Obama Campaign Silent On Talk Of Edwards Endorsement
Mark Halperin suggests that an Edwards endorsement of Obama may be imminent, and reports that he posed the following question to six senior Obama officials -- with no answer:
"Is John Edwards endorsing Barack Obama today?"
Following up on Halperin, my experience has been the same. The Obama campaign won't say whether Edwards is endorsing him today. They're saying nothing. Radio silence from an Edwards spokesperson, too.
Obama's one remaining public event today is at 6:30 P.M. in Grand Rapids. Stay tuned.
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Oh, Idiotic...
May 14, 2008 4:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES THEY CAN!
May 14, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on, John.
Time to step up to the plate.
May 14, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
He just did. It's official
May 14, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
What does the silence suggest to you guys ? I would think they would want to deny it if it was someone of a lesser calibre, right ?
May 14, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is their silence normal when this question is posed (I assume it has been posed in other instances)? Do they typically rule out individuals?
In short, can you give us a little more context so we can read the tea leaves a little better? Thanks.
May 14, 2008 4:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hah! See below....
May 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you clarify what you mean by "saying nothing"? Are you asking via e-mail, IM, leaving phone messages?
I'm just curious.
And do the Obama or Edwards camp often "say nothing" (however that may be) when asked questions?
May 14, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like we are all on the same page!
May 14, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wait, what has the CLINTON campaign said about this? When the Kennedy endorsement came, they leaked it early....
May 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
They probably don't want to leak it early so that it doesn't overshadow her interviews which are scheduled to air right before.
May 14, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The silence says something to me - wouldn't they start denying if it was out of the question?
May 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Originally they scheduled it for 7. This makes me suspect even more strongly that it's Edwards - maybe they think the media is going to get the complete scoop before the actual announcement takes place.
May 14, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wanted to go to the laundromat before the after-work people get in and all but now I have to wait to know who it is.
I am gonna be pissed if it is a lame one LOL
May 14, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet it's Jimmy Carter!!!
May 14, 2008 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mr. Uncommiteds Merge in Michigan
May 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
My guess, if not Edwards, it's Sen. Jim Webb. Both would kill the bump of momentum she got from her win non-win yesterday and kill it completely.
hehehehehe
May 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go, Johnny Go -- Johnny B. Goode.
May 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Edwards should have endorsed him way earlier. Atleast around PA primary.
But better late than never.
Now his endorsement says: It's Over.
One of last nails on the coffin...Gore will be the last one.
May 14, 2008 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think that he had to wait until after NC. It would have been embarassing to him if he endorsed one candidate or the other and it made no difference in NC. Now that NC is past, he is free to endorse without any such risk.
May 14, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Personally, I don't think his endorsement per se carries much weight this late in the game. What will be interesting, if this is true, is if he asks his supporters (i.e. delegates) to now support Obama. That would be a real pickup for Obama.
May 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It would be a big deal as for delegates. His delegates are free to vote for whoever but if they stayed faithful to him that long we can assume they would follow his instructions.
And that would make a deal for FL easier as, if JRE delegates transfer to Obama, she would end up getting only 25 more delegates out of FL which, while nothing to spit on, would not change anything to the math.
May 14, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
He ended up with about 20+ delegates total, right? Nothing to sneeze at.
May 14, 2008 5:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
WHOEVER IT IS THEY ARE A JUDAS!!!!
May 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's that....
May 14, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Haha, yeah, just like Richardson, Kennedy and now NARAL, how DARE they deny Hillary the endorsement she says she is entitled???
May 14, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is JRE. Read Marc Ambinder's blog for more.
May 14, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to be both catty and tacky and say that if it is Edwards, I guess he finally stood up to Elizabeth. For once.
LOL!
(don't jump on me - I like her. This is a tongue in cheek comment.)
May 14, 2008 4:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually it is not that catty. I am curious as to whether she will be there tonight too.
I don't think so. I don't think she is ready. But I wish she would so that we don't hear the same people attacking NARAL attack JRE.
May 14, 2008 5:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish she would, too, but I don't know - I couldn't call that one to save my life.
May 14, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
This would actually be a pretty good time for him to endorse, and he would regain alot of respect from me if he actually did.
I ain't holding my breath, though.
May 14, 2008 5:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's no mention of Edwards or a forthcoming endorsement anywhere on the page that link takes you to. Not in his video either. Am I missing something?
May 14, 2008 5:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. Go to ThePage.Time.Com for the latest.
Halperin says Edwards boarded a plane this pm. Announcement timeline is now a window - between 6:15pm and 7:15pm. All Edwards staff, says Marc Ambinder, have been unavailable this afternoon.
It's him. And yes, that's still big news, esp. considering he will probably throw his delegates to Obama.
May 14, 2008 5:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, you mean this link: http://thepage.time.com/
May 14, 2008 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's the only thing that makes sense when explaining his prolonged silence the past few months....I still have to marinate on how I would feel about it now.
May 14, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know this endorsement doesn't mean anything, but can't help but be giddy. Stage 5 (Fieldhands will know what I mean), here I come....
May 14, 2008 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
You all are way off base. I have contacts on the inside, well placed contacts that know everything. I know who is set to endorse the O Man.
Are you sure you can handle it?
Are you sitting down?
Allright, tonights endorsement will be coming from.............................................................. BILL CLINTON!!!!
You heard it here first true believers. Bill clinton, citing the nastiness of his wifes campaign, the blantent playing of the race card, and the unbelievable pandering (not to mention the awful pants suits) has decided to endorse Obama.
Take it to the bank!
May 14, 2008 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
lol.....nice...
May 14, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
JE endorsement is a few months too late.
May 14, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I stand by my previous comments that Edwards' endorsement doesn't mean much in terms of primary contests. But from a momentum standpoint, and his 20 delegates, it's a big deal. 20 delegates is a good chunk when we're talking less than 150 to clinch.
May 14, 2008 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree. Those delegates would be huge, and swamp the WV results. Also reinforces the media narrative that West Virginia was "nice" for the Clintons, but barely a drop of spit in a huge bucket.
May 14, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'd expect them to spend a day or so in Eastern Kentucky.
Anybody know if Edwards will still be on the Kentucky ballot?
May 14, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does anything make a difference at this point?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMkth8FWno
I'm not the first to make this comparison, I'm sure.
May 14, 2008 5:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oddly enough Dana Milbank wrote a Hill-areous story today comparing the Clinton campaign to the dead parrott sketch.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/13/AR2008051302862.html
Customer: "Look, matey, I know a dead parrot when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now."
Pet-shop owner: "No, no he's not dead, he's -- he's resting! Remarkable bird, the Norwegian blue, isn't it, aye? Beautiful plumage!"
-- From "Monty Python's Flying Circus"
11:45 a.m., Melrose Hotel, Foggy Bottom: It's Day 7 of the Clinton Campaign Death Watch -- a full week since the official arbiter of the Democratic primary, Tim Russert, declared the campaign over and Barack Obama the nominee. Hillary Clinton's advisers continue to insist that the candidate's prospects are very much alive, but the press isn't buying it. Exhibit A: There are two press buses waiting at the hotel here for Clinton's trip to her victory rally in West Virginia, but the entire press contingent doesn't quite fill one. It isn't until the entourage arrives at Dulles Airport that Clinton aides learn that the second bus is still idling, empty, at the hotel.
May 14, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, saw that one. Also very applicable to Hillary's campaign.
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's sadly not a new idea. Andrew Sullivan had the same thing up last week from someone else.
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/05/hillary-clinton-pinin-for-the.html
May 14, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cant say it enough....the only thing that makes up for him being silent that makes sense. I know allot of people like him, but by being silent after so much admiration, allot of people are pissed at him. I being on of them. So thats the only difference it makes, it's better for him to do it, than not! They're politicians.
May 14, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Edwards!
Mark Halperin says:
Obama campaign touts big evening endorsement between 6:15 pm ET and 7:15 pm ET.
Urges/expects significant television coverage of major endorsement.
Developing...
http://thepage.time.com/
May 14, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's Edwards!
Mark Halperin says:
Obama campaign touts big evening endorsement between 6:15 pm ET and 7:15 pm ET.
Urges/expects significant television coverage of major endorsement.
Developing...
http://thepage.time.com/
May 14, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sure why not?
Gets crushed in election in WV, endorse the loser.
This election is a joke.
May 14, 2008 5:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are the most hypocritical whiner on the internet.
Congradulations, that is quite an accomplishment.
Is Eric Cartman your hero?
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
wah
wah
wah
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Gotalife made poopy in his pampers.
May 14, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotalife - once again - bringing in the A+ (game).
Like Gotalife - it makes me SO ANGRY when a democracy doesn't do what I WANT! What a joke!
What I'm not joking about though is Gotalife's never ending commitment to excellence, and grammar. Good on ya'!
May 14, 2008 5:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are so pathetic. I kinda feel sorry for you.
Maybe it's just me, but somewhere along the line, Senator Clinton's campaign seems to have stopped functioning as an actual candidacy, sharing the same party and most of the same issues as Senator Obama's... and now it increasingly serves as a badge of pain, pride, entitlement, and self-victimization, frozen in time like a confederate flag on the back of a busted up pick-up truck.
Meanwhile, for people like me who strongly supported Gore's entry into the race, or others who favored Edwards, Kucinich, etc., well... we've already moved on long ago, to the point that most of us are pretty content with things as they stand.
Perhaps Hillary's diehards will decide they don't want to buy into the whole self-victimization thing, because there is, in fact, life after the Democratic primaries, even if your candidate loses.
May 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's official - AP confirms
May 14, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is Edwards according to ABC News...
confirmed by the Clinton campaign.
Edwards might help him to get more votes in kentucky...
May 14, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
CNN just confirmed, too.
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just thinking ahead, if it is Edwards, and Obama does get those delegates, this would be a pretty big chunk and could lead to a theory I've had for a couple of days now.
I was thinking he had planned to roll out enough superdelegates to put him in range of winning outright (under the current 2025 total) by next Tuesday and letting the results from Oregon and Kentucky put him over the top. Then I started to think he couldn't make it since the supers weren't coming out in support in quite the volume he would need to do that. However, if he can get all (or a big chunk) of Edwards' delegates, then maybe my theory has some weight to it.
Granted, even with that the question of MI/FL still comes into play, but he'd have a huge night on Tuesday if he could come right out and say that as things stand now, he has the nomination.
May 14, 2008 5:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
What I'm interested to see is if this opens up another SD spigot. It feels like the superdelegates dried up a bit today, perhaps rattled by Hillary's WVa win and promise to stay on. An Edwards endorsement could get that spigot flowing again by showing one of the major Democratic hold-outs making a commitment.
Just a theory. I hope it's right.
May 14, 2008 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
You gotta love the way the Obama campaign is run. No drama. No leaks. No assumptions. Just focus and elbow grease.
Hillary can talk about working hard and ready on day one, but this machine that Obama has put together is really impressive.
Oh, and welcome on board John.
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I do love his campaign. I think he has one of the best run campaigns I've seen maybe ever.
I'd rather have Edwards' endorsement than not, and I appreciate his delegates no end, if Obama gets them, and I'm assuming he will. I'm not overwhelmed with joy for a lot of reasons - the main one being that Barack has been the nominee now for months.
But it's certainly very nice indeed.
May 14, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's a well-disciplined group. And the campaign, when viewed from the lens of May 14, has been a smoothly run event.
I keep going back to Obama's comment last summer to the Wall Street types. If you want to know how I'll run the government, watch how I run my campaign.
Or words to that effect.
May 14, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
ABC confirms it, too. Says he gave the Clinton camp a heads-up.
May 14, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
If this election had been contested under Republican rules, John Edwards would be endorsing Hillary.
May 14, 2008 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm still in the "Who care what Edwards says?" camp. I still really don't care who he endorses.
May 14, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
But what about his delegates?
May 14, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is my question too. Didn't he have something like 32 pledged delegates?
May 14, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
He had 19 according to CNN.
May 14, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
In truth, I imagine a lot of those delegates would split for Obama anyway. Having Edwards urge them at the convention to support Barack would seal the deal on that, though.
May 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's late, but if there's anything that slams home the fact that this thing is over for Hillary, it's Edwards finally coming out after waiting all this time. In a way, that helps Obama. People have now got it in their heads that Edwards is simply waiting for the eventual winner. For many people out there, including some of Clinton's most ardent supporters, an Edwards endorsement by definition means that this thing has been decided.
May 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. It's about perception (and delegates) more than upcoming primaries.
May 14, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's official! http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Edwards.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
May 14, 2008 5:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's official!!!
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/05/edwards-to-endo.html
May 14, 2008 5:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, maybe one good thing about JE endorsement, this story changes the media narrative. HRC WV win is no longer news. For the next 48hrs its going to be about JE and how he helps BO!
May 14, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, and another thing occurs to me. They are doing this in Michigan. One way to possibly help defuse any Democratic resentment about Obama supposedly ignoring Michigan. This makes me think he'll have something significant planned for Florida as well, soon.
May 14, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
May 14, 2008 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You gotta feel for HRC. She gets her best press since the PA primary, makes a dent in the "drop out" narrative, and less than 24 hours later Obama hits her with this. Dang.
May 14, 2008 5:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do I have to? I really would rather not.
May 14, 2008 5:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I got your back on this - no you don't have to.
:)
May 14, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I caught the snippet on CNN when she almost tears up when talking about Chelsea on the campaign trail. As a parent, that got to me--for about 10 seconds, which is about five seconds longer than it took her to get back on message.
Boy, she must be going ballistic right now.
May 14, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nope. I can honestly say that I don't feel bad for her at all about this.
I'll save my empathy for Clinton for when she finally declairs that she's quiting the race.
May 14, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Almost. But then I start to imagine what retarded things Lanny, Terry McAuliffe, or Wolfson will say in response to the endorsement...
"Is he even from North Carolina?"
May 14, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lanny, Terry and Howard have surely been a laughable triumvirate of blind idiocy lately.
May 14, 2008 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Gotalife would agree with me that Endorsements only count when they back HRC (Hillray Clinton). Anything else is crap flavored cool aid that is guzzled by whiners and hopeless dems.
May 14, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
So?
May 14, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
May 14, 2008 5:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
No shit the news was really he cut way into her lead. He cut it to ribbons.
And yes, that was the story - but either she whined successfully enough that the media fell in line, or some other kind of pressure ended up making the entire last two months All About Hillary.
May 14, 2008 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought Edwards was hilarious doing the "Ed-Words" on Colbert last month.
May 14, 2008 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Gotalife - did you get OT on that check from Lieberman for last week? I think payroll screwed up on mine.
May 14, 2008 5:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Joementum™!!!"
May 14, 2008 5:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This is insane. You can actually follow the progress of what may be the Obamajet flying Edwards to Michigan here:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N55AR
I have too much information about this now.
May 14, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
This series of tubes we call the internets is sumpin' else, huh?
May 14, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rank speculation: They probably cut the deal last week and BHO had him keep his mouth shut until today so as to blunt the WVA results.
Very smart, smooth move, if that's the way it happened.
May 14, 2008 5:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perfect timing on that! Just ahead of the evening news too! HRC must be in the ER by now!
May 14, 2008 5:49 PM | Reply | Permalink