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Edwards drops out

By pharrell

As I predicted, Edwards is now out of the race. Rumblings deep down in the press coverage of his decision to quit the presidential campaign suggest that pressure from financial and union backers did, indeed, affect his decision: they wanted a chance to cast their lots with a candidate more likely to win. Edwards' 14% showing in Florida and the fact that he wouldn't do better in the Feb. 5 states probably sealed the deal--since Democratic party rules require that a candidate get 15% of the vote to win delegates, he could no longer dream of playing king (or queen) maker at a brokered convention.

Edwards ran a terrific race, and his ideals forced both Obama and Hillary to embrace the issues of poverty and inequality more openly than they otherwise might have. He also redeemed himself, in the eyes of many progressives, for what many saw as a lackluster performance in 2004. I think that anyone watching this year's race must come away respecting the man for his beliefs and his passion, and I wish him well as he charts some other path in the future.

Full post as published by Harrell Blog on January 31, 2008 (boomark / email).