Edwards is doing this for the Democratic Party [View All]

[Barack_America]

And that's it. Not for Hillary. Not for Obama.

John McCain is now the undisputed front-runner in the Republican race, having won a Republican-only primary. The Republican field is now effectively reduced to McCain and Romney, with Guiliani dropping out and Huckabee essentially eliminated.

John McCain is now likely to win the Republican nomination and the threat of a brokered convention for the Republicans is lessened.

McCain also has significant appeal to centrists and Independents, groups that Democrats need to attract.

Edwards likely realized some time ago that, for whatever reason, securing the Democratic nomination would be difficult, if not impossible. However, he obviously realized that his campaign might secure enough delegates to force a brokered convention for the Democrats.

A protracted battle amongst Democrats only helps one man, John McCain.

I think that John Edwards is stepping back to prevent that from happening. His loyalty is to Democrats and Democratic principles, not Hillary or Obama.

That's what I think, anyway.