Edwards' Exit Will Be In Raleigh

John Edwards, whose Southern charm and oratorical flare transformed the Democratic presidential contest, finally gave in to the inevitable math of the primary contest on Tuesday, bowing out with the same unbridled optimism that has characterized his candidacy.

"We have been the little engine that could," the North Carolina senator told supporters as he signaled he was abandoning his challenge to front-runner John Kerry.

In a phone conversation Tuesday night with CBS News Anchor Dan Rather, Edwards confirmed that he would pull out of the race Wednesday, and said he still hopes to be president one day. His campaign will end with a formal announcement in his hometown of Raleigh N.C.

Edwards failed to win any races other than his native South Carolina, but he managed to come from the backfield in a once-crowded Democratic race with a string of strong second-place finishes to be the last major challenger to Kerry.

Edwards congratulated Kerry in a speech to supporters, signaling that Democrats would present a united front against Bush in the fall.

He called his Senate colleague from Massachusetts an "extraordinary advocate for jobs, better health care, a safer world."

"These are the causes of our party, these are the causes of our country, and these are the causes we will prevail on come November," Edwards said.

He credited Kerry with running "a strong, powerful campaign."

Kerry, in turn, credited Edwards for bringing "a compelling voice to our party, great eloquence ... and great promise for leadership for the years to come."

Edwards appealed to independents and other potential swing voters who could be instrumental in a close contest in the fall. Although he made millions as a plaintiff's trail lawyer before running for the Senate for the first time in 1998, Edwards emphasized his humble origins as the son of a textile mill worker who had lost his job when his factory closed.

That, and his ability to clearly lay out issues, enabled Edwards to connect easily with most audiences. His campaign pitch that there are two Americas — one for the rich and powerful and one for everybody else — resonated with audiences.

Several Democrats said Edwards' campaign skills and performance should earn him consideration as Kerry's vice presidential running mate.

Some polls show they would make a team that could beat President George W. Bush and V.P. Dick Cheney, reports CBS News Correspondent Stacy Case.

So far Kerry has side-stepped the question.

Edwards did not specifically address his status in his Tuesday night speech to supporters, but left no doubt that he was dropping out. He said the themes he touched in his campaign were "the issues that the American people care deeply about."

And he turned his fire on Bush, saying, "come November, he will be out of the White House, not just out of touch."

Edwards noted that he had done best in states where he had spent the most time campaigning — such as Iowa and Wisconsin — and regretted that he did not have more time to promote his candidacy.

Throughout the primary season, Edwards scored best with voters who were looking for a candidate with a positive message, as well as those looking for someone who cares about people like them, exit polls showed.

His problem was the same in state after state: Most Democratic voters were concerned with one thing - beating Bush in November - and substantial majorities of them said Kerry was the man to do it.

Edwards made U.S. trade agreements a centerpiece of his campaign, and exit polls show voters were sympathetic to his arguments: Some 60 percent said trade takes jobs away from their states. But even among these voters, some six in 10 voted for Kerry, double Edwards' take.

Similarly, on Tuesday one in three voters said their financial situation was worse than it had been four years ago, but they voted for Kerry by three-to-one margin over Edwards.

And while he regularly talked about poverty and race relations — issues of abiding interest to American liberals — Edwards has consistently scored poorest with liberal voters who dominate Democratic primaries, with more support from moderates and conservatives.

Edwards is a Southern politician in the Bill Clinton mold, a youthful moderate of modest background whose charm and looks gained more attention than his policies at first.

Edwards' upbringing was a central theme to his populist message. He announced his candidacy Sept. 16 in front of the empty textile mill in Robbins, N.C., where his father had been employed for 36 years and where Edwards himself had earned money for college by sweeping floors and working as a night watchman.

His youthful appearance suggested to critics that he might not be ready for national politics and international leadership. Even to many admirers, he was a promising running mate rather than the nominee.

Yet his broad smile, Southern charm and message of "two Americas" helped gain support for a campaign that generally stayed away from attacking other Democrats, except to say their experience in Washington was a detriment.