MADRID, Spain, June 6, 2008

Edwards Says He Won't Run For VP Again

In Interviews With Newspapers In Spain, Former Candidate Rules Out Running On Ticket With Obama

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    John Edwards, left, shakes hands with Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero before their meeting at the Moncloa Palace, in Madrid, Friday, June 6, 2008.  (AP)

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(AP)  Former Sen. John Edwards has ruled out being Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket, according to interviews carried by two leading Spanish newspapers on Friday.

"I already had the privilege of running for vice president in 2004, and I won't do it again," Edwards was quoted by El Mundo as saying. El Pais, the country's other leading daily, carried similar comments.

Edwards, who ran for vice president under Sen. John Kerry four years ago and was a presidential candidate in this year's Democratic primaries, had been named as a possible running mate for Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Calls by The Associated Press to several Edwards aides went unanswered and independent confirmation of Friday's reports was not immediately possible.

Edwards praised Obama as a "visionary," the El Mundo interview said.

"We don't live in a dream world and we have a lot of work to do," Edwards was quoted as saying in comments the newspaper translated into Spanish. "But Obama's potential is unlimited."

Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina, was quoted by El Mundo as saying he would do anything possible to help the Obama campaign other than joining the ticket.

He also had kind words for vanquished Democratic hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose supporters have suggested she and Obama would make a "dream ticket" if the Illinois senator selects her as his running mate.

But Edwards said only Obama could make such a choice, and he urged him to pick somebody who shared his goals and governing style.

"Hillary Clinton is a great force in the Democratic Party and in the United States, whether she aspires to the vice-presidency or to another position," he was quoted as saying. "She is an extraordinary woman, and the role she will play depends only on her and Sen. Obama."

While in Madrid, Edwards met briefly with Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and other senior officials. He spoke Thursday to a U.S. business group in Barcelona.

Edwards dropped out of the presidential race in late January following a spirited — if underfunded — populist campaign in which he pledged to stand up for the poor and powerless against corporate interests.

Both Obama and Clinton vigorously sought his endorsement, but he chose to stand on the sidelines until May, when he finally endorsed Obama.

Obama claimed the mantle as the likely Democratic nominee on Tuesday after the final primaries in Montana and South Dakota. Clinton is expected to formally concede on Saturday.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by tiredofobama June 6, 2008 9:25 AM PDT
Edwards is a smart man, if nothing else! He knows better than to hook up with this loser! Edwards figures, why should I do all the work and let this numb nuts get the credit for it!

NOBODY is jumping up and down wanting to be this far left doomed to failure wing nut!
Reply to this comment
by tonyd_31 June 6, 2008 9:57 AM PDT
Edwards is a smart man, if nothing else! He knows better than to hook up with this loser!

Posted by TiredofObama

Let me see, Obama is is first African American to win the nomination. He is a senator. He graduated from Harvard. A country is looking forward to leadership. A "loser"? I don''t think so. Now you on the other hand......LOSER!
Reply to this comment
by shawnp1968 June 6, 2008 10:11 AM PDT
It''s only a "Dream Ticket" if you are a Hillary Clinton fan!!! It allows her to still somehow feel relevant, when we all know that she isn''t.

Obama owes nothing to Hillary! He iwsn''t obligated to bail her out of her financial debacle, and certainly isn''t obligated to including her in his plan!!!
Reply to this comment
by aldon61 June 6, 2008 10:16 AM PDT
Edwards needs to devote his time to his family. Any campaigning will distract him from his primary responsibility and that is supporting his wife''s battle with cancer.
Reply to this comment
by aldon61 June 6, 2008 10:18 AM PDT
Edwards is a smart man, if nothing else! He knows better than to hook up with this loser!

Posted by TiredofObama

Let me see, Obama is is first African American to win the nomination. He is a senator. He graduated from Harvard. A country is looking forward to leadership. A "loser"? I don''''t think so. Now you on the other hand......LOSER!


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Posted by Tonyd_31 at 09:57 AM : Jun 06, 2008

Right on Tonyd_31...that is a loser!
Reply to this comment
by jegibbons June 6, 2008 10:29 AM PDT
WHO CARES?
This Egotistical A$$ hasn''t got a clue just HOW IRRELEVENT he has become!
Reply to this comment
by tiredofobama June 6, 2008 11:02 AM PDT
Well I guess Obama will have to choose between Mahmoud Abbas, Mahmoud Ahmadenijad, Louis Farakan or Bill Ayers for his running mate now.


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Posted by notaliberal4 at 10:41 AM : Jun 06, 2008

Well, Rev. Wright wanted it, remember?
Reply to this comment
by thgdriver June 6, 2008 11:27 AM PDT
Did you know today is the 64th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy?

You can''t find one word about it at CBS. It''s sad they decided to ignore the fact.

God bless the soldiers who fought and died in the largest land invasion in human history. Their efforts and sacrifice helped keep our first amendment in place.
Reply to this comment
by mudrose-2009 June 6, 2008 11:43 AM PDT
Run for Awning Salesman. You''re an exact carbon copy of that guy. Or open up a hair salon.
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 12:10 PM PDT
I am sorry to hear this. But perhaps the announcement was made to remind folks of Edwards name, especially Obama.

Try to coax him a bit, Obama. I think you could make a case strong enough for him to change his mind.

:)

And for all you trash-talkers, how about getting onboard with a fresh administration! Come on, we could have a great time here, the US deserves to come up out of the mud of the last 16 years slung by both Dem and Rep.

Lets be a nation again, a nation with a future! Lets look forward again, for the first time in ages! Waddya say...
Reply to this comment
by libh8er June 6, 2008 12:39 PM PDT
Who is John Edwards? Should that name mean anything to us???
Reply to this comment
by libh8er June 6, 2008 12:42 PM PDT
''Come on, we could have a great time here''

If you think higher taxes, more litigation, and socialized medicine are keys to a ''great time'', you''ve got a lot to learn about the real world.
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 1:13 PM PDT
If you think higher taxes, more litigation, and socialized medicine are keys to a ''''great time'''', you''''ve got a lot to learn about the real world.
Posted by LibH8er at 12:42 PM : Jun 06, 2008

I live in the same world you live in. It has been SUCH a utopia living under Republican rule from 2000-2006. I feel so financially secure with Bush Bribes coming in the mail from borrowed funds. I feel so secure within our own borders since Bush made this country sooooo safe, I feel my paycheck goes sooooo much further now with gas and mortgages and the cost of food and milk sooooo low. LOL. Time to admit your bunch couldn''t solve our problems, or chose not to.

People who complain no matter what, will keep this country stagnated and mean-spirited and hateful. What sacrifice is that for you to make? Soldiers give up their lives overseas, and you can''t give up your hate for fellow Americans?

What if you could? Is a brighter future somehow less fun than staying pissssy and mad in your little world because a Republican might not sit in the White House? Come on, that can''t be the only criteria of your life, whether or not your particular party remains in power?

How about YOU joining the real world, the one where people have differing opinions, live in different cultures within your own country, and still manage to get along and work together.
Reply to this comment
by smiley676 June 6, 2008 1:33 PM PDT
I don''t vote for "republicans" and I don''t vote for "democrats". I vote for real people with real ideas.

I won''t vote against McCain simply because he wears a republican label. Bush says he''s a republican, but he hasn''t followed any of the parties standards.

I won''t vote for Obama simply because he says he is a democrat. The label means nothing. It is the person that matters.

Clinton ran on the "change ticket" and won. By 2000 everyone hated the way the nation was and voted in a "republican" simply because the label was different. Bush ran on the "change ticket" and won. How disappointing.

Now Obama''s running on the "change ticket", but what change? He''s the same as every other politician.

Our choices are pathetic. We need a real person with real ideas to run for president.
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 1:55 PM PDT
Posted by smiley676 at 01:33 PM : Jun 06, 2008
I call garbage! :)

Both parties have great platforms, the Republicans stand for free market, uphold tradition, and try to keep spirituality alive in a world that needs moral guidance. The Democrats look to the future, to preserve our diminishing resources, our fading green spaces, and to look out for those who have less in a country that has much.

Our government is a good one, sharing the 2-party system creates a compromising air that blends the best of both parties and cuts away the crazy outter fringe groups of both. I love our nation, our government, and both parties have value.

We have gotten into a slump, where a small group of greedy power-hungry elitists are trying to make this country one-party rule. Lobbiests have used every tool in the book to ruin Washington to benefit themselves and those they work for. Politians are getting dirty, but they are also getting caught too, and the dirty ones are being weeded out, at least on the Dem side. Some real filth is being left alone on the Republican side and that is what has discredited them so much, why we are sick of what that party has allowed a few rotten apples to get away with.



The biggest failure in our political system today isn''t our politicans, it is our reporters and journalists no longer doing, or allowed to do. We need to "buy" back our media so it can report honestly and factually. Clean out the rotten apples.
Reply to this comment
by libh8er June 6, 2008 1:56 PM PDT
Time to admit your bunch couldn''''t solve our problems, or chose not to. Posted by AaaBee at 01:13 PM : Jun 06, 2008

I have no problem admitting that republicans squandered the opportunity the American people gave them.....from congress to Bush....most disappointing.

But in all fairness, mortgages are not Bush''s fault. The economy is cyclic....not Bush''s fault either. No more then the looming recession at the end of Clinton''s 8 years was his fault.

We haven''t been attacked since 9-11, but his failure to secure the border is a HUGE disappointment.

The time for ''getting along'' and ''working together'' only seems to happen as long as democrats are in the driver''s seat. Bush tried to work with democrats in his first term and they threw him under the bus. Still doing it.

When''s the last time you heard of Obama crossing the isle to work with republicans?





Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 2:13 PM PDT
Bush tried to work with democrats in his first term and they threw him under the bus. Posted by LibH8er at 01:56 PM : Jun 06, 2008

I don''t disrespect your opinion about Bush, but what you have written here is just opinion. I am talking about our future.

Obama will need to prove himself if he gets into the White House. Will you give him that chance or condemn him outright as a Democrat?

I don''t know who will get the White House and I don''t care if either McCain or Obama gets it, because I believe both have merit, and both have the capacity to do positive things. McCain has seen a few administrations and he knows what good government is. Barring his pick for VP (not another Darth Cheney please!), I like his environmental stance and I like his experience.

Obama is young and well-educated. He is not a stupid vapid man. He has held himself well against Hillary and the media and on the Senate floor. I don''t think he is biased any more than any party affiliate.

I would like to see us all a country again. I want to be one nation under God again, as a liberal, as an American, as a human being.

Patriotism transcends politics. We as a country have lost that fundamental principle and if we are to address any of our issues, we need to get our cohesiveness as a nation back. :)
Reply to this comment
by sleepyric June 6, 2008 2:17 PM PDT
Edwards will be a terrific Attorney General. Gee, how refreshing after Ashcroft; Gonzales and Mucasey...
Reply to this comment
by randynason June 6, 2008 2:22 PM PDT
Bush tried to work with democrats in his first term and they threw him under the bus.
Posted by LibH8er

Bush NEVER tried working with anyone who had a differing opinion from his own. I, personally, don''t care one iota if the Dems ever work together with the Repubs. I think the R Party should be destroyed and buried. It''s a diseased, currupt and filthy organization of arrogant and smug pink monkeys that never evolved past their tight-knit little group.
Reply to this comment
by libh8er June 6, 2008 2:27 PM PDT
Obama will need to prove himself if he gets into the White House. Will you give him that chance or condemn him outright as a Democrat? Posted by AaaBee at 02:13 PM : Jun 06, 2008

AS an engineer, I see things for what they are. And at age 48, I''m a prety good judge of character. Mr. Obama is a bout 1" wide and 1" deep. He''s an empty suit. A slick politician in a repackaged costume.

I have no problem voting for blacks or women, but I do have a problem with marxist/socialists wanting to run the country and the congress.


Reply to this comment
by libh8er June 6, 2008 2:37 PM PDT
I would like to see us all a country again. I want to be one nation under God again, as a liberal, as an American, as a human being. Posted by AaaBee at 02:13 PM : Jun 06, 2008

There was a time when it was like that. Even during the Vietnam way, a highly divisive conflict, politicians in Washington provided a unified front.

The only people stabbing their country in the back were Jane Fonda and Hollywood.

Now, Senators talk about how US troops ''terrorize Iraqi women and children in the dead of night'', etc. I''m afraid the line has been drawn and crossed. Not sure if it can ever be the way it was.
Reply to this comment
by x-legion-x June 6, 2008 2:42 PM PDT
LOL...this is a joke right? Who the HECK asked this $400.00 haircut wearing moron to be the VP??? He couldn''t even keep his Congressional seat. What the HECK makes him think he would even be considored???

OK...let me say it this like this: I, Legion, have a better chance of becoming the VP than Edwards!!!

lol. Talk about a non player in American Poilitics...I give you John Edwards.
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 5:50 PM PDT
Posted by LibH8er at 02:37 PM : Jun 06, 2008

We didn''t get through the past 16 years unscarred, but we did get through. Now here is another election, another chance to try again; if not for you and me who have seen better times, a chance for our kids who only know THESE times.

Every disgruntled word against another American, every slur or belittlement for any reason hurts everyone%u2019s lives, especially our kids. We are setting examples of distrust and alienation within our own country.

Kids worry about stuff too, the climate issue, war, over-population, everything that we once felt strongly about. They are still young enough to have hope, and still young enough to do something about all the problems we are leaving them.

I believe Obama or McCain may be able to bring some fresh hope to the domestic and international scene, now that the Bush/Clinton era is passing.
I don%u2019t care if strong political discourse continues, but it shouldn%u2019t be American against American any more.

I want peace again, if not in the world, in my nation at least, and I really don%u2019t feel that is asking too much. You and I don%u2019t agree, prolly never will, but that is a far cry from us needing to hate and abuse one another because of the Letter R or the Letter D. That has never seemed a good enough reason for me to hate another American.

There is plenty enough hate out there in the world, why bring it home. (right Rush? Sure.)
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 6:21 PM PDT
Posted by LibH8er at 02:27 PM : Jun 06, 2008

I hear you, I do. I just don''t understand how you can narrow your vision of humanity to such tight parameters. Republicans are no better at ruling other humans than Democrats, no human can but fail on some point or another trying to rule other people. That you are willing to let the failures be on selective points that don''t matter to you is why you stand with a particular political affiliation. Others of us care deeply about those same points and so stand in a different group. The difference between us, you and me, is nothing more than perspective.

People are not born with a D or an R on their foreheads. They become a D or R through their heritage, their environment, their locale, their native culture, as well as conscious decision to stay with what they grew up with or turn against it. Perspective.

Obama isn''t any more shallow than you. He is an intelligent learned man who has thought out his life decisions the same as you have.

You act as if he is bringing some new virus to the US, when he is simply a Democrat like the Democrats who have sat in the Oval office before him and you are way over reacting without the benefit of even giving him a chance. And I don%u2019t mean that disrespectfully.

As a liberal McCain isn%u2019t my guy, but I have found elements of his platform I can live with if he gets elected. Why, because peace for our nation more important to me than "winning". :)
Reply to this comment
by generey June 6, 2008 6:34 PM PDT
GOOD! But what makes the little dweeb think anyone was going to ask him???LOL.
Reply to this comment
by tiredofobama June 6, 2008 7:54 PM PDT
Even Edwards has sense enough not to tie himself to another loser! Especially this one! Can you even imagine an Obama Cabinet?

Secretary of State: Michille Marxist Obama
Secretary of Education: William Ayers
Secretary of Health: Bernadine Dorh, who thought it was a hoot Manson stuck a fork in Sharton Tate''s dead belly because she was a rich b***ch
Secretary of Transportation: Rashid Khalidi of the PLO
Secretary of Treasury: Antonin Rezko
Secretary of Defense: Che Guevara
Secretary of Interior: Richard Daley
Secretary of Agriculture: Bugs Bunny
Secretary of Labor: Edward Said
Secretary of Energy: Aiham Alsamarrae, escapee from Iraq prison, former Iraq Minister of Electricity, now teamsed up with Rezko
Secretary of Education: George Dubya Bush and leave 15,000,000 child behind
Secretary of Homeland Security: John Brennan who thinks the telecoms should be immune from prosecution
Reply to this comment
by aaabee-2009 June 6, 2008 8:10 PM PDT
LOL...this is a joke right? Who the HECK asked this $400.00 haircut wearing moron to be the VP??? Posted by X-LEGION-X at 02:42 PM : Jun 06, 2008

We are have our little jokes in our party:

"that the Republican "populist" President allegedly favors $1000 a pair shoes rather than the cowboy boots Rove has him put on for the cameras when George is in Texas, or that George doesn''t mind paying $2,000 to $14,000 per suit..."

$14,000 for a suit makes a $400 haircut look like Cost Cutter''s.

http://www.buzzflash.com/analysis/03/02/20_WWJW.html
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:40 PM PDT
GOOD! But what makes the little dweeb think anyone was going to ask him???LOL. Posted by generey at 06:34 PM : Jun 06, 2008
*** what is with the name calling? That is very big of you! Edwards would make an awesome VP. She shares alot more of the same interests as Obama rather than Hillary. We would be privilaged to have John as VP. He would make a better vp than anyone else. He almost saved Kerry''s worthless behind 4 years ago. So what if he spend 400 bucks on a haircut. Anyways the 400 bucks was to fly his hairstylist, not just the cut itself. We have bigger things in the country to worry about than how much a person spends on a haircut.
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:41 PM PDT
There is plenty enough hate out there in the world, why bring it home. (right Rush? Sure.)

Posted by AaaBee at 05:50 PM : Jun 06, 2008
*** Mccain is just another bush, except Juan Mccain is even weaker on immigration! I hate Juan MCcain!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:44 PM PDT
As a liberal McCain isn%u2019t my guy, but I have found elements of his platform I can live with if he gets elected. Why, because peace for our nation more important to me than "winning". :)
Posted by AaaBee at 06:21 PM : Jun 06, 2008
*** Juan MCcain supports amnesty. That is the biggest element of a platform you should look at. Even then democrats don''t want to give as many people amnesty as Juan Mcain would! Juan Mccain wanted to give over 12 million illegals amnesty, that is waaayyy too many! You would have to learn how to speak spanish if you want Juan Mccain as president. We will take president Obama, Mexico can have Juan Mccain as their president!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:46 PM PDT
Anyone other than Juan Mccain 2008! I hate Juan Mccain! Send a message to the republican party that we will not vote for any candidate that supports amnesty! I hate Juan Mccain!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:49 PM PDT
Edwards is a class act. He dropped out before super tuesday so that we didn''t end up with a three way tie. Democrats owe Edwards alot of gratitude. I voted for Edwards in the SC primary. I was so upset when he dropped out so early. It is very apparant he doesn''t want to be VP. This allows him to run in 2012 if Obama loses this November. Also, he would probably be better off as Attorney General!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:51 PM PDT
Edwards has volunteered alot of time and money into helping people less fortunate, alot more than Obama and Hillary put together!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 9:53 PM PDT
I''ll take VP Edwards over VP Haliburton CHeney any day!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 10:09 PM PDT
Obama / Webb 2008 Edwards for AG!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 6, 2008 10:29 PM PDT
I hope John Edwards will be president someday!
Reply to this comment
by hbevis June 7, 2008 2:13 AM PDT
I hope John Edwards will be president someday!

Posted by trbundro1277 at 10:29 PM : Jun 06, 2008

He would have my vote for sure, and all of my family.
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 7, 2008 2:21 AM PDT
I hope John Edwards will be president someday!

Posted by trbundro1277 at 10:29 PM : Jun 06, 2008

He would have my vote for sure, and all of my family.

Posted by hbevis at 02:13 AM : Jun 07, 2008
*** Yeah, he will always have my vote, and I would also heavily try to influence my family and friends to vote for him also. It would be amazing how much of a Landslide victory us Democrats would have if Edwards was our presidential nominee!
Reply to this comment
by popstom1 June 7, 2008 2:25 AM PDT
Edwards knows that obum will not make it
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 7, 2008 2:39 AM PDT
John Edwards reminds me of Robert Kennedy!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 7, 2008 2:41 AM PDT
Edwards knows that obum will not make it
Posted by popstom1 at 02:25 AM : Jun 07, 2008
*** It is sad that people would rather vote for Juan Amnesty Mcain rather than Obama. Instead of a black president, people would rather have a white president that lets over 12 million mexican illegals to have amnesty and become citizens! I hate Juan Mccain!
Reply to this comment
by trbundro1277 June 7, 2008 2:46 AM PDT
I hate Juan Amnesty Mccain!
Reply to this comment
by erictlee1955 June 7, 2008 6:44 AM PDT
It doesn''t really matter what Edwards says in interviews. You don''t run for Vice President - you get offered the job. Obama should offer the job to Edwards because he''s by far the best candidate. There''s a grassroots effort online to get Obama to do exactly that, here: http://www.edwards4veep.org
Reply to this comment
by erictlee1955 June 7, 2008 6:54 AM PDT
It doesn''t really matter what Edwards says in interviews. You don''t run for Vice President - you get offered the job. Obama should offer the job to Edwards because he''s by far the best candidate. There''s a grassroots effort online to get Obama to do exactly that, here: http://www.edwards4veep.org
Reply to this comment
by barocalto June 7, 2008 10:24 AM PDT
Who would want him he couldn''t even win his own state in 04..

Does anyone know what Sen. Obama''s position on reparations is????

My family came to the US around 1912 will be have to pay anything??
Reply to this comment
by feelfreee4u June 7, 2008 10:48 AM PDT
Gee, I''m so glad Mr Wonderful Weiner Boy warned us. We were just about to pick him. How embarassing THAT would have been for all of us.
P.S. What a waste of oxygen Edwards is. Go back to your billion dollar farm, you lying hick.
Reply to this comment
by downsteamjim June 7, 2008 11:03 AM PDT
To TRBundro1277: Do you actually believe that Obama cares about halting illegal immigration? He, Edwards, Bush, Hillary, and McCain are just typical politicians who will do anything for power.
Reply to this comment
by downsteamjim June 7, 2008 11:04 AM PDT
Edwards had planned to seek the vice presidency, but it conflicted with his beauty parlor schedule.
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