# 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:** 2
**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, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/21 "2008-01-30T18:54:32Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] 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? [/QUOTE] I think it doubles the bang he gets for the buck. Look what he did today. The Florida primary was last night. But are we talking about McCain’s win, or Hillary’s sorta win? Nope, we’re talking about Edwards. And so Edwards is completely undercutting everyone’s Florida bounce. The thing is, he only gets one news cycle out of his withdrawal, whether he endorses anyone today or not. But if he calls another news conference for 1pm Friday to announce an endorsement, he’ll get another day’s worth of coverage out of the deal. So it’s two bites at the apple: two chances to get on the news to talk about what he was running for, two chances to move the national dialogue a few centimeters his way. That’s the one thing he has successfully done, btw. Hillary and Obama have universal and near-universal health care plans because of Edwards’ doing so first. Same thing for viable plans to deal with climate change. Same thing for a bunch of other stuff, too: this campaign is being fought on turf well to the left of where it was a year ago, and John Edwards is the reason. So he converts his withdrawal and endorsement (assuming there is one) into two separate opportunities to get the country’s attention - something that’s eluded him for most of the past year. Good on him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/22 "2008-01-30T18:57:50Z")
So what does he do after that? ---
**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, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/23 "2008-01-30T19:06:57Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] 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? [/QUOTE] Meh. He’s not obliged to endorse anybody, just like he was not obliged to drop out early (despite the tone some people took) just because he wasn’t winning. And yes, there’s another reason not to endorse: he can wait to see which candidate, if either, does more to address the issues Edwards focused on. You say he doesn’t want to back a loser, but if he waits too long, his endorsement won’t matter anyway. I think he’ll probably throw his lot behind somebody in the next few days. ---
**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, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/24 "2008-01-30T19:22:58Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] Hillary and Obama have universal and near-universal health care plans because of Edwards’ doing so first. [/QUOTE] I thought that was Hillary’s idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/25 "2008-01-30T22:19:59Z")
Just heard on the radio, Edwards said he will consult with both candidates before deciding whom to endorse. (Translation: “So, what’s it worth to ya?” 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/26 "2008-01-30T22:22:28Z")
Gah. Another sleaze bucket. I guess he’ll go back to suing people so he can help the poor. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/27 "2008-01-30T22:23:33Z")
[QUOTE=RTFirefly] 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. [/QUOTE] Are in North Carolina? If not, have him run in your state. He was useless as a Senator once. We don’t need another dose of absentee representation. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/28 "2008-01-30T22:48:56Z")
From Salon: > [@](#): > > “I can say this, that, you know, being a Southerner, being an American who’s been completely devastated by the trade policies of the Clintons, I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that he does not endorse Hillary Clinton.” – Dave “Mudcat” Saunders, a senior advisor to former Sen. John Edwards’ now-defunct presidential campaign, during an appearance on MSNBC earlier Wednesday. ---
**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, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/29 "2008-01-30T22:51:47Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] I thought that was Hillary’s idea. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Trying to pass UHC in 1994 was Hillary’s idea. Running on UHC in 2008 wasn’t - at least not until it was Edwards’ idea. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/30 "2008-01-30T23:04:43Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Gah. Another sleaze bucket. I guess he’ll go back to suing people so he can help the poor. [/QUOTE] When someone with no money is physically harmed as a result of negligence of some corporation, what are they supposed to do? Hope that the corporation will make them whole out of the goodness of their heart? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/31 "2008-01-30T23:11:20Z")
BTW, he’ll endorse Obama. If he endorses Hillary after all the crap he said about her, he’ll sink even lower in my estimation. Which is hard to do, since I already hold him in low esteem. ---
**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, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/32 "2008-01-30T23:20:22Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I guess he’ll go back to suing people so he can help the poor. [/QUOTE] Hmm. I thought libertarian theory saw lawsuits (rather than government regulation) as the best way to address negligence and manufacturing defects. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/33 "2008-01-31T21:34:30Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Which is hard to do, since I already hold him in low esteem. [/QUOTE] I’m sure he’d be heartbroken to hear that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/34 "2008-01-31T21:36:04Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Hmm. I thought libertarian theory saw lawsuits (rather than government regulation) as the best way to address negligence and manufacturing defects. [/QUOTE] That would be true. Except that in **Liberal** ’s libertarian utopia, all the people are “peaceful honest people” holding hands, so nobody ever needs to sue anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/35 "2008-01-31T21:42:24Z")
[QUOTE=Phlosphr] If he drops out today, [or after super tuesday] who would he most likely endorse? And why? [/QUOTE] Now that we have had a few days, it sure did look like the jerk endorsed himself. I am so happy he was unable to drum up any real support in his home state. I will be happier if neither candidate offers him a post in the cabinet. I will be pissed if either is dumb enough to even entertain allowing this baggage to run as VP. Jim ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/36 "2008-01-31T21:59:54Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] I am so happy he was unable to drum up any real support in his home state. I will be happier if neither candidate offers him a post in the cabinet. [/QUOTE] Why? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/37 "2008-01-31T22:01:51Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Hmm. I thought libertarian theory saw lawsuits (rather than government regulation) as the best way to address negligence and manufacturing defects. [/QUOTE] Not in my study of it. I’ve consistently said that I favor strong regulation against coercion and fraud. And penalties for those should include loss of property _and_ liberty (what you might call criminal and civil). Government itself should “bring suit” on behalf of people who are victims of such things. That’s what it’s for. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2008, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/38 "2008-01-31T22:11:15Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Not in my study of it. I’ve consistently said that I favor strong regulation against coercion and fraud. And penalties for those should include loss of property _and_ liberty (what you might call criminal and civil). Government itself should “bring suit” on behalf of people who are victims of such things. That’s what it’s for. [/QUOTE] !!! I had thought valuing the Anglo-American legal system and tradition, including plaintiffs taking their own private actions on their own judgment and initiative to redress their private wrongs before an impartial state adjudicator, was pretty central to the American libertarian tradition. I could see hard-core Libs wanting to replace the state adjudicator with a private one, but not going the other way and expanding the state’s role and introducing the state’s discretion into that sphere. Remember, John Edwards made a legal career out of doing things for injured persons that the state **wasn’t** doing at that time and never has. Should it take over what he does? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2008, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/39 "2008-02-01T13:21:56Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Remember, John Edwards made a legal career out of doing things for injured persons that the state **wasn’t** doing at that time and never has. Should it take over what he does? [/QUOTE] Or, more importantly, should citizens have no recourse if government fails to act on their behalf? **Lib** , ISTM that your solution would put greater trust in government than I would, by a few orders of magnitude. Nothing wrong with that, but it sure isn’t libertarianism. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579/40 "2008-02-01T13:54:34Z")
[QUOTE=What Exit?] Now that we have had a few days, it sure did look like the jerk endorsed himself. [/QUOTE] ‘A few days’? At the time of your post, it was 27 hours since Edwards announced his withdrawal from the race. I mean, what with the Internet, I know we want everything to happen right _now_, but sheesh, let’s be real. So, which douchebag do you support? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-edwards-drops-out-today-in-new-orleans-who-will-he-most-likely-endorse/435579.md?page=3)