John Edwards Finally On Board
John Edwards took the stage at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., last night, with Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising” pulsating around him.
The 2004 Vice Presidential nominee surely envisioned such a moment, only with himself representing the Democratic Party for president.
Instead, it was Barack Obama’s “rising” that brought Edwards there.
Michigan was an appropriate setting for Edwards’ endorsement. Populism and empathy for the working class and impoverished were the themes of the former North Carolina Senator’s own presidential bid.
In endorsing Obama, John Edwards hopes to transfer his appeal among the white, working-class voters that the front-runner has struggled to win over.
“The reason that I am here tonight is because the Democratic voters in America have made their choice, and so have I,” Edwards said.
“There is one man who knows and understands that this is a time for bold leadership. There is one man that knows how to create the change, the lasting change, that you have to build from the ground up.”
The question is: Does John Edwards’ endorsement matter?
Obama’s last standing rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, has said that Obama’s weakness among blue-collar workers may cripple his effort in the fall.
While the value of any endorsement is debatable and intangible, both Obama and Clinton had aggressively sought support from John Edwards.
John and wife Elizabeth Edwards appeared conflicted as to which candidate to endorse as recently as last week. Yesterday, he praised the former First Lady before formally supporting Barack Obama.
The positive media coverage from this comes as a huge boost to Obama - the endorsement, as the Illinois Senator has made his custom with key backers - comes one day after a damaging loss in the West Virginia primary - but after the May 6 win by Obama in Edwards’ home state of North Carolina, his victory over Clinton was almost assured.
Edwards is a Democrat who, despite finishing a distant third in this race, is still held in high esteem by most people in the party. Obama is a Democrat on the cusp of clinching the Democratic nomination. It was inevitable.
Therein lies the rub. Despite her tenaciousness, experience and strength, even Hillary Clinton cannot stop this train from leaving the station.
She vows to carry on, but read between the lines of her recent comments and it’s clear Hillary know that, no matter what she says or does, and how well she does it, it simply won’t be enough to derail Barack Obama.
Edwards may not have provided the coup de grâce, but he came close. Only Hillary knows when Hillary will drop out, but that is inevitable as well.
NATIONAL
May 15th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Never have I seen such a bunch of male chauvanist pigs!!
Racism could never top the sexist men forcing Senator Clinton out!
My vote will stay home no matter what.
I protest the way she is being forced out and I can’t stand
Teddy Chappaquiddic Kennedy!
Rockefeller is also a loser, guess he only went to WV to help those po white folk.
Well get ready for your first “slave” in Washington.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am
What John Edwards showed yesterday is that his concerned for the poor in this country is second to his concern for his own political well being. Weeks ago it was obvious that Hillary was best carying on Edward’s so called concern for those left behind. Where was he then? Yesterdays move was simply the move of a politician trying to catch a ride on the train to power. And don’t think for a minute that this wasn’t locked up previously but rolled out as part of the now predictible Obama tactic of using these endorsements whenever the attention becomes focused somewhere other than him.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I think Edwards is a joke. Tell him to style his hair more and kiss Obama’s (you know what)! It’s typical politics. Obama needs white voters, well he isn’t getting it through Edwards. It’s obvious they are both using each other. Edwards wants to be VP. My entire family is voting for McCain before Obama if Hillary doesn’t get the nom. It will be funny to see Obama Vs. McCain and every state will turn RED. Except 3 of them. LOL
May 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I and my family support Hillary Clinton at the end of this campaign! She is the BEST CANDIDATE to go against McCain, but what happen? I see in the Democratic Party WOMAN can’t be front runner! It is machist party! They know Sen. Obama has republican support because if the party is divided, they can win easy… and they make the deal! Sen. Obama is a Republica Party “deal”…..I think I am in the wrong party!
May 15th, 2008 at 11:49 am
I am a white middle class woman. If the right woman was running she would be the front runner. She is not the right woman. From the start her campaign has been in trouble now she is in debt. She changes how she is going to win this every other day. I don’t want a lose cannon in the White House again 8 years was enough!!
May 15th, 2008 at 11:51 am
what a bunch of crock by this contradicting politician just very very very recently he said it was not the time to choose then hillary win’s big and he jumps on board with obama what’s up with this john edwards guy so he wants another kick at the can mmmmmmmmmm smart yes very smart 2 smart guys 2gether but hillary knows that popular vote should win- not superd who go against there employers like that snake richardson with him 4 a friend u don’t need enemies
May 15th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
I think this is great. i hope everyone unites behind whoever is the nominee because staying home and allowing McCain in to finish this horror would be too much for ones conscience. I only want the right person period nothing else matters. Edwards will kill the issue issue of health care and white blue collar workers. Now for Al!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I hope all of you can afford the Republican economy if you do stay home or vote Republican. No true democrat would do that because true democrats are not racist or sexist; they are UNITED! Join Obama if you will or stay home, vote Republican, and moan for 4 years.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Its not about being a Democrat or Republican its about the person. I just feel like who is Obama? Where has he been? Why now? He will never win. Trust me I will eat my words if I’m wrong. He only wins RED STATES and BLACK POPULATED PLACES! I will laugh at all of you when he loses the general election and for the first time in a long time NJ and others will turn RED! MARK MY WORDS PEOPLE! Wake up!
May 15th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Fred,
Who exactly are you, a wise and articulate fortune teller? I mean get real, if you want to know who Obama is, do some research, read his website, do your own due diligence. The man is a dedicated and highly intelligent public servant. Just because he has no history of living in the White House doesn’t mean he is not a contender. Further, the nobody you are so worked up over has the popular vote, the highest count of all types of delegtes and has one almost twice as many contests. It takes a pretty admirable person to start out as an underdog and achieve all of that.
My humble advice to you is to work up an appetite.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I would not put too much weight behind Edwards’ endorsement of Obama and question his ability to choose who would be the democrat’s best candidate since he is a two time primary campaign loser and once lost his vice presidential bid. If Edfwards were capable of sound political judgment, he would still bein this race. With all due respect, his judgment is undound when making this kind of important endorsement.
May 15th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Oh yes Edwqrds will really help Obama..Two time looser! Oh yes will connect with the Middle Class..he cares so much for poverty.
Well he should have paid $10.00 to get his hair cut and donated to poverty the rest of $390.00…
Give us a break… Only fools will believe these two!
Important endorsement…No not really..The worse is Obama who snubbed his uppity nose in the air and did not even give West Virginia a chance.. Hillary worked her heart out even though she knew would loose in North Carlolina and Indiana, but she connected, she reached out and at least tried… If Obama is the nominee he will be going back to West Virginia and would want thier votes,,, he is a self serving phony..His relations with anti-American, Amereica haters, Wright and Farrkhan tells it all!
May 15th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Fred! Oh so true..Lets all take a look at the Trinity of Church magazine year 2006…Obama with Farrakhan, Wright and all others.
He knew they were what they were and yet accepted them! Bad judgement? or really an Atni-american Supporter.. I sure don’t want to wait and find out… If Hillary;s not the nominee..no vote for Obama..I love my country to much to have my hand into the desparity Obama will bring us all…
May 15th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
MAGAZINE: 2006 CALLED Trumpet!
May 15th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
When John Edwards dropped out of the Democratic Presidential nominating process, he said he would wait to see who addressed the issues of the ‘working poor’ before endorsing a candidate.
Since that time, voters making 50,000.00 per year and less have overwhelmingly chosen Hillary Clinton as the candidate who best speaks for them.
On Tuesday, these very voters in West Virginia choose Hillary Clinton over presumptive nominee Barack Obama by a stunning 41% (despite the fact that Obama outspent Clinton 2 to 1 in West Virginia while maintaining a public profile of indifference.)
THE NEXT DAY EDWARDS ENDORSES THE OTHER GUY, not only slapping West Virginia voters in the face by timing his endorsement to drown out their voices, but effectively telling the ‘white working poor’ whom he claims to champion that they obviously don’t know what’s good for them.
It remains to be seen if this naked political sleight-of-hand will be seen for what it is by the working class families of Kentucky, Oregon and the remaining contests.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:17 am
If Obama is thinking about Edwards for a VP one must think back to 2004.Kerry put him on for a VP.How many states did that help Kerry win.Answer: None
May 16th, 2008 at 4:20 am
Obama has one chance to win the White House,He must mend the bridges with Hillary Clinton now.He must ask her to join him as his running mate as VP.Thats the only way he can win this election.Id bet a years salary on that statement.
May 16th, 2008 at 10:33 am
William. I did my research and watched all the debates. Take a hard look at his winnings and why Red states went to him.We can pretend that he will unite AMERICA and cross all the lines. Unfortunatly you have to wake up. Read the blogs people write. This country is racist and sexist. People are angry about Gays, religion any issue that is not home to them. So they speak out ignorant words. Obama can not change that. So in November do you think those RED states will vote for him? I dont think so. Those Republicans know that Hillary was a fight a real fight. They gave us Obama like they did others in the past so we will lose again. He will not win the general election. You just watch and see. Take my advise. People who voted for him and let her go have lost the White House once again. McCain will take Bushs role. ANother 4 years of the same old politics!
May 16th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Voteforasafeamerica….Thank you for understanding!
May 17th, 2008 at 4:32 am
Not only did Edwards slap the poor working-class across the face when he endorsed Obama, he slapped women, including his poor dying wife. Elizabeth came out for Hillary’s health plan. She did interviews and pretty much endorsed Hillary. Edwards only cares about his own political career. He ignored calls to drop out of the race and used Elizabeth’s illness as his reason to fight for health care reform. Then what does he do? He doesn’t care about his wife’s agenda or the poor people. Only his own political career. I’ll never vote Democrat again if the far left takes over this party.