Edwards: Clinton Now A Stronger Candidate

(CBS)  Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said that in recent weeks Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has become a stronger candidate, and has made a compelling case for her continued candidacy for the nomination.

However, Edwards said, "The math is very, very hard for her," as Sen. Barack Obama continues to lead in pledged delegates (and now in superdelegates). "The problem is, I think, you can no longer make a compelling case for the math."

Edwards, D-N.C., told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer that his own reasons for pulling out of the race for the White House came out of both a recognition that he would not accumulate enough delegates to secure the nomination and that his continued candidacy would likely prolong the selection of a nominee.

"It's a hard judgment to make," he said. "The overwhelming likelihood was I would not be the nominee. And I believed, that if I got out of the race, it would accelerate the process of one person pulling away. Well, I was obviously dead wrong about that!"

When asked about the position Clinton is in right now, and the calls by many for her to withdraw from the race, Edwards said, "I think it's a judgment that she has to make. And I think she's in a very, very tough place.

"I have to tell you, I'm different than a lot of people. I actually admire some of the strength and fortitude that she's shown. I know how hard it is to get up and go out there every day, speak to the media, speak to crowds, when people are urging you to get out of the race. I mean, it's a very hard place to be in. But she's shown a lot of strength about that.

"I think the one thing that she has to be careful about - and she doesn't need my advice, she knows this full well - is that, if she makes the case for herself, which she's completely entitled to do, she has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects, the Democratic Party, and our cause, for the fall."

Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe reiterated the Senator's position that she would not pull out of the race until all states have had a chance to weigh in. "We still have 7 million Democrats yet to vote," he said, alluding to primaries in West Virginia and Kentucky, among others.

But he also admitted that with more superdelegates announcing their preferences, it was likely that the nominee would be decided in June after primary voting concludes, and the fate of Michigan and Florida delegates is resolved.

McAuliffe also dismissed concerns that the long primary season will create long-lasting divisions within the party. "This is a very close race, and we need to get everybody together at the end," he said.

"I disagree with a lot of these Democrats today that are saying we won't be unified. We will be very unified. George Bush has been the greatest unifying force in the history of the Democratic Party. He has brought us all together. We will be together."

Also appearing on the show was Jim VandeHei, executive editor of Politico, who said there are those within the Clinton campaign who admit that they need a miracle - or, perhaps a scandal.

"They need an imponderable," he said. "They know they can't just win it by collecting enough popular votes. ... But as long as she stays in there, anything can happen. And this is a family that has had a political career that's been built upon sort of defying expectations and coming back when people thought it was not possible to come back.

"Who knows? Politics is completely unpredictable. And as long as she's in it for another six weeks or four weeks or whatever it will be, she has a chance. And she just wants that chance."

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Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[trbundro1277]

John Edwards is an insult to his state. He has never won anything in the state of NC. Does his opinion really mean anything???
Posted by seriousinusa at 09:33 AM : May 13, 2008
*** Stop bashing on Edwards! If anything, The state of NC should be proud to have had him serve as a senator from NC. Edwards has accomplished more to help the poor then Obama will ever hope to achieve. Edwards was in New Orleans helping out down there. I didn''t see Obama in New Orleans, he wouldn''t want to get dirty! Edwards is a real great inspirations person that many should respect. I with there were more people in the world like Edwards who rolls up his sleves and helps, rather than Obama who makes nice speaches but has nothing to prove he can achieve his words! Edwards will always be the best choice for the Democratic Nominee. Obama needs to go back to the senate and stop insulting the voters of IL!

[blkpresident]

Somewhere in NY a kitchen stove needs cleaning. Where''s lil'' Hillary? Still criss crossing the coun try pipe dreaming about a woman becoming president, smirk, smirk, smirking so hard and ROTFLMAO. Newsflash lil'' woman--we are a nation at war, so the next president cannot be clad in an apron offering our terrorist enemies baked goodies. Get real lil'' missy.

[truthseekswi]

We can bicker and split hairs why "Billary" , "Bambi" is , isn''t whatever. but we WILL have to make peace and come together to overthrow the Bush Cheney McCain Gulliani elephant ..And that means UNITE. NOW PEOPLE. stop this pettyness. We need focus..The name of the game is the electoral college So get your energy to concentrate on the battleground states. Talk to these people eloquently and please don''t turn them off with blog hate. In the end it is the presentation as much as it is the logic for Change. Do not become the blow hards you so despise. Peace

[csp66]

Calling it a night. Thanks for keeping it civil. It''s refreshing to have an actual debate/disagreement without the hostility and usual childishness that generally comes with it. CYA.

[csp66]

"Hillary knows Politics enough to know how to give and take so that everyone benefits." Valid point, but don''t underestimate Obama. He has managed to score some major bi-partisan victories during his relatively short term as a Senator. Something else to keep in mind, both JFK and FDR were routinely criticized for "lack of experience" and I''d argue that they didn''t turn out so bad. *** Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld have TONS of experience, but that didn''t work out so well for the country....

[csp66]

"If OBAMA goes in thinking he can attack the establishment like Don Quixote, he will antagonize THE REAL MONEY in this country." LOL, good analogy and good argument. Here''s another argument you could use against either Obama or Edwards similar to what you''ve just stated - a TRUE populist will never be allowed to take office or remain there long, there''s WAY too much money greasing palms for them to put up with that. The Obama camp retort would be that HRC is already corrupted by "REAL MONEY", as evidenced by the HUGE donations she received by big insurance. Hey, it''s a *** shoot, both have strengths and weaknesses. As long as we PURGE the White House of neocons, I''ll call either candidate a win.

[tiredofthebs]

Perhaps, this is debatable but I''''m willing to say it''''s possible. I think the Obama fans equate "experience" with "old-school politics" and are willing to chance "inexperience" for "change". Only time will tell for sure. Still, both candidates essentially support the same things, so I won''''t lose any sleep if either takes the WhiteHouse. I just happen to be turned off by HRC''''s style recently.

Posted by csp66 at 12:33 AM : May 13, 2008

I will if OBAMA is elected. We''re at a crucial point in history. Big business is already flexing it''s muscle on Capitol Hill(the credit industry''s fight AGAINST interest rate reform, for example). Getting legislation like this passed takes POLITICAL SAVVY. If OBAMA goes in thinking he can attack the establishment like Don Quixote, he will antagonize THE REAL MONEY in this country. Think things are bad now? Imagine if investors pulled their funds from US markets. "HOPE" will not stop a depression. Hillary knows Politics enough to know how to give and take so that everyone benefits.

[csp66]

Excuse me if I find it HARD TO BELIEVE that thru motivational speaking, OBAMA was successfully able to raise that type of money. Well, look at the billions that televangelists managed to milk out of their supporters with just motivational speaking. Why would it be hard to believe that Obama couldn''t do the same? "HILLARY is an experienced politician who can take the heat. OBAMA''''s inexperience will be his demise." Perhaps, this is debatable but I''m willing to say it''s possible. I think the Obama fans equate "experience" with "old-school politics" and are willing to chance "inexperience" for "change". Only time will tell for sure. Still, both candidates essentially support the same things, so I won''t lose any sleep if either takes the WhiteHouse. I just happen to be turned off by HRC''s style recently.

[tiredofthebs]

FWIW, the MySpace generation (college kids) and blacks are only a portion of the Obama fan club. Lots of demographics support him. The only demographic that Hillary is consistently getting now is the older female crowd and that''''s even slipping. Easy to find exit poll stats and reputable polls to back this.

Posted by csp66 at 12:22 AM : May 13, 2008

You find support for HILLARY in these demographics as well (I''m a black man, for example). Excuse me if I find it HARD TO BELIEVE that thru motivational speaking, OBAMA was successfully able to raise that type of money. I don''t recall something like this ever being done. If questionable sources contributed to his campaign, rest assured the GOP will find out and disclose it. HILLARY would have, but she had to treat OBAMA with kid gloves.

[csp66]

"Receiving that much in donations from everyday supporters is unheard of. This is likely the first thing the GOP will investigate when looking for dirty. You''''ll probably argue that CLINTON would have questionable campaign funding as well. The difference? " **** Well, both a woman and a black man with nearly identical platforms are running, so a lot of new ground is being broken here. It''s quite feasible that Obama is generating that kind of cash from individual donations. Like him or not, he can give a charismatic speech and times have been rough lately. This just might be enough to pull off a netroots movement of cash. And no, I wouldn''t argue that Hillary''s funds are suspect because such funds are reported publicly and Obama/McCain would be all over her if she did.