Edwards Drops Out of Presidential Race

Posted by Paddy , Cliff Schecter's Blog at 5:17 AM on January 30, 2008.

Chuck Todd is on MSNBC saying that the scheduled speech that Edwards was going to give in New Orleans today is abruptly turning around and will be a concession speech.

Todd also saying that it is very unlikely that Edwards would throw his endorsement to Clinton.

More as I get it. (I took the question mark off the headline. Looks to be firm)

DENVER (AP) - Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voter's sympathies but never diverted his campaign, The Associated Press has learned.

The two-time White House candidate notified a close circle of senior advisers that he planned to make the announcement at a 1 p.m. EST event in New Orleans that had been billed as a speech on poverty, according to two of his advisers.

The decision came after Edwards lost the four states to hold nominating contests so far to rivals who stole the spotlight from the beginning - Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

UPDATE:

Leaving the race: Obama offered this statement on the withdrawal of John Edwards from the presidential race:

"John Edwards has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling, even when it wasn't popular to do or covered in the news. At a time when our politics is too focused on who's up and who's down, he made a nation focus again on who matters - the New Orleans child without a home, the West Virginia miner without a job, the families who live in that other America that is not seen or heard or talked about by our leaders in Washington. John and Elizabeth Edwards have always believed deeply that we can change this - that two Americans can become one, and that our country can rally around this common purpose. So while his campaign may end today, the cause of their lives endures for all of us who still believe that we can achieve that dream of one America."

ABC Interview:

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, Sen. Barack Obama said that he has let former Sen. John Edwards know that he would like his endorsement should Edwards decide to drop out of the race. While Obama did not admit to rumors of back-door-dealings for delegate sharing, he said that he would strongly welcome a nod from Edwards.

"There is no doubt that I would love John's support, but I also respect the fact that he is in this contest. He is actively seeking the nomination, and he is a formidable candidate," Obama told "Nightline" co-anchor Terry Moran.

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Tagged as: clinton, obama, edwards

Paddy is a regular contributor to Cliff Schecter.com.