AP/ June 18, 2009, 6:25 PM

Edwards Says He Won't Run For VP Again

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.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
47 Comments Add a Comment
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downsteamjim says:
Edwards had planned to seek the vice presidency, but it conflicted with his beauty parlor schedule.
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downsteamjim says:
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.
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feelfreee4u says:
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.
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barocalto says:
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??
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erictlee1955 says:
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
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erictlee1955 says:
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
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trbundro1277 says:
I hate Juan Amnesty Mccain!
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trbundro1277 says:
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!
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trbundro1277 says:
John Edwards reminds me of Robert Kennedy!
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popstom1 says:
Edwards knows that obum will not make it
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