Edwards won 4 delegates in NH last night to go with his 14 from Iowa

[book_worm]

total 18 from the first two states. Meanwhile Clinton has 24 delegates and Obama has 25 delegates from Iowa and NH.

Seems pretty tight to me so far.

One of the GOP "frontrunners" Huckleberry won only one delegate in NH and nobody is telling him to get out of the race.

[peacebird]

1. shhhh! you'll spoil all the gloating and calls for Edwards to drop out. Let them have their fun!

[robcon]

2. Cute spin, but Edwards didn't get 1/2 the votes that either opponent received.

NH was a disaster for Edwards, IMO.

[book_worm]

3. It's not a spin. Those are actual delegates selected to the convention

from the first two contests.

[robcon]

5. I know that, book-worm. But it's a meaningless statistic.

Iowa and NH are not delegate-generating votes, as much as they are momentum-generating events. That momentum leads to increased staffing in other states (paid and volunteer); improved morale among workers for those candidates; donations of money; and star-power in the media. (That's the unfortunate truth.)

Both states were disasters for Edwards. Your spin on delegate counts reflects, IMO, your unwillingness to admit that the disaster has happened.

[book_worm]

8. NH was a disappointment. Iowa was not a disaster. The media

decided to ignore the fact that Edwards beat out Hillary for second. Yes, perception counts but there is no reason given the delegates he has that he has to get out of the race.

[Johonny]

4. I think the difference is

Hillary and Obama have the cash to campaign on to Feb 5th. The general thought was Edwards needed to win one and maybe both of these in order to generate the funds to allow him to run a much broader campaign.

[book_worm]

6. I understand that, but Edwards says that he has enough $ and it's budgeted out.

Of course he does have to pick a couple of states to really concentrate on he needs to win. I would go with Missouri and Oklahoma if I were Edwards on Super Tuesday.

[robcon]

13. Even if he wins one... what's the point?

He has, IMO, no chance to win the nomination, although he has a small chance to win a state (or two?) What would a win in MO or OK do for him? Nothing, IMO.

The nominee will be decided in the big primaries.

[Clarkansas]

7. That is good, but we all know the limited amount of support

he has in other states and how little money he has. He is trailing Clinton and Obama everywhere, even in states he did well in in 2004.

[book_worm]

9. It's tough but he needs to choose two Super Tuesday states to concentrate on

and he needs a win, no doubt about it, if I were him I'd go with Oklahoma and Missouri. But at this point people telling him to get out doesn't make sense. Give voters choices not limit them.

[Clarkansas]

10. It makes sense if you really don't want a Clinton nomination

and that is me.

[terisan]

11. He is the turtle who could beat the overconfident hares. nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. ...

[kentuck]

12. It is important because...

the nominee has to get 50% plus one to be the nominee of the Party.

[book_worm]

14. You were one of the few to call NH for Clinton--Congrats on your punditry

[onehandle]

16. 48 states and 1933 delegates to go. nt

[kestrel91316]

He is still VERY MUCH in the race. He can put those votes

to good use in the convention as a powerbroker if he can't get the nom himself.

[Elspeth]

17. There's a lot more to go. No one should drop out yet

Let all the Super Tuesday states have their say as well before we start looking at who drops out.

Except Fred Thompson. He can drop out. As long as he doesn't return to Law and Order.