# If Edwards drops out today in New Orleans: Who will he most likely endorse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 30, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579 "2008-01-30T14:15:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/1 "2008-01-30T14:15:08Z")
There is speculation Edwards may drop out today at a news conference at noon in New Orleans - the very place he said he’d be runnig for POTUS. If he drops out today, [or after super tuesday] who would he most likely endorse? And why? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/2 "2008-01-30T14:17:09Z")
I find the timing of this very confusing - why not wait until Tuesday if you’ve been doing it for this long? While I’ve never expected him to be a VP choice for Clinton or Obama, it does make me wonder if some kind of deal was struck. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/3 "2008-01-30T14:19:42Z")
Edwards has been pretty firm that he wasn’t interested in being a running mate; he’s also said he’ll stay in through Super Tuesday. But things like that have a way of changing. I’ve already voted for him (this year, any Georgia resident can use an absentee ballot); what I’m wondering is, if he drops out before next Tuesday, what happens to my vote? ---
**Author:** ![Whiteknight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whiteknight/32/4962_2.png) [@Whiteknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiteknight)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/4 "2008-01-30T14:21:19Z")
It’s on CNN now, he’d dropping out. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/5 "2008-01-30T14:23:25Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] I’ve already voted for him (this year, any Georgia resident can use an absentee ballot); what I’m wondering is, if he drops out before next Tuesday, what happens to my vote? [/QUOTE] He’ll still be on all the ballots, so he’ll get your vote. But I guess his delegates will be freed up. That may or may not be a big deal on its own, but if he endorses somebody - more likely Obama than Clinton in my opinion - _that_ could be big. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/6 "2008-01-30T14:33:19Z")
I thought he had some arrangement with Hillary Clinton. She told him over a live microphone at one point, “our people need to talk.” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/7 "2008-01-30T14:34:53Z")
… and then there were two. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/8 "2008-01-30T14:35:30Z")
According to the earliest stories, he is not planning to endorse anyone today. ---
**Author:** ![Baldwin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baldwin/32/7264_2.png) [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/9 "2008-01-30T14:37:14Z")
Nuts! I really thought he was the best candidate. He was almost ignored in the media because of the concentration on the supposed drama of having a serious female candidate and a serious black candidate. I’ve got the naive habit of voting based on a candidate’s platform, which may be why my primary picks rarely get the nomination. (I remember voting for Bob Kerrey in 1992; still think he would have been a good President.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/10 "2008-01-30T14:38:41Z")
[Link to WaPo story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/30/AR2008013001069.html?hpid=topnews). Not much there - the AP story that they’d had up earlier said more than that. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/11 "2008-01-30T14:44:06Z")
Despite the AG rumors, I’d like to see Edwards run for Senate this year. Liddy Dole isn’t well thought of, but the NC Dems haven’t been able to recruit a decent opponent. Edwards could step in and win. And every step closer to a filibuster-proof 60-Dem Senate is big. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/12 "2008-01-30T14:46:15Z")
[QUOTE=Baldwin] I’ve already voted for him (this year, any Georgia resident can use an absentee ballot); what I’m wondering is, if he drops out before next Tuesday, what happens to my vote? [/QUOTE] As I understand it, if Edwards doesn’t get 15% (which he surely won’t now), his vote total gets split evenly between the remaining candidates for purposes of allotting delegates. So, in effect, you cast half a vote for Hillary and half a vote for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/13 "2008-01-30T14:48:49Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I thought he had some arrangement with Hillary Clinton. She told him over a live microphone at one point, “our people need to talk.” [/QUOTE] I believe that’s changed…I’ll try and dig up a cite. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/14 "2008-01-30T14:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I thought he had some arrangement with Hillary Clinton. She told him over a live microphone at one point, “our people need to talk.” [/QUOTE] Yeah, but as I understood it, the thing they were talking about was not joining forces, but how to get the lower tier candidates (like Kucinich) out of the debates. I do suspect _some sort_ of deal with _someone_ has been reached; otherwise, he might as well have stayed in the race until Tuesday. So who does this help? I think it helps Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/15 "2008-01-30T14:55:23Z")
Given Mrs. Edward’s health, I’m not sure John would be looking for an arrangement for a job right now. That might be a factor in why he is bowing out now as well. Why blow a big chunk of the remaining time they have together on a campaign that can’t win? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/16 "2008-01-30T14:59:17Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] If he drops out today, [or after super tuesday] who would he most likely endorse? And why? [/QUOTE] [Ted Gibson.](http://www.drugstore.com/templates/brand/default.asp?brand=46300&aid=336064&aparam=ted_gibson) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anduril](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Anduril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anduril)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/17 "2008-01-30T15:05:52Z")
If Edwards is leaning towards Obama, it would have been better for Obama if Edwards remained in the fight than not. Anytime Edwards gets 15%, that’s another 15% that he could give to Obama come convention time. Anytime it get’s lower, it gets split anyway. Edwards dropping out benefits Clinton because they will be vying now for Edwards vote and it seems that the demographics favor Clinton. Even if it favors no particular candidate, it’s still better for Clinton than having Edwards give a straight out gift to Obama of his delegates in a brokered convention. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/18 "2008-01-30T15:10:58Z")
I smell a deal with both candidates remaining not to endorse either one- with a non-VP award like Attorney General possibly on the way to the Supreme Court as a reward. I believe that he feels passionately about his goals, and he is still a very young man politics-wise. Returning to the Senate would be a lateral move and more importantly would reduce his impact in areas that he cares about. I anticipate a speech that is strongly anti-republican and saying what many Democrats have been saying, that this has been an exceptionally strong field and that anyone who wins the primary will be good for America. In some peoples minds this will be tantamount to an Obama endorsement, but Hillary second-choicers will be allowed to comfortably stay in their mindset. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/19 "2008-01-30T18:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Lance Murdoch] Given Mrs. Edward’s health, I’m not sure John would be looking for an arrangement for a job right now. That might be a factor in why he is bowing out now as well. Why blow a big chunk of the remaining time they have together on a campaign that can’t win? [/QUOTE] They’re both political junkies who are in a position where they can actually make a difference. Perhaps Elizabeth’s thought is that, if she’s only got a year left on earth, this is how she wants to spend it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/20 "2008-01-30T18:27:14Z")
I kind of feel that his not endorsing someone right now is a bit of a cop-out. He knows the candidates already, the only reason to wait is to try and figure out who is likely to win so he can ride that rocket. Don’t want to back a loser, do you? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579.md?page=2)