A Poll--When does Edwards Endorse...and who...

When would it be the best time for Edwards to endorse? And whom should he endorse??

more after the jump...

Personally I think Edwards was right not to endorse before super Tuesday for a variety of reasons...it was too soon after dropping out, it gives his people some time to "grieve", it allows him time to see if either Clinton or Obama gets a huge win on Super Tuesday...etc

But I also think he should endorse today or tomorrow...He should endorse before the voting in MD, DC and VA...

He should endorse while he still has some traction, some influence...The longer he waits, the less pull he has.

Plus this is the time to endorse IF he plans to endorse Hilary. She will need the help in these three states...Obama likely wins MD and DC no matter what, but an Edwards endorsement could swing VA to Hilary. Edwards will look like her savior...or at least helpful, if savior is too strong a word.

And if he comes out for Obama, then I think Barack wins MD, DC and VA and Edwards would look very good endorsing right before Obama takes three states in a row.

So what do you think? Endorse now? Wait some more? and if so, why?

Thanks

g

ps...we do a poll on Gore tomorrow...

•  If he's smart...

  ...he'll keep his mouth shut and whoever the eventual nominee is will give him a position in the administration.

  by dennisl on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:28:34 AM PDT

  •  He Wants Us to Decide...

    ...that was the whole point.

    ...and don't think he cares whether he is in the admin or not.
    He's got plenty of other things to do...and he doesn't need the job.

    by demwords on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:32:01 AM PDT

•  absurd diary

  He'll endorse whoever he chooses, when he chooses.  

  You and I have no influence on that, and no say in the matter.

  by N in Seattle on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:29:16 AM PDT

  •  well no duh....just asking who and when YOU think

    he will endorse...or if he even will endorse...

    not sure why that is absurd....thinking i will influence his decision...that is absurd...i have not illusions that this silly little blog will do that

    just wondering what others here, my peers, think

    edwards is not my peer, neither is clinton nor obama...they are in a different league...me? i'm t-ball, they are hall of famers at cooperstown...

    g

    by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:34:26 AM PDT

    •  But you didn't include this in the poll...

      or if he even will endorse...

      I would have voted for that alone.

      by gooderservice on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:18:31 AM PDT

  •  Absurd comment

    Same thing could be said about pretty much every political issue discussed on this site...

    {Political figure} will do {some action} when/how/where he/she chooses.

    You and I have no influence on that, and no say in the matter.

    Take it easy--I don't view this diary as disrespectful of Edwards. Isn't specualting on things like this part of the FUN of politics?

    by swalker007 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:51:14 AM PDT

•  I think if he's going to do it

  then he should do it to maximize the effect on Ohio and Texas.

  I'm assuming he'd endorse Obama.

  by jre2k8 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:30:00 AM PDT

  •  I used to think that...

    but Obama  has shot himself in the foot with the universal healthcare issue which was key for Edwards.   So I'm not sure anymore. If Edwards could bargain with Clinton to put more of his policies in play he might actually go for her. But who knows....

    by cosbo on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:35:12 AM PDT

    •  There will have to be some discussions

      on Obama's health care framing.  But Obama is way closer to Edwards vis a vis who should be running the Democratic party.

      I'll be really disappointed if Edwards supports Clinton.

      by jre2k8 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:36:46 AM PDT

      •  I know. There's also a personal history there...

        to consider. But to tell you the truth, I really don't care who gets it anymore. Clinton or Obama. I don't myself believe that Obama is that different than Clinton. They're both a little too timid and too friendly with republicans. So whatever.

        by cosbo on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:42:28 AM PDT

        •  Me too, cosbo, me too.

          I don't myself believe that Obama is that different than Clinton.

          by ichibon on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:50:41 AM PDT

      •  Obama has been mocking Edwards lately

        so I wouldn't hold my breath for that endorsement.

        by sgary on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:42:46 AM PDT

      •  Which is the problem...

        Obama will look like an  idiot, doing an about face on mandates. I don't think he's going to risk that. So he's pretty locked on in on his UHC position, in the end affects how the thing gets done in  congress. Clinton is right in sense that you go in the most, not the less.

        My essential problem with Obama is that he really does not know how to bargain. He SUCKS at it. He low balls everything, and the people will pay for that in the end.

        by cosbo on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:56:12 AM PDT

    •  cosbo, it broke my heart Tuesday to

      cast my lot with HRC at our MN caucus, but I felt like I was walking into a Jr. High School pep rally, with every square inch of every wall of every hall in the school where the caucus was held covered with Obama signs.
      I wanted to vote for Edwards, but was alone in my precinct, and it truly would have been wasted.
      At least with HRC, I know steps will be taken toward UHC.

      by sgary on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:40:23 AM PDT

      •  I was lucky. I was able to vote for him here.

        by cosbo on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:44:20 AM PDT

        •  I at least know I did some good

          my two and a half weeks leading up to and at caucus in Iowa.

          My little brother still voted for him in Oklahoma, Tuesday, too.

          by sgary on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:46:15 AM PDT

•  New poll choice needed

  Never, but actively supports the Dem nominee.

  by VClib on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:30:56 AM PDT

  •  will do...great choice...

    g

    by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:38:52 AM PDT

  •  grrrr...sorry

    can't edit a poll once it is voted it....

    but that was a very good suggestion...wish i could add it

    g

    by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:40:53 AM PDT

•  i will vote in the poll later today....

  though it is likely obvious who i will vote for...

  again, i will happily vote for either of our fine candidates...it is a great year to be a democrat...

  a woman? a black man? god, i am soooo happy to see this in my lifetime...and i still have a few good years left...

  it is all sweet, all gravy...still i clearly lean in one direction....

  g

  by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:31:11 AM PDT

•  What would be the point of his endorsing AnyBody?

  It's in his best interest to see this thing go to the convention and then try to get a deal for himself in exchange for his delegates.  

  Also, how meaningful would it be?  It appears that his supporters have either already decided between Obama and Clinton, or refuse to accept that he's out and continue to vote for him.  

  by CTReformedRep on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:31:46 AM PDT

  •  not sure, the primary will be close, but....

    not sure his 26 delegates will help him at the convention

    it is why i thought he would run a little longer...at least through super tuesday...to build up his pile of delegates

    g

    by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:36:26 AM PDT

    •  Probably a money thing

      He didn't want to dig himself deeper into debt.  If he was going to endorse someone I would imagine he would have done it by now.  

      by CTReformedRep on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:19:19 AM PDT

  •  You might want to re-do that last sentence

    to something like:  "...or have accepted that he's out and will vote for him anyway."

    The majority of Edwards supporters, that have or will vote for him anyway, have accepted that he has suspended his campaign.

    Quit trying to paint us all with the same brush.  

    by Terre on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:51:01 AM PDT

•  I read an interview

  with Joe Trippi last night, it's at TNR I think.  mostly consisted of whining, but he says Edwards won't endorse for a very long time, if at all.  I think he's lost the opportunity to influence things in a good direction with the endorsement though.  of course it's his judgment call if he thinks the two candidates are so similar that there's no point endorsing one over the other, but in my opinion, that doesn't speak well of Edwards' judgment.  but I've never really been a big fan of his either, so...fwiw.

  by itsbenj on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:34:06 AM PDT

  •  It may be bitter

    but a lot of it is true.  

    by IowaEdwardsSupporter on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:50:39 AM PDT

•  I voted this month

  for Obama - but I'm not sure that it matters too much. Anyone who followed his campaign should have no doubt as to which candidate he'd endorse. As for the time frame, the longer he waits - the less relevent it could be; with the possible exception of N Carolina.  So I'll put that as the firewall, a week before N Carolina or never.

  by Yoshi En Son on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:36:56 AM PDT

•  Would an Edwards endorsement avoid

  Dr. Dean's "some sort of arrangement" deal?  I don't pretend to understand all the nuances of this, but seems to me the last thing we want is to have our candidate chosen by superdelegates.
  Also, the very fact that both are doing pretty equally well argues against making some sort of deal, doesn't it?  No matter which way that deal goes, a great many Dems are going to be very upset.
  Edwards won his support (and supporters) fairly.  If he endorsed, would the resulting transfer of supporters decide this thing one way or another?  If it did, it seems like it would be a much more fair way to decide it than to have all of us ignored and leave it up to the superdelegates.  

  by sherlyle on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:37:03 AM PDT

•  If he's got class

  he'll allow his supporters to make their own decisions.

  by Audri on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:39:26 AM PDT

  •  ????

    so everybody who endorses a candidate has no class?

    every governor? every major? every ex-president?

    or just people who were a candidate and dropped out?

    seems to be the norm for many to endorse...some do it the day they drop out, some a bit later...and some never do..

    g

    by thegelding on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:45:53 AM PDT

    •  I just think

      this
      is a classy statement.

      by Audri on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:26:50 AM PDT

  •  Since when does his endorsement

    Mean that JRE supporters have to follow his lead?

    I thought it was just the Obama supporters who were blind followers.

    by swalker007 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:53:35 AM PDT

    •  heh

      ;-)

      by Audri on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:27:06 AM PDT

•  He has to endorse Obama.

  He ran as an anti-Hillary candidate. He could never endorse her an maintain his credibility.

  by Sean Casey on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:46:49 AM PDT

  •  It's not that simple or else he would have...

    already endorsed. For Edwards it was always about what is best for the people. Universal Healthcare was a key issue for him. He's going to want to make sure that happens for the people, at least. Clinton has a the stronger plan. If Obama had been bolder on his plan, then he probably would've endorsed by now.

    by cosbo on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:01:14 AM PDT

    •  He may not endorse!

      Neither of them are close to his positions. I wouldn't blame him if he did it that way. Can't endorse them if you don't believe in them. I can't believe he would ever endorse Hillary, she is exactly what he is fighting against. Exactly!

      by Sean Casey on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 07:18:02 PM PDT

•  OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA!

  If John Edwards really wants to CHANGE Washington politics, as he said in his campaign, then Obama is the only clear answer.  

  by ijarne on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:50:47 AM PDT

  •  Nah, I don't think so...

    by gooderservice on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:19:20 AM PDT

•  I'd like to see an Obama endorsement...

  And then Edwards be Obama's first nominee to the SCOTUS.

  Justice Edwards... those words already go together nicely.

  by swalker007 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:54:58 AM PDT

•  I think he will eventually endorse Clinton

  She won his voters in rural America, which was his strength.  There can be no question about that when looking at the actual results.  Edwards did not like Hillary but developed a grudging respect for her towards the end of his campaign.  His inner circle, including his wife, hate Hillary, but I think Edwards is committed to his voters, and I think he takes what they said on Tuesday seriously.  There may also be some Kerry-hating going on, and also some concern that Barack isn't doing well enough among white working class voters to win in the general election.

  The endorsement will not likely come until after the Texas and Ohio primaries.

  by khyber900 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 09:55:06 AM PDT

•  edwards' endorsement no longer relevant.

  he really missed his zillions of moments to do so.  i'm not quite sure why he played it like he did, but i don't think his endorsement will change anything in the race at this point.

  by jj24 on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:00:53 AM PDT

•  Who cares?

  I would have loved it if Edwards had endorsed Obama before Super Tuesday. It might have made a difference, and it would have shown Edwards to be far-sighted and to care about the party and the country. But by waiting, he has basically made himself irrelevant. If he endorses whoever has momentum, he'll appear to be pandering. If he goes against the trend, he'll be ignored. At this point, it's basically "Edwards who?"

  by Egypt Steve on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:03:01 AM PDT

  •  Edwards will never be irrelevant. n/t

    by gooderservice on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:20:24 AM PDT

•  Maybe saving Edwards for TX, OH, PA?

  Considering Obama has something of an edge on the rest of Feb, they may (if there is an Edwards endorsement) roll him out as the focus on these larger states heats up more...Late Feb perhaps?

  by Ericwmr on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:04:49 AM PDT

•  Obama reminds me of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi

  type Democratics..can't we all just get along...can't we be nice to one another...BAH..! Clinton just wants the power and the corporate donations...again we don't get a choice, we get brainwashed

  by chabuka on Thu Feb 07, 2008 at 10:05:43 AM PDT