Recently much has been written and reported about the remaining candidates trying to meet with Edwards and try to wrangle an endorsement out of him.
Clinton and Obama are meeting with Edwards in an attempt to gain his support. The real question is who will win Edwards? Who will offer the best deal? And who will he support?
If you compare the basic lists of each candidate on environment, abortion, war and the economy, the only real difference between the three candidates, Edwards, Obama and Clinton, is there outlook on the economy, in particular corporations. All issues are too close to call. Then where would Edwards put his support? Clinton has met with him and Obama is trying to set up a meeting to discuss issues and the possibility of an endorsement.
Edwards could not justify his support, if given, to Clinton. That was one of the major sticking points of their disagreements in the debates and on the stump; the economy and trade deals, that is. His opposition to NAFTA and the most recent Peruvian trade deal, which Obama also voted for recently. So I cannot see him endorsing Clinton for any reason, other than a personal gain thing. He would have to justify it in the media and in doing so would hurt his political rep. I do not see Edwards doing anything to tarnish his rep with the working class.
Then there is Obama. If Edwards did endorse a candidate I would say that Obama would be the best choice for Edwards. Obama is seen as an outsider and not one of the corporate favs, which would make him a more attractive endorsement than Clinton. But then we go to the trade deals like NAFTA, Obama is opposed, but as I have already said, he voted for the Peruvian trade deal, something that Edwards was opposed to from the start. Edwards would have to explain his endorsement. He could say that as a whole he agrees with Obama except on some minor level.
So an Obama endorsement would be an easier one to explain. But will he endorse? IMO, he will step back from both candidates and endorse neither. To endorse either Obama or Clinton would be a smudge on his political reputation and I believe he wants to avoid that in case he decides to pursue further elected offices. His strength is with the workers and he will not chance destroying that support