Breaking news on the campaign trail, as John Edwards will announce that he is no longer campaigning to become President of the United States.
It's a shame.
Best candidate, goes down before Super Tuesday.
I have to give Edwards credit for his decision which will help galvanize the Democratic National Committee efforts in the election.
Certainly, Senator Obama will be the one who is most likely to earn my support.
See:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic candidate John Edwards abandoned his presidential bid on Wednesday, while among Republicans challenger Mitt Romney vowed to keep up his struggle to overtake newly-crowned front-runner John McCain.
more stories like this
Edwards, a former North Carolina senator who was his party's vice presidential nominee four years ago, never managed to match the superior firepower of the two heavyweights in the Democratic race -- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
His decision leaves effectively narrows both the Democratic and Republican field to two realistic candidates apiece ahead of next week's "Super Tuesday" contests when 24 states hold nominating contests for one or both parties.
Edwards was to formally announce his withdrawal at 1 p.m. EST in New Orleans, a campaign official said.
His decision leaves Clinton, a former first lady and New York senator, pitted against Obama, an Illinois senator.
Among Republicans, it is Arizona Sen. McCain against former Massachusetts Gov. Romney. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is still formally in the race but his lack of money and appeal beyond Christian conservatives give him little real chance.
The Edwards announcement stole the thunder from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani who planned to drop out and endorse McCain later on Wednesday after coming a distant third in Tuesday's Republican primary in Florida.
McCain won that vote, cementing his status as Republican front-runner to contest the November election to succeed President George W. Bush.
Romney, who has poured millions of dollars from his personal fortune into the race and vastly outspent McCain in Florida, said it was now a two-man race.
"The options are me or John McCain," he told Fox News on Wednesday. "It's becoming a real race between two people who have two different views about the future of this country."
(Additional reporting by Jim Loney and Jason Szep in Florida, Jeff Mason in Kansas, writing by Alan Elsner; Editing by Patricia Zengerle and Frances Kerry)
(For more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http:/blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
2 comments:
yes -- start blogging about Obama! It's about time.
This letter sent to the Edwards campaign supporters today:
Let me start by saying, "Thank you." You have stood with Elizabeth and me throughout this campaign. Your support has sustained us as we have traveled across this country.
Earlier today, I suspended my campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I made this announcement from where our journey began just over 12 months ago: New Orleans.
I began my presidential campaign in New Orleans to remind the country that all of us -- as citizens and as a government -- have a moral responsibility to each other, and what we do together matters.
Now, it's time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path. We do not know who will take the final steps to the White House -- but what we do know is that our Democratic Party will make history.
And, along the way, all of you who have been involved in this campaign and this movement for change and this cause, I am asking you to continue speaking out for those who have no voice, just as Elizabeth and I will continue to do. We need you.
Do not turn away from the great struggles before us. Do not give up on the causes that we have fought for. Do not walk away from what's possible, because it's time for all of us -- all of us together -- to make the two Americas one. We need you.
I hope you will take a few moments to listen to the video clip of my speech in New Orleans earlier this afternoon or to read it below.
In the meantime, Elizabeth and my family join me in thanking all of you for your support and for working so hard on my behalf. We are truly blessed to have such friends.
Thank you.
John Edwards
January 30, 2008
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