January 30th, 2008
01:30 PM ET
15 years ago
Edwards steps aside
(CNN) - Former Sen. John Edwards dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday.
"It is time for me to step aside so that history can blaze its path," Edwards said in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Edwards said he couldn't predict "who will take the final steps to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.," but he said it will be a Democrat.
Its a sad day. I am an Obama fan. But John has always been my second choice. I will have preferred him to stay in the contest for a while. However, I think God is working. The exit of John may hasten the change we all prefer. May the good Lord bless him and his family.
Bev, you all wanted a "Change" after Bill Clinton and that was what Bush was supose to be! Got your wish and what a tragic mistake that turned out to be. So, it's now 2008 and everyones listning to the same battle cry from Sen. Obama, who does not have the experience yet to run the greatest country on earth We can all agree with the 'Change" retoric" but we need someone that has been under fire before and come out of it ready to do battle again, and that's what Hillary Clinton can do. We don't want Obama and have trial and error untill his on the job training is over.
John was the only candidate...who would have definitely shaken up things in the White House and Capital Hill.
The special interests–and party establishment have won–again.
You can tell...not much will happen with Obama or Clinton–look at how the party establishment has flocked to them–each with their own contingent of special interests, PAC',s huddled under their loffty wings.
BS On this...
I may not even bother to vote in the general election. What does it matter–all we get is more of the same...and anybody who believes the individual voter can change things against the monolithic powers that control our government is just being too idealistic. Those days, if they were ever here, are gone now.
It's sad that John Edwards has to give up now. It's supprising that he is not endorsing a canditate who is willing to fight against special interest and washington lobby. American only hope is to believe that he won't side with the status quo represented by the destructive Clinton family and etal. Time will tell about what Edwards really believes in : chance or the status quo.
He helped keep the focus on less fortunate amongst us, and for that I thank him.
Poor Mr. Edwards! I wish everybody else had given you more of a chance. You could have been a great president.
GRAVEL SHOULD BE THE ONE TO STEP ASIDE!!!!!!!!!! HE'S GOT NOTHING!!!!!!
Brando,
Obama polls at a statistical tie with McCain right now. Hillary trails McCain, who she cannot beat. McCain is strong with moderates and bad with conservatives. If there is anything that can get conservatives together and to the polls, its the chance to vote agianst Hillary.
Don't rule out an Independent. There is a swelling group of voters that don't like either the Dem or GOP party politics and can swing a close election to a strong third option. Obama is probably picking up many of those votes in the primaries because he represents change, however the election of a third party candidate would provide the gretest opportunity to fix the political machinery Washington = and add some very needed diversity.
Barack has made a deal with Kerry dont you know that ?
HII MYYY NAMEEEE ISSS JOHNNNN EDWARDSSSSSS, That was going to get annoyning real quick.
Great man that fights poverty and corporate greed! Now we democrats must rally around the only true change candidate left, Barack Obama!
I have had great respect for you since 2003. It is to bad your campaign was over shadowed by a woman and a black man.
If democrates do get into the White House you as Attorney General could fix many things that have gone wrong in the past 8 years i.e. torcher, miss appropriation of are tax dollars.
Thank you for standing up for poverty and us veterans.
CLINTON/OBAMA...the ONLY way to defeat the Repubs!!!!!! GO FOR IT AMERICA!!!
I see the Clinton Machine is doing damage control again. Worst fear. Edwards drops and his supporters go predominately to Obama. Oh, yes, let's pull what we have in common with Edwards, he's white and I'm white. Pathetic. Another wheel falls off the Clinton wagon. LOL
I agree with you Scott and the American people are too inept to see through the muck and mire. The Bushes and Clintons sit around in their private homes laughing at the country probably saying, "We have these American Fools" by the neck.
Bush
Clinton
Bush
Clinton
Bush
Clinton
By the way, Bill will be running the White House if Hilliary wins the election. Mark my word.
Careful Lester, your ignorance is showing.
"Populist rich greedy trial lawyers" don't devote their lives to helping the poor. Check your facts.
John Edwards never had a chance. It has been impossible to cut through the media frenzy surrounding the black candidate and the female candidate, not to mention the Bill Clinton coverage. The question is not whether this country is ready for a black president or a female president but whether the black candidate and the female candidate can lead the country. The media has hurt this country by focusing on the racial and gender differences between the candidates. The media has put such a spin on this campaign that it has hurt the American people. Now what? I am sick of the four candidates that are left standing.
Obama has spent his entire life becoming a political insider, whether it was his time in Illinois or in Washington. When you do that in Illinois you get dirty and if he wins the primary the Republicans have the dirt to dish out. I live in Illinois and it doesn't matter if it is a small rural area or the big city you get your political power by being on the right side of power. Its just that the big city gets more attention.
Edwards for Attorney General – and still my comment is awaiting moderation
Edwards was and remains a fool. His proposed policies were garbage and his departure is long overdue. Remember, he was a scumbag plaintiffs attorney who took 40% of the jury award from his injured clients (and 33% of any settlement). I also think it was in very poor taste to use his wife's illness for sympathy. Thank god the smart democrats (those outside the 14% who supported Edwards) saw what this man really is and decided to vote for better candidates. He made me miss Kucinich! Oh and by the way, it is easy for someone to take from others when he already has his "tobacco" money. HE wanted power and would have treated the presidency inappropriately.
An Obama-Edwards ticket would be absolutely perfect for the general election. And who says that VP is only a figurehead position? Just look at Dick Cheney and "all that he's done" for our country [not to mention the things we won't ever get to hear about.]. No, the VP is the one that could potentially hold all the power–after all, VP's have no term limits, anyway.
I guess Bill, though, is realizing that his terms aren't necessarily limited, either. Hillary is a great avenue for him to return to the White House. Let us PLEASE fight the Clinton and Bush dynasties. Out with the Washingtonians!
Obama & Edwards 2008!
You know, some of these comments in here make me realize why this country is in a downward spiral: there are very, very few intelligent people here in the grand ol' US of A.
To all who make comments. Although you will have no problem using Hillary's FULL name, do not use Barak's FULL name as the moderator DOES NOT LIKE THAT.
I wonder why???
Just more CNN bias. CNN shame on you.
carol January 30, 2008 1:58 pm ET
Don't step aside – Move over to Hillary! You are a workhorse like she is a workhorse! .
Carol we don't need a " WorkHorse " We need Leadership. All a "workHorse" Does is go where it is lead and does what it is told without fuss or fight.
We just had 7 years of that. let's get the one who LEADS the Workhorses and THINKS to do the Job now ok?
I do like Edwards though...... for VP
Why pull out before Super Tuesday??? You did not give the Silent Majority a chance to make a choice. A lot of the Silent Majority was backing you-they wanted to vote Democratic. I guess I will wait to see what Independent runs or I may be forced to "hold my nose" and vote Republican again.