by Mark Silva
Former Sen. John Edwards, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2004 and a candidate for president in this year's early primaries, today declined to get in the middle of the contest between Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
"I have a very high opinion of both of them," Edwards said at the convention of the Young Democrats of North Carolina today. "We would be blessed as a nation to have either one of them as president."
Both Obama and Clinton have sought Edwards' endorsement. Before dropping his bid for nomination this year, Edwards won a promise from both Clinton and Obama to make ending poverty central to their ongoing presidential campaigns.
Edwards pointed out the historical nature of both campaigns today.
"We are blessed, first, to have an extraordinarily talented African American who could be the next president of the United States," Edwards said. "There's no way to contest the fact that he's inspired this country."
"And Senator Clinton, who has served America for so long and so well, and has shown so much strength and leadership, has really forged an extraordinarily historic campaign as a woman for the nomination and for the presidency."
But, with the North Carolina primary on May 6 still more than a month away, the former senator stopped short of any endorsement: "When I have something to say, I'll let you know.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Comments
John Edwards is a class act.
I expect he's supporting Hilary, but doesn't want to get into the fray, wants to let junior get spanked out of the primary and hear him wail.
Wail away Pennsylvania! We know you're not buying that Casey (anti choice, arrogant, narcissistic kid who won't win his own primary in PA) crap.
Wail away Indiana==we know you've gotten over the 'women shouldn't wear slacks' attitude of the 1960s (which the Obamas apparently still subscribe to--look how they dress their girls).
Wail away North Carolina--well, okay, Obie might be able to bamboozle, hoodwink and okie dokie the state into voting against whitey.
Thank you John Edwards.
Patrick Leahy--kiss my grits!
Posted by: eugene debs | March 29, 2008 9:29 PM
No need burning bridges when you don't have to.
It's a smart strategy for Edwards, but it offers little pay off.
That's the difference between Barack and Hillary McCain.
Barack offers a bigger payoff than either of the other two.
McCain's going to be a third Bush term and Hillary will be a third Bill term.
Barack has the potential to inspire the world.
Of course, he does have to be careful and he can't be too flippant about it. But a Barack Obama presidency really has a lot of potential upside.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | March 29, 2008 9:34 PM
Edwards is a class act, presidential material. He praised both candidates, on their run to the White House. Hillary on her strengths and leadership and her extraordinary campaign. Obama on his inspiration. May the best person win.
Posted by: jp,michigan | March 29, 2008 10:15 PM
Edwards may still take this thing--if Obama gets indicted for Rezko, maybe HIlary would drop out--NOT!
But look--Obama's votes aren't legitimate--they are republican or flawed caucus 'votes'--hardly a legitimate lead.
Posted by: golden oldie | March 29, 2008 11:28 PM
The Swamp is becomming essentially the Democrat National Committee mouth piece. Five posts in a row glorifying the Democrat Party, Obama and even Clinton.
Scant coverage of McCain.
I'm a Libertarian and not necessarily a supporter of McCain. But I gotta say, he's getting the shaft here at the Swamp.
I may just end up supporting the guy just to lodge a protest at Liberal Media bias run rampant.
Posted by: Eric Dondero | March 30, 2008 8:57 AM
John Edwards' last remaining shred of political relevancy is who he will endorse for the Dem nominee. He sure is dragging it out.
Posted by: Herbie H. | March 30, 2008 10:38 AM
When this is all over, can we see the payroll of the Obamanation campaign?
I mean--they seem to be paying uneducated kids to troll the blogs and post nonsense.
And they have truly hurt the democratic party.
No matter.
I wish we still had the people's party, the socialist party. Those were the days.
Read about them someday, Obama HQ-okie dokie?
Posted by: eugene debs | March 30, 2008 11:39 AM
Actually, the best reason to vote for John McCain was given in 2004 by current DNC Chair Howard Dean:
""The real issue is this," Dean said in March 2004, when endorsing formal rival Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., "Who would you rather have in charge of the defense of the United States of America, a group of people who never served a day overseas in their life, or a guy who served his country honorably and has three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star on the battlefields of Vietnam?"
McCain, by the way, has been awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Star Medals, a Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross."
from abcnews.com
Posted by: Winchell | March 30, 2008 12:09 PM
Winchell---so was Gomer Pyle.
Posted by: golden oldie | March 31, 2008 1:34 AM