Reply #28: I think that Edwards has no easy way to bow out [View All]

[karynnj]

His supporters still see him as viable because he is doing about the same as he did in 2004. In places like, Elizabeth Edwards's book, she writes that had Dean bowed out before Wisconsin, endorsing Edwards, he would have won. The numbers really don't bear that out. They would see him dropping out now as a betrayal - giving up rather than trying. The other thing is he may be hoping that either will implode and feel that that could give him a shot. (Given his stand that he would have fought conceding in 2004 - this would seem to hurt his chance of ever running again for anything.)

The other thing that might make it harder is that unlike Dodd, Biden and Richardson he does not have a place of power to return to. I seriously doubt he will be chosen as VP and I doubt he will be appointed to a cabinet. (I've seen AG - but he was a trial lawyer. I also don't get the sense that he is, like Kerry, a very meticulous lawyer who would take great care in not bringing spectaular high profile cases unless he can prove them. Without that he is a landmine.) The others have a shot at VP or the cabinet, but even without that they are in high offices.

The other thing is their personal situation. It may be that the campaign is what keeps them going emotionally. Not that it keeps them from dealing with her health, but that in a sense, it keeps them focused on something else.