I will start with a sincere apology to the loyal Edwards supporters. I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for the Iowa and New Hampshire results, hopeful that Edwards would have a strong enough showing to be taken seriously by voters as the real threat to Hillary Clinton's nomination. No matter how right Edwards is, politics is not just about being right, it is also about being in a position to win. At this point, objectively speaking, that is not likely to happen for Edwards, and this is a bitter pill for me to swallow.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a heart-felt e-mail to my friends and family asking them to buy into the idea of either an Edwards-Obama or Obama-Edwards ticket, because I think that's the one that will energize our base and get a big "D" in the White House. Maybe this will help my case: I have not yet donated to the Obama campaign, but I have donated over $100 to the Edwards campaign. I don't have a lot of money but I am very concerned about the outcome of this election!
Today I am writing to appeal to the practical bones in the bodies of even the most loyal and visionary Edwards supporters - to back Barack Obama (More after the fold if you care to join me).
I am prepared to accept criticism for not being loyal enough to John Edwards. Please believe me when I say my one hope going into this primary season was that he and Elizabeth would move into the White House.
But the nasty campaign that Hillary Clinton has run against Barack Obama has given me a very sick feeling in my stomach. It is very uncomfortable for me to be on the other side of the Clinton political strategy. I didn't mind it so much when they were using it against the Republicans, who I feel deserve it as a group, but I don't like hearing Bill and Hillary twist things around and manipulate people into forming opinions of Barack Obama.
At this point all I want to do is stop Hillary. The jury is out on exactly how Edwards' withdrawal from the race would affect the polls, but I believe it to be true that his presence probably attracts more support away from Obama than it does Hillary. But even if we don't know the answer to that, what I am VERY SURE of is that if Edwards threw his support to Obama, that would be the boost needed to K.O. Hillary Clinton: 1, 2, 3.
The image I would most like to see is Barack Obama and John Edwards on stage together with their families, with their arms up in the air and their hands clasped in UNITY for something new. And it isn't just policy. I don't have a big problem with Hillary's stances on domestic issues, its her TONE that I do not wish for any of us to have to endure for four years. I think that Barack and Edwards will do more to establish new standards in government than she would.
I did not spend a lot of time organizing my thoughts on this, its just something I felt the need to get out. I am well aware that this is tried and true Edwards country here. Whether you can accept it or not, I am one of you. I have just faced up to the fact that, at this point, unless JRE wins South Carolina and proves he's a heavyweight, the best chance John Edwards has to become President one day is to become Barack Obama's VP. I look forward to hearing counter arguments against and support for my point of view.
I know Edwards is a FIGHTER but if he really wants to continue in a FIGHT to become President someday, I think he should back Barack Obama very soon. If anyone from either of their campaigns read this, please do what you can to broker this deal!
[UPDATE: I hear lots of annoyed/angry comments telling me not to write a diary like this.. but 45% are saying that it would help Obama get the nomination if Edwards were to drop out. So if Hillary is really your second choice, wouldnt you be encouraging me to write this diary, since Edwards doesn't have the traction he needs to get the nomination?]