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Nearly 50 Edwards Backers Endorse Obama

Posted by JOE GANDELMAN, Editor-In-Chief in Politics.
Apr 23rd, 2008 | Comments

Former Senator John Edwards hasn’t endorsed a candidate yet and rumors (just that at this point) continue to swirl that his wife Elizabeth Edwards could be on the verge of endorsing Senator Hillary Clinton. But now some 50 Edwards backers have come out for Senator Barack Obama:

No, John Edwards has not yet endorsed a candidate.

But nearly 50 of his most prominent backers lined up behind Senator Barack Obama today, in a gesture designed to give Mr. Obama a heavy boost of support less than two weeks before the North Carolina primary on May 6.

The group includes Ed Turlington, Mr. Edwards’s former national general campaign chairman; three North Carolina members of Congress; and 46 local activists, philanthropists and business leaders, among others. (Not surprisingly, given Mr. Edwards’s background, the list holds the names of 20 lawyers.)

Mr. Turlington, speaking from his law office in Raleigh, said that he had not expected to endorse a candidate after Mr. Edwards dropped out of the race on Jan. 30.

“I thought I was going to be on the sidelines,” Mr. Turlington said, adding that he made the decision about 10 days ago, after speaking to Mr. Obama. “I think his candidacy is doing a lot of important things that are similar to themes that John Edwards ran on.”

Is this a sign that some Democrats want to see this over? But will it be over? Or is this destined no matter what happens to fought all the way to the convention?

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KateStone

The 50 Edwards folks may have some local clout but none on a national level -- in my humble opinion.

The national clout is with Elizabeth Edwards. If, and I underscore if, Elizabeth Edwards endorses Hillary Clinton it will force female fence sitters to go with Hillary. Elizabeth Edwards is held in the highest esteem Nationally by a broad range of women and her endorsement -- and especially if she campaigns for Clinton -- will push many over to the Clinton camp.

I was an Edwards supporter, a fence sitter, fully supported Obama and now lean towards him the longer this campaign goes on. If Elizabeth Edwards supports Hillary or Obama it will be a major endorsement and bring in lots of women's votes.

DLS

"The 50 Edwards folks may have some local clout but none on a national level -- in my humble opinion."

It's just a cheering point for the more naive, idealistic Obama kids. Obama is the leader, still, but it's a much closer race than the conceited claim, and Clinton has not yet reached the point where she has to see her campaign in the same light as Albert Speer saw prospects for his nation and its war in, oh, early 1945. Not yet.

StockBoySF

I agree with the post that said this move is designed to give Obama a boost before NC. Sure I could care less (as I sit here in California) if Mr. Turlington whoever of Raleigh, NC endorses Obama. But the support of a lot of NC business leaders and attorneys will influence the NC vote. And it's these votes that count on May 6 when NC votes, and not what the national polls say.

While the endorsement by these leaders may influence the outcome in NC, DLS is right that a lot of naive Obama supporters will use this as a reason to cheer . On the one hand it is a cheering point, but most importantly we need to keep this in perspective.

Reaching the nomination is like climbing a ladder and this endorsement definitely helps Obama up a rung. But Obama still has to make the effort to reach the top.

mbwilliams

It is sad John Edwards won't come out and endorse Obama when it matters most, prior to the North Carolina primary. It would be ashame if the "good ol boy" mentality of the time of his childhood of always keeping women and Blacks in their place is the 'thing' his ego just can't get over. He wouldn't be the first white male politician from the north or south to feel this way. His endorsement at best would have been a positive and obvious approval of the candidate he showed in debate after debate he had the most in common with. To hear his wife is considering endorsing Clinton is not only a bad indication of who John Edwards might endorse but it just doesn't make any sense.

Sour Grapes is the real issue here in my opinion as I'm sure it still smarts that he could not beat Obama in any state before he dropped out of the race and only faired better once against Clinton, if I'm not mistaken, in Iowa. Clinton and her team planned poorly in the beginning and underestimated Obama. Edwards and his people did an even worse job overall and paid the price. If he doesn't endorse now with a majority of his original supporters, it will be just another indicator of his lack of judgement, planning and forsight. After North Carolina any importance held by Edwards of his endorsement will only be relavant to whom he gives his super delegate vote to.

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