded race on a populist note, pledging to represent the powerless against the corporate interests.

He finished second in the Iowa caucuses that led off the campaign, but he was quickly overshadowed - a white man in a race against the former first lady and a 46-year-old black man, each bent on making history.

Edwards said that on his way to making his campaign-ending statement, he drove by a highway underpass where several homeless people live. He stopped to talk, he said, and as he was leaving, one of them asked him never to forget them and their plight.

"Well I say to her and I say to all those who are struggling in this country, we will never forget you. We will fight for you. We will stand up for you," he said, pledging to continue his campaign-long effort to end what he frequently said was "two Americas," one for the powerful, the other for the rest.

The former North Carolina senator did not immediately endorse either Clinton, seeking to become the first female president, or Obama, the strongest black candidate in history.

Both of them praised Edwards - and immediately began courting his supporters.

"John Edwards ended his campaign today in the same way he started it - by standing with the people who are too often left behind and nearly always left out of our national debate," Clinton said.

Obama, too, praised Edwards and his wife. At a rally in Denver, he said the couple has "always believed deeply that two Americans can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose," Obama said. "So while his campaign may have ended, this cause lives on for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America."

The impact of Edwards' decision will be felt in one week's time, when Democrats hold primaries and caucuses across 22 states, with 1,681 delegates at stake.

Four in 10 Edwards supporters said their second choice in the race is Clinton, while a quarter prefer Obama, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo poll conducted late this month.

Determining where Edwards' supporters will go, if they go to any candidate at all, will be tough, according to CBS News director of surveys Kathy Frankovic. In a post on CBSNews.com's Horserace blog, she noted that those who voted for Edwards were least likely to support one of the other top two candidates for the party's nomination.

"So Edwards might not be able to move his voters to either of the other candidates en masse," Frankovic wrote. "Some of his supporters will clearly opt not to support either Clinton or Obama."

Edwards is keeping the 26 delegates he's won in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina after suspending his campaign today.

After he officially exits, 10 of those delegates will be going to the other candidates. Barack Obama will get six and Clinton four. Under party rules, Edwards will maintain a say in naming the other 16 delegates.

Edwards had also collected endorsements from 30 superdelegates, mainly party and elected officials, who automatically attend the convention. They can support whomever they choose. Three superdelegates had already switched from Edwards to Obama before Edwards suspended his campaign.

As expected, Edwards said he was suspending his campaign rather than ending it, but aides said that was simply legal terminology so that he can continue to receive federal matching funds for his campaign donations.

An immediate impact of Edwards' withdrawal will be the six additional delegates for Obama, giving him a total of 187, and the four more for Clinton, giving her 253. A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

Edwards waged a spirited top-tier campaign against the two better-funded rivals, even as he dealt with the stunning blow of his wife's recurring cancer diagnosis. In a dramatic news conference last March, the couple announced that the breast cancer that she thought she had beaten had returned, but they would continue the campaign.

Their decision sparked a debate about family duty and public service. But Elizabeth Edwards remained a forceful advocate for her husband, and she was often surrounded at campaign events by well-wishers and emotional survivors cheering her on.

The campaign ended as it began 13 months ago - with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries of the downtrodden.

Edwards burst out of the starting gate with a flurry of progressive policy ideas - he was the first to offer a plan for universal health care, the first to call on Congress to pull funding for the war, and he led the charge that lobbyists have too much power in Washington and need to be reigned in.

The ideas were all bold and new for Edwards personally as well, making him a different candidate than the moderate Southerner who ran in 2004 while still in his first Senate term. But the themes were eventually adopted by other Democratic presidential candidates - and even a Republican, Mitt Romney, echoed the call for an end to special interest politics in Washington.

Edwards' last primary was in his home state of South Carolina last week. He finished a poor third, wining only his home country, his victory in the 2004 race a distant memory.

[interobserv]

Thank you, Senator Edwards, for a spirited and focuused discussion. My best to you and your family.

[rowdytexan2]

Prayers going up for Mrs. Edwards...God bless.

[cptdeuce]

Perhaps John Edwards is leaving the Race for the White House, but he has made an important impact. Shame on America for making the democratic race a popularity contest based off of race and gender. Now it is a fact that the Republicans will regain the seat for President. GO MCCAIN.

[jack3213]

Seems the best choices are least popular, doesn''t say much for how the USA thinks.

[jack3213]

Thinking the USA had Guliani & Thompson who are now history and Edwards, the most ''mature''

[honesttalk]

Sad day for America and the Democrat party! It proves once again that big money, big political machines, big corporations and the media will always will fight to bring down the best candidates in the race, as they did with Robert Kennedy before he was assassinated, Gary Hart, Paul Tsongas, Bradley, Dean, etc. Edwards is the best candidate for the people for America; but his voice was shut up from the beginning by the big powers representing the other two candidates. Edwards still very young and he earned a leadership role within the thousands of people that followed him and the many thousands that were frustrated because his message was never heard in the same way the media was covering the other candidates. Edwards will be back, he still young and he will be back strong, his people will follow him because they trusted his words and his sincerity!
I''ll be back to be an Independent and wait for him to run again or for another candidate representing his values, vision, and leadership.

[aaabee-2009]

Oh, man. This hurt.

[extremophil]

Edwards was running for President??

[vet999999]

Neither Clinton or Obama stand a chance in a general election. Edwards could beat any of the Republican choices. anyway, they did not ask me....:)

[marcodele]

Thank you Mr. Edwards for saying things people needed to hear. And God bless you and your family.
Your wife''s journey is a lesson in strength for everyone.

[ioweign]

In many ways he is like Jimmy Carter,honest and home-spun.Yet,Edwards had a 600 dollar haircut with that million dollar smile.If McCain picks Romney for VP,it be like a Reagan - Rockerfeller ticket .I don''''t think it would sell ,but perhaps by November.

Posted by MagicMerlin8 at 09:38 AM : Jan 30, 2008


Hey - his haircut was half of the shrub''s bar tab...

[shutupnvote]

Something I had been picking up socially showed up in the exit polls last night Catholics are breaking for Hillary and I will bet its Catholic women. Which is good if the Dems can bring them back to the fold but the focus needs to be on kitchen table not social liberal justice issues, it is the Positively America demographic Chuck Schumer wrote of ion 2006.

This disenfranchisement of Millions of Dem voters by the Party really bothers me Voting is a Right not a Party favor%u2026..the voters did nothing wrong both States are needed to win Mich a must Fla would be great even the Republicans gave half%u2026

Something I had been picking up socially showed up in the exit polls last night Catholics are breaking for Hillary and I will bet its Catholic women. Which is good if the Dems can bring them back to the fold but the focus needs to be on kitchen table not social liberal justice issues, it is the Positively America demographic Chuck Schumer wrote of ion 2006.

And wow, I am sure the Flas Dems did not appreciate the Obama camps rude dismissal of their efforts as Dem voters as ZEROS, LOL mean.

[lawrenceatl]

Thank you Edwards.. you are doing what is best for America''s FUTURE- PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (Embrace Your Future America)

[cptdeuce]

Mudrose wants Obama to win because he is unemployed. Typical wanker mentality.

[cptdeuce]

Clinton versus McCain is a blowout win for Republicans. Now stupid Americans will cry for four more years.

[newz4i]

Sorry to see you go, Senator Edwards. Please stick around and help us take back America.

[chitown639]

I really like John Edwards, he seems like a really nice guy. His populist message was very energizing to some, but I think the politics of blaming corporations and the rich for ALL of the evils of government may not have been as appealing to voters as it has been in prior election years.

[stephanienym]

I''m so sad and it is even more frustrating knowing that four states and the news media can decide on who will be the next President. Edwards is a great man and I will miss him and his values but he was a marked man from the beginning, and that is a sad thing.

For almost eight years I have had a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker on my car. A few weeks ago when Kerry stabbed Edwards in the back, portraying himself as a flip-flopping traitor by backing Obama, I tore his name off and left Edwards name on to show my disgust of Washington%u2019s typical backstabbing tactics.

I hope that Edwards backs Hillary and not Obama because Barack already has the likes of Kerry and another backstabbers like Kennedy standing in the shadows ready to run the country on favors. Obama is too inexperienced and will have to rely on the good ole boys of Washington%u2026
Hillary will NOT.

Vote for Hillary!

[PollM]

What a shame, he will be missed. Edwards ran a good campaign that was based on the issues that affect America. Good Man with a Good Heart.


Who Will John Edwards Endorse?


http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1658



.

Being an Edwards backer, I am sorry to see him go but his candidacy was going nowhere. The media long ago decided that Clinton and Obama were much more entertaining. I love where Edwards stood on the issues but this campaign is not about issues. It''s all about media hype, mind reading, and media darlings.

[godseyesore-2009]

I would have voted for him but I''m glad I wasn''t able to do so. He kept pounding out message that he was in it to the end...yeah, right. Now I believe that you really meant it about being sorry for Iraq vote. :-/

[pepperp1]

I also am unaffiliated was leaning Left and supporting Hillary for many reason but I believe her speech last night on what she would do Day 1 sums it up on why I am going to go Dem in this election, but the Dem Party%u2019s behavior is starting to alarm me......I felt it before NH and now again it feels like a Party attempting to seat an heir not have an election, this latest disfranchisement of millions of Dem voters in Mi Fla States, unlike SC, that they can actually win in Nov 08 is uncomfortable, and this Clyburn, Kerry, Kennedy drive to perpetuate the old Liberal Platform of the Camelot 60s and the economic polices of the Left wrapped up in god and social justice along with the accompanying victimization and perpetuation of old group grievances as the Party Cause is not what I want for our Country. Certainly not governing with a lock on Congress and the Executive branch, This is so out of step with real the kitchen table issues facing voters, these two States would actually have been perfect examples of the retirees and unemployed Dems voices impacted by the predatory Tax Trade impacts of today.

[chitown639]

I hope that Edwards backs Hillary and not Obama because Barack already has the likes of Kerry and another backstabbers like Kennedy standing in the shadows ready to run the country on favors. Obama is too inexperienced and will have to rely on the good ole boys of Washington Posted by stephanienym

You think that any politician who breaks with ''the Establishment'' and supports Obama is a backstabber!?!? Or do you believe that any politician the crosses the racial divide and supports Obama is a backstabber!?!? The establishment or Clinton Machine is seen as the good ol boys, the old guard.

[docpeter-2009]

This is sad news. Of the three of them (Obama, Clinton, Edwards) he alone talked to the people more about what they deserve than politics. Just listen to the BS between Hilarious and Bama. It is so much more than just politics as usual. Now I am being left with what appears to be three choices in the next election. Dems, Repubs, and Ron PAul. I do hope Ron keeps going as I think he will be a better choice than Bama, Hilarious, or Madman McCain.

[excoachken]

An American Tragedy.----- We will all lose.--- Neither Hillary or Barrack can beat McCain because of their baggage that the starry eyed liberals overlook and the mainstream Americans detest and neo cons create "swift boats" with. The corporate media bought this campaign and you fell for it. You had your chance to change history and now it is over. R.I.P. Democratic Party.

[g02342000]

I had hoped he would stay in through Super Tuesday at least. America will mourn for she definately will suffer without having the most honorable patriotic candidate with the most innovative and bold ideas. John Edwards would have been the best president this country ever had. What a loss, and shame, because of so many that never really took time to hear his message, or were to ignorant to understand it. Now we have to settle for so much less.

[birdseatcats]

And so, as the Great Prophet Zoroaster (or was it Zarathustra? I always get them confused) foretold in the Great Book: all good is paired with evil; all darkness with light.
Rudy drops out; and the Anti Rudy drops out; Mr Nasty and Mr Fancy fade into the mists of time. Let''s hope; keep your fingers crossed; knock wood...
Pretty soon the barrel of monkeys will be down to only two, jumping up and down on their branches throwing feces at each other.

[cptdeuce]

You think that any politician who breaks with ''''the Establishment'''' and supports Obama is a backstabber!?!? Or do you believe that any politician the crosses the racial divide and supports Obama is a backstabber!?!? The establishment or Clinton Machine is seen as the good ol boys, the old guard. Posted by chitown639
--------------------------------
Again *******, you continue to just NOT GET IT. Hillary and Obama are the same thing except one is a women and one is a black. They are both the old guard, etc. The Fall of the 2008 Democratic Party will be on sale in bookstore next week.

[pepperp1]

Baloney they are the Dem Party Establishment and they hate always have hated the centrist economic polices of both Hillary and her husband when he was President make no mistake. This is a Party Power grab to seat an heir and move the Party back to a romanticized manufactured view of Camelot, Group Grievance and Social Justice that will drive the rationale for the Leftist Economic polices that go with this victimization as the burring rationale for the Party Hope listen to the Kennedy Kerry speeches, its in there, spending and no way to pay for it but on the back of the rich not moderation none, and Praise the Lord keep those grudges alive at all cost ..silly

[ireachable]

The list is shrinking but the road to final election is still on. As the dynamics play out you can continue to participate in the 08 election opinion upto Nov here:

http://www.ireachable.com/vote

Those who cast opinion vote for Edwards (or for others who will/have dropped out of race) you can move/realign your opinion vote to other options on the opinion vote ballot.

Votes for all except 1 candidate on Demo side and 1 on the GOP side will be retired after super Tue.

[gunownerdan]

Both Obama and Clinton believe law-abiding citizens should not be trusted to own common handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Meanwhile they both rely on armed guards who carry fully automatic MACHINE GUNS every single day.

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual ... as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."
- Suzanna Gratia-Hupp

www.A-HUMAN-RIGHT.com

[vet_sk]

We''ll miss you John Edwards and we''ll see you at the Convention and hopefully as vice or attorney general.

Let''s now get Obama in there and get our country headed in the right direction.

[chitown639]

No cptdeuce, you seem to be the one not getting it. There are now ONLY two Democratic candidates left now, Hillary and Obama. Hillary, an old face from the 90s, sworn enemy of the GOP, promises and promotes a continued divide nation. Obama, a new face, open to working with the GOP, promises and promotes a new focus and unity of the nation. The GOP, most likely McCain, promises to ''stay the course''...

[easeup-2009]

Don''t worry about Edwards, there will never be an end to outrages frivolous lawsuits.

He will be suing again in no time.

[gunownerdan]

Congress has the lowest approval rating in history so where do the dirty democrats go to get their candidates? The senate.

[chitown639]

Dirty congressional Republicans, choosing their political party over the American people.

[erasmus6]

"Both Obama and Clinton believe law-abiding citizens should not be trusted to own common handguns, rifles, and shotguns. Meanwhile they both rely on armed guards who carry fully automatic MACHINE GUNS every single day." posted by gunownerdan

Do you LIKE sounding stupid?

[shortestfuse]

What? A pretty face and $400 haircuts aren''t enough to get you the Democratic nomination? What a pity!

[pepperp1]

No cptdeuce, you seem to be the one not getting it. There are now ONLY two Democratic candidates left now, Hillary and Obama. Hillary, an old face from the 90s, sworn enemy of the GOP, promises and promotes a continued divide nation. Obama, a new face, open to working with the GOP, promises and promotes a new focus and unity of the nation. The GOP, most likely McCain, promises to ''''stay the course''''...


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Posted by chitown639 at 12:05 PM : Jan 30, 2008

Senator Obama cant even treat his competitors appropriately behaving peevishly by turning away and refusing an extended hand and then he and his campaign like every other issues gives multi rationales kinda like his rationale for voting or not showing up to vote, there is no record of any ability to influence on substance none.

[excoachken]

shorterfuse: It is morons like you, who refuse to listen, read, or ask questions that saddle us with the remaining garbage to choose from. Senile McCain who will run this failing war 10 more years, Willard Romney, who''s in it just for ego, Hillary, who is hated by almost as many Americans as Bush, or The drug addled Obama, who will be impotent in dealing with the "good old boys" in D.C. To paraphrase one of you favorite movies, "If you only had a brain."

[cptdeuce]

hard to put that much lipstick on a PIG two-time LOSER! Posted by badaxmofo
----------------------------------------------
That was exactly what I was thinking when I was with your wife last night. Please keep the hookers and thugs off the streets should be a part of the democratic agenda.

[hwy71so]

Here''s what''s pathetic. All three are pushing the same agenda, yet, Hillary and Obama are trading off as leaders. Edwards never had a chance from the moment those two signed up.

Talk about bigots!

[brianp55]

Fine. Now he can return to something he''s really good at.....ambulance-chasing.

[excoachken]

badaxmofo: What kind of fool, other than you and the Cowardly Cowboy, actually think anything has been gained by the foolish invasion of Iraq. Did more people die in the last 4 years of Saddam''s rule or since we lied to invade and destroy their society. "Stay the course," as long as it''s not you kids in the wasted effort. And, exactly how many years will our kids be paying off the debt to the Chinese for getting involved in a situation that they were smart enough to steer clear of?

[Krazcarl]

I hate seeing the exit now the dems are a total circus and could cost the presidentcy.

[bookout2]

Tell **** Parsons to crunch the numbers. Hilliary
is going to be our next president and give amnesty
to all the Mexican criminals. But she is going to
be the next president.

[dirtyharry02]

John Edwards was the only one I wanted to vote for. He didn''t get bogged down in the mudslinging tactics and in my opinion, was the best candidate for the job. This country has gone to ***, I really hate to see Edwards go.

[campaign4]

John Edwards should endorse Hillary.

[gunownerdan]

"As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart''s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
- H.L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

[chitown639]

Senator Obama cant even treat his competitors appropriately behaving peevishly by turning away and refusing an extended hand and then he and his campaign like every other issues gives multi rationales kinda like his rationale for voting or not showing up to vote, there is no record of any ability to influence on substance none.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by pepperp1

Typical Hillary supporter, distorting the truth. Clearly, Obama had turned to answer a question from another Senator, that has been establish, but the Hillary campaign will continue to ride that lie for what it worth...which is nothing!!! Obama has a shown a ability to work across the floor. He has the ability to appeal to Independents and Republicans.