Legal Commentary

Edwards Pulls Out

By Professor University of Miami School of Law

It’s soon to be official: after his weak showing in Florida, John Edwards is pulling out of the race.

I guess that means I’m an Obama supporter now. Not that I couldn’t support Clinton, but I have enough doubt about the people she surrounds herself with and attracts — DLCers for example — that Obama seems a better bet.

I also think Obama will have an advantage in foreign relations, as he’ll be perceived as more of a clean slate than someone named Clinton. He’s been an opponent of the Iraq war from the start, and still has a better, clearer position than Clinton on ending the war and removing US troops from Iraq (even though Edwards’s position was better still). He’s better on telecoms issues too.

That said, on domestic issues there’s also much to like on paper about the Clinton candidacy as compared to Obama’s especially on health care. How much of that would survive contact with lobbyists and Republicans is the question.

Whoever it was who said that Obama is running as (Bill) Clinton and (Sen.) Clinton is running as Gore got it mostly right. I didn’t want either as my first choice; even if I get my third choice it is sure to be much better than the remaining alternatives.

And I hope Edwards becomes Attorney General. That would be something.

Full post as published by Discourse.net on January 30, 2008 (boomark / email).