Sic transit Edwards

I actually teared up when I saw the downcast expression on the face of John Edwards on today's New York Times story announcing his pullout from the presidential race -- and the lines:

...He said he had spoken to (Clinton and Obama) by phone and asked them both to continue drawing attention to the primary themes of his campaign.

"They have both pledged to me -- and more importantly, through me to America -- that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency... Our Democratic Party will make history. We will be strong, we will be unified, and with a little backbone, we will take back the White House."

"Why hasn't he gotten more attention?" Cris moaned last weekend when the returns came in from South Carolina, Edwards' last best chance. "Aren't people listening to what he's saying?"

No, not enough people listened as Edwards excoriated corporate profiteering and made his Kennedyesque pledges to uplift the poor. People are, I think, excited -- and understandably so -- by the prospect of a female or black president. No matter what Edwards said, he could never top the novelty and attractiveness of Obama nor the organization and fundraising ability of Clinton.

For those who did listen, I suspect almost all their votes will go to Obama -- as will mine.

Meanwhile, Giuliani will quit and is expected to support John McCain. I so wanted him to announce something totally wacky, such as an endorsement of Ron Paul.

technorati: John Edwards, Barack Obama, campaign, Democratic

Too bad she isn't the one running

Whatever you think of presidential candidate John Edwards, you have to admire his wife. Facing a cancer death sentence, she's making her beliefs perfectly clear. Appearing with "other top candidates or their surrogates" at a Planned Parenthood event today, speaking to a gay rights group over the weekend. She's interviewed on Salon today.

As for her husband, he benefits by association, without actually having to come out and support the positions these groups support. If you agree with them, then he hopes you think he does too. If you don't, you're not going to vote for him anyway, so it's a no-lose situation for him.

I am kind of liking Edwards; I've been sending him small amounts of money. He's less divisive than Hilary -- if you thought there was partisan polarization during Bill's administration, just wait til she gets elected -- and more experienced than Obama.

Nevertheless, I think the absolutely perfect ticket would be Obama for president, Hilary for VP. She'd never settle for that, though.